Principality and University of Oviedo create the Rights and Mental Health Chair

The Principality of Asturias, through the Department of Health, and the University of Oviedo have created the “Rights and Mental Health” Chair, endowed with 150,000 euros and in effect until December 31, 2029. The collaboration agreement was signed on August 12, 2026, and is published as an annex to the Resolution of September 15, 2026, of the Department of the Presidency, Demographic Challenge, Equality, and Tourism, in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias (BOPA) No. 182, of September 21, 2026 (Code 2026-07615).

Publication is mandatory pursuant to Article 11.8 of the Law of the Principality of Asturias 2/1995, of March 13, on the Legal Regime of the Administration, as amended by the Law of the Principality of Asturias 4/2025, of November 19. The agreement is supported by the Regulations for Institutional, Corporate, and Cultural University Classrooms and Chairs of the University of Oviedo, approved by agreement on February 5, 2024 (BOPA of February 21, 2024), and its signing was authorized by Agreement of the Governing Council on August 10, 2026.

The text is signed by the Department Head of Health, Mª Concepción Saavedra Rielo (appointed by Decree 23/2023, of July 31), and the Rector Magnificus of the University of Oviedo, Ignacio Villaverde Menéndez (Decree 39/2024, of May 9).

A chair on the rights of people with mental health problems

The purpose of the agreement is to regulate the framework of collaboration between both institutions through the Chair, with the aim of carrying out training, scientific, knowledge transfer, and dissemination activities regarding the citizenship rights corresponding to people with mental health problems. The Department of Health assumes the competencies in this matter according to Article 6 of Decree 22/2023, of July 31, on the restructuring of the departments.

There are three priority areas of action:

• Research, development, and innovation: awards, undergraduate and master’s final projects, doctoral theses, congresses and conferences, and funding for theses with endowments to hire doctoral students.
• Dissemination and knowledge transfer: publications, conferences, and talent acquisition or entrepreneurship promotion programs.
• Training: design and delivery of university programs, grants and awards, non-curricular external internships, and continuing education.

At least two-thirds of the minimum annual budget must be allocated to activities other than those internships and training grants. Contracts under Article 60 of Organic Law 2/2023, of March 22, of the University System are excluded.

150,000 euros over four annual installments

The Administration of the Principality of Asturias will contribute 150,000 euros, distributed in four equal payments of 37,500 euros:

• Fiscal Year 2026: 37,500.00 euros.
• Fiscal Year 2027: 37,500.00 euros.
• Fiscal Year 2028: 37,500.00 euros.
• Fiscal Year 2029: 37,500.00 euros.

The allocation will be paid as a grant to the University of Oviedo charged to the budgetary application 15.02-412P-454.033. In 2026, it will be processed as a nominative grant and in 2027, 2028, and 2029 as a direct award grant, subject to the existence of adequate and sufficient credit. The funds will be allocated to the organization and dissemination of activities, the editing of publications and teaching materials, participation in forums and congresses on mental health, and prizes for undergraduate final projects (TFG), master’s final projects (TFM), and doctoral theses, excluding investment expenses.

The University of Oviedo will apply a 21% retention for general expenses and will justify the grant before March 31 of the following year through an activity report and a financial report. It may entrust the management to the University of Oviedo Foundation (FUO MP), an internal body of the academic institution.

Monitoring Commission and Chair Management

The governance of the Chair rests with two bodies: the Monitoring Commission and the Chair Management. The Commission will be chaired by the head of the General Directorate of Public Health and Mental Health Care and will be composed of:

• For the Ministry of Health: the heads of the General Directorate of Public Health and Mental Health Care, the General Directorate of Care and Sociosanitary Coordination, and the Directorate of Mental Health of the Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA).
• For the University of Oviedo: three representatives appointed by the Rector, including the director of the Chair.

The Commission will meet at least once a year, approve the annual budget and the Action Plan —which may be multi-annual— and resolve disputes regarding interpretation and execution. The Chair Management will be appointed by the Rectorate from among the permanent faculty, upon the suggestion of the Ministry of Health, and will submit the annual technical and economic report to the Vice-Rectorate competent in matters of chairs during the first quarter of the following year.

The agreement may be extended for full years and modified by unanimous agreement of the parties. Failure to meet objectives entails partial repayments of 10% for compliance between 70% and 79%, 5% between 80% and 89%, and 2% between 90% and 95%.

The creation of this chair institutionalizes the collaboration between health services and the university in a field, that of mental health, where citizenship rights, research, and professional training converge. The agreement commits stable public funding until 2029 and positions patients, healthcare personnel, and the university community as direct recipients of its activities.

Source: Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias (BOPA), no. 182 of September 21, 2026, section I “Principality of Asturias — Other Provisions”, page 1 (official reference: Code 2026-07615).