Five Candidates Expected for University of Panama Rector Position

It is expected that there will be five candidates in the upcoming rectoral elections at the University of Panama, to be held on July 1st. So far, three professors have run for the position. The first is César García, who came in second in the 2021 elections, where current rector Eduardo Flores Castro was re-elected. To date, 28 professors have applied for the positions of rector, deans, and directors of regional centers. Rufino Fernández, president of the University Electoral Body, informed that two other educators have set dates to register, so it is expected that the rectoral election will have five candidates. García stated that he will promote a more competitive university, more in tune with the society it serves. The second candidate was Migdalia Bustamante, from the Faculty of Education. This Wednesday, José Emilio Moreno, from the Faculty of Sciences and current academic vice-rector of the First House of Higher Studies, registered his candidacy. In his speech, Moreno wished for a good relationship with the Government, a message aimed at improving communication, which has not been very cordial with the administration of President José Raúl Mulino. In this sense, he said that he will reform the student social service so that it focuses on communities and is not fragmented. Identified with the color red, the academic vice-rector arrived to present his documentation to aspire to the highest position in the university, accompanied by hundreds of followers. The application period closes on April 13th, followed by the challenge period, after which the final candidates will be known. Furthermore, he will promote that each university division, be it a regional center, teaching extension, or annex, be identified with a specific career, attending to the potential offered by each region of the country.