Update Executive Board: Budget examined by Senate, vote on 8 April
The Schoof cabinet has presented its budget. As expected, higher education is facing severe cuts. In the coming period, the Executive Board will regularly look at the consequences of what it deems an irresponsible policy.
On Tuesday 25 March, the Senate examined the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science’s budget, which would lead to significant cuts to higher education. The outcome of the debate with Minister Bruins and Minister Paul is still uncertain: eight motions were tabled and a third round of debate has been scheduled for 1 April. Voting on the bills and motions will take place on 8 April.
The proposed cuts to higher education and science will have huge effects on students, teaching staff and researchers at universities, and will affect knowledge generation and the well-being of society.
Vice-President of the Executive Board Timo Kos was among those representing Leiden University in The Hague today, together with his colleagues from the other universities. While the debate was suspended, the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) presented the chair of the education committee, Theo Rietkerk, with a manifesto against the proposed cuts to universities, higher education and science.
The debate
Many parties were critical and commented on the minister’s unilateral cancellation of the administrative agreement with higher education, which was concluded in 2022 and covers topics such as starter and incentive grants. With the cuts, the administration is breaking agreements made with the previous government. Various senators asked whether this is lawful.
There were also many questions about the Balanced Internationalisation Act (WiB) and the Toets Anderstalig Onderwijs TAO (an evaluation that allows educational institutions to teach a course or degree programme in a language other than Dutch). If the universities come up with ‘a serious and robust plan for self-governance’, the minister said, he is prepared to look at the administrative burden.
There are many doubts among the senators about the education budget. The Senate has asked the Council of State for advice. This advisory body must advise on what will happen if the Senate rejects the education budget in its entirety. The debate in the Senate will continue on 1 April.