{"id":171153,"date":"2024-09-03T13:38:35","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T11:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=171153"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:28","slug":"government-still-intent-on-higher-education-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/09\/03\/government-still-intent-on-higher-education-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Government still intent on higher education cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"

While many options may still be open in the lead-up to Budget Day, one thing is certain: the promised cuts to higher education and research will go ahead. That\u2019s the message given by Education Minister Eppo Bruins in response to written questions from the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n

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On the third Tuesday of September, the new government will present its budget for the coming year. On Thursday, the four ruling parties \u2013 PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB \u2013 spent hours discussing<\/a> their spending plans.<\/p>\n

In an outline agreement, the four parties have already agreed to make substantial cuts that will impact students and higher education institutions. A financial penalty for students who take too long to complete their studies, restrictions on the influx of foreign students, scrapping national sector plan funding\u2026 these measures amount to almost a billion euros, depending on how exactly they will be implemented.<\/p>\n

Criticism<\/h2>

It is hardly surprising that the plans have met with fierce criticism from the universities<\/a> and the rest of the sector. They calculate that up to 5,000 jobs are at risk, including the positions of 1,200 young researchers, and are threatening legal action. Universities of applied sciences are also opposing the plans, describing<\/a> the higher education cuts as \u201cturning the world on its head\u201d.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Education Minister Eppo Bruins replied<\/a> to parliamentary questions on the issue by the opposition GreenLeft-PvdA party. \u201cI understand the concerns raised by these cuts\u201d, he writes and goes on to assure them that \u201cin formulating government policy, I will take all signals into account\u201d.<\/p>\n

Even so, he is going ahead with the budget cuts. These include scrapping the funding of \u2018sector plans\u2019 on which universities collaborate at national level: a cutback in excess of 200 million euros.<\/p>\n

'Aware'<\/h2>

\u201cI am aware of the value of sector plans and I too hear the signals from the field about their relevance and necessity\u201d, Bruins writes. \u201cBut at the same time, financial choices have to be made to meet the budgetary requirements in the outline for our coalition agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cuts will first be set out in the government\u2019s programme and then in Bruins\u2019 own policy agenda, due to be announced on Budget Day. \u201cThat\u2019s where I will present my plans and how the cuts will fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

To date he has defended the cuts by emphasising the government\u2019s determination to safeguard public finances and reduce the burden on households and businesses.<\/p>\n

Woke<\/h2>

PVV, the largest coalition party, previously gave more ideological grounds<\/a> for cutting higher education funding. Without providing underlying arguments, the party insisted in a debate that \u2018woke culture\u2019 had come to dominate university life, with political activism taking precedence over scientific integrity. \u201cWe are happy to say those days are now over.\u201d The previous Education Minister, Robbert Dijkgraaf, described<\/a> the PVV\u2019s statements as \u201cunfortunate\u201d and indicative of a desire to settle scores.<\/p>\n

How does Bruins view this situation? \u201cThe words used have no bearing on my own views\u201d, is his response, without making it entirely clear whether he means the PVV\u2019s words, Dijkgraaf\u2019s or both.<\/p>\n

Protests<\/h2>

Next week, the new academic year gets underway at most higher education institutions. Some have started already. Protests against the government\u2019s plans are also due to kick off on Monday with an alternative opening<\/a> in Utrecht, attended by representatives of unions, students and universities.<\/p>\n\n\t

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