‘Culture of easy and excessive spending’ at TU Delft

Delft University of Technology is exposed to significant financial risks, according to the daily NRC. It also seems unconcerned about monitoring expense claims and accounting for high salaries.

Delft University of Technology is under increased scrutiny. A comprehensive report by the Inspectorate of Education on transgressive behaviour at the university, as well as its finances, is expected in March.

According to university magazine Delta, the report is already finished but has not yet been made public. The university’s executive board has been given more time than usual to submit a response.

Proton clinic

Meanwhile, NRC has done its own research. Despite repeated warnings, the university is pumping millions of euros into a proton clinic for cancer patients – a clinic in which the Erasmus MC is also shareholder and, according to NRC, has no future and is yielding few useful research results. Pie-in-the-sky sales pitches were swallowed whole, while critics were ignored.

NRC also uncovered unusual expense claims for lavish lunches and chauffeur-driven cars. Moreover, the university’s annual report failed to mention all its top-earning staff, such as a former rector who remained on the payroll for three years after stepping down and employees who were given bonuses.

“Does not recognise the picture painted at all”

In its response to the article, the university said: “Delft University of Technology does not recognise the picture painted by NRC at all. It therefore strongly rejects the suggestion that there is a culture of easy and excessive spending at the university.”

The university also stated that the risks it faced had all been taken into account, but that ‘sometimes things turn out differently than you had hoped’. It further noted that it wants to give new technology a chance. After all, one of the university’s core tasks is to make knowledge of value to society.

At the time of writing, there have been no responses from lawmakers yet. NRC has announced that it will continue its investigation into the university’s finances.