Nothing and no one stops them despite the fact that there are no technical supports or sufficient budgets. In just one week, with the endorsement of the Government of José JeríCongress managed to enact the law creating six other public universities, so the total number rose to 47 new study houses founded between July 2021 and November 2025.
It turns out that, between October 28 and November 2the national universities of Vraem of Kimbiri (Cusco), Huaral, Huaycán (Lima), and Talara (Piura) have been created; as well as the Art of Áncash and the Art of Piura, the same ones that were previously artistic training schools.
These new study houses are added to the 41 that had already been reported by The Republicof which 20 were enacted in one fell swoop by Congress despite the fact that their signature of law had been observed by the Executive because it implied a growing expense for the State budget that could compromise long-term fiscal sustainability.
This is a new record because in no other legislative period in our republican history have as many public universities been created as in the current one. And the number of those currently in existence has almost doubled (49 graduates). There are only two left to have 98 state universities nationwide.
The difference is abysmal with the legislative period 2006-2011of the Government of Alan García, in which 16 public universities were opened, of which 14 still have organizing commissions and two exist only on paper (in SJL and Los Olivos).
According to specialists consulted, the problem is that these universities will not open in the short term due to lack of budget, which ends up being a ‘deception, guys’.
“Congressmen are in a populist and irresponsible racein the search for his re-election. They cannot play with the expectations of young people from the regions,” questioned the former Minister of Education, Idel Vexler.
Budget problems
Based on a technical report from Minedu, former ministers Marilú Martens and Miriam Ponce warned that 105 million soles are required to open a single public university with three majors and without laboratories,since 90% goes to infrastructure.
That means that for these 47 new universities 4,935 million soles would be needed just for year zero, without considering licensing expenses. Said amount would represent a quarter of the 2025 Education sector budgetconsisting of 20,000 million soles.
The worrying thing is that, to ensure these resources, expenses related to school infrastructure, teacher pay and education programs should be cut. “There is no comprehensive plan that ensures the quality and sustainability of these created universities. Furthermore,The figure represents a budget challengewhich is not contemplated in the draft national budget,” said former Minister Martens.
Graduates oppose
The Association of National Universities of Peru (Aunap) criticized that Congress is creating paper universities and thatThe Executive is abandoning the current licensed universitiesby cutting their budget for the second consecutive year.
The Aunap urged Parliamentapprove a moratorium on the creation of new public universitiesuntil guaranteeing financing for those that already work. “These regulations are approved when the Executive intends to cut the 2026 budget of the universities, which would affect more than 363,000 young students,” he responded.
“Time bomb”
“This Congress will leave a time bomb for the next Government.Local populations are going to be exacerbatedwhen they see that the new universities will not open in the short term,” explained the former Minedu official, Jorge Mori, who is today director of the Center for the Analysis of Public Policies of Higher Education (Cappes).
Mori stated that 14 universities created between 2006 and 2011It took seven years, on average,to come into operation and they still have organizing committees due to the low supply of research teachers in those locations.
“If Congress creates 47 new public universities, there will be 96 in Peru, if we add to the 49 already existing and licensed.That is unfeasible.Here there is populism and political exploitation and they make fun of the populations of the regions,” he lamented.
List of 47 universities created
- U.de Cutervo (Cajamarca)
- U. San Ignacio (Cajamarca)
- University of Huancabamba (Piura)
- U. of Sechura (Piura)
- U. of Carabaya (Puno)
- Yunguyo University (Puno)
- University of Vilcanota (Cusco)
- U. del Vraem (Cusco)
- University of Chincha (Ica)
- Chupaca University (Junín)
- U. of Fine Arts (Lima)
- U. of Folklore (Lima)
- U. of Performing Arts (Lima)
- U. Aymara Ilave Collao (Puno)
- U. of San Marcos de Ancash
- U. of Arts of Trujillo
- Desaguadero University (Puno)
- U. Luis Duncker Lavalle (Arequipa)
- U. of Ballet (Lima)
- Puno Music University
- Sandia University (Puno)
- University of Huancané (Puno)
- Ayaviri University (Puno)
- Azángaro University (Puno)
- Autonomous University of Chiclayo
- Autonomous University of Olmos
- Intercultural University of Pangoa
- Jauja University (Junín)
- U. of Coracora (Ayacucho)
- U. of Camaná (Arequipa)
- U. of Padre Abad (Ucayali)
- U. of Chincheros (Apurímac)
- Chumbivilcas University (Cusco)
- U. of Nasca (Ica)
- U. Juan Vélez de Moquegua
- Uctubamba University (Amazonas)
- U. of Alto Mayo (San Martín)
- University of Nuevo Occoro (Huancavelica)
- U. La Esperanza (Trujillo)
- U. of the Army (Lima)
- Ucayali Artistic University
- U. of Kimbiri (Cusco)
- University of Huaycán (Lima)
- University of Huaral (Lima)
- U. of Talara (Piura)
- U. of Art of Piura
- Ancash Art University
