Universities optimistic about coalition plans, students disappointed

Yesterday, D66 and the CDA presented their joint agenda. The parties want to “invest heavily in innovation, knowledge and research”. The universities responded positively, but student organisations had hoped for more.

The universities say they are happy to accept the outstretched hand of the coalition parties. University association UNL said, “In this interim report, the negotiators have clearly chosen knowledge and innovation. They want to invest in R&D and enable research institutions to attract enough talent from abroad. These are important steps to keep the Netherlands prosperous, healthy and safe.”

Student welfare

Student organisations are also pleased that “universities and universities of applied sciences are finally receiving new investments again”, said Sarah Evink, chair of the Intercity Student Union. However, she hopes that in the next phase of the coalition talks, more attention will be paid to the student perspective and that they will be able to join discussions about the plans. “The basic grant and internship allowances should be the first topics on the agenda.”

The Dutch Student Union notes that D66 and the CDA seem to recognise students’ interests when it comes to housing, but student welfare was not a topic of discussion between the parties. “To us, it’s unclear how more than a million students are actually going to be helped”, said LSVb chair Maaike Krom. “Don’t put our generation on mute.”

Demonstration to go ahead

FNV, the Netherlands’ largest trade union, remains concerned about the cuts to education and research, which are not explicitly reversed in the parties’ agenda. “It seems that these cuts will remain in place next year – we won’t let that happen.” Next week, the trade unions will organise a national demonstration in Amsterdam.