The day after the establishment of a new government following almost eight months of negotiations, umbrella organisation the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) wrote a letter to Eppo Bruins, the new minister of education, culture and science, threatening legal action over proposed budgetary cuts to higher education and research.
The new Dutch cabinet of Prime Minister Dick Schoof, including five ministers from the far-right Freedom party (PVV) and two from the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), was sworn in on 2 July.
As reported, the right-wing coalition platform’s outline agreement promises to scrap research funding schemes, slash research spending and reduce the number of foreign students.
The UNL letter says the major proposed cuts to scientific education and research would cause university funding “to fall below the lower limit, putting the quality and accessibility of our scientific education and research directly in danger.
Jobs at stake
“Universities are not only concerned about the consequences of this for our students and employees, but also about the negative impact of these measures on the future of the Netherlands.”
The letter, signed by the boards of all 14 Dutch universities, argues that more than 5,000 jobs are at stake as well as the quality of education, the impact of the scientific research programmes, and the economic position of the country.
The letter refers to a 2022 administrative agreement signed by higher education institutions and the state that pledged €650 million (US$703 million) annually to universities.
“All of us signed it”, UNL spokesperson Ruben Puylaert is quoted by Erasmus Magazine as saying.
According to Erasmus, the money from the government was subject to a range of obligations and involved 1,200 appointments.
“The universities have put in considerable efforts to that end”, Puylaert is reported saying. “We honour our commitments.”
An attack on ‘woke’ culture
According to Ad Valvas, the college newspaper of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the PVV sees cuts to higher education as a weapon against ‘woke’ culture at universities. The report based this claim on comments made by MP Reinder Blaauw during a debate on education in June.
“For too long, the activist woke culture has been dominant in lecture halls and educational institutions,” Blaauw is reported to have said. “And too often, political activism took precedence over scientific integrity. Fortunately, those days are over.”
In the debate he criticised diversity officers, because they do not help people learn to read properly. “And how do curricula on critical race theory, decolonisation, feminism and global justice make our students better analytical thinkers?” he asked.
Blaauw reportedly said that cutbacks will be made, mainly in higher education, in an amount of around €970 million.
The cuts are not intended to bully or punish students, he said. “Only in this way will it offer educational institutions an opportunity to reconsider their priorities. Do our educational institutions want political activism on the menu or decent education and research?”
Erosion of academic values
Iris Kimizoglu, president of the European Students Union, told University World News that “unwarranted budget cuts and undue political interference erode the values of academic freedom and institutional autonomy, undermining the rights of students and staff, academic integrity, and the ability of higher education institutions to fulfil their societal responsibilities”.
Kimizoglu said in accordance with the European Higher Education Area’s Ministerial Communiqué (Annex I) adopted in May 2024, governments and public authorities have a responsibility to uphold and protect higher education institutions, learners, and the broader society, by ensuring the promotion and safeguarding of academic freedom and learners’ rights.
“With regard to the budget cuts ESU adopted at our General Assembly in May a resolution regarding the Netherlands, through which ESU together with the two dutch national student unions called for improvements regarding the study loan system which of course are endangered given the prospects of cuts,” he said.
Hopes for a meeting
Robert-Jan Smits, president of Eindhoven University of Technology, and a signatory to the letter to the minister told University World News the proposed budget cuts will have disastrous consequences for the Dutch science system.
“Not only will thousands of jobs at universities disappear, the migration restrictions and obligation to teach many bachelor courses in Dutch, will hamper the recruitment of international students and staff.
“This will seriously damage the performance and reputation of the well performing Dutch universities and this in a time when more than ever before talented researchers are needed to find solutions for the grand societal challenges The Netherlands and our planet are facing.
“The Dutch universities hope that the new minister, who is himself a scientist, is receptive to the serious concerns of the universities and is willing to meet with university representatives to assess the state of play,” he said.
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