Executive Board update: universities launch legal challenge against budget cuts
Leiden University, along with other Dutch universities, it taking legal action against the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in response to its decision to cut funding for starter and incentive grants.
In 2022, the universities and then Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Robbert Dijkgraaf, reached an agreement that included a structural annual investment of approximately 300 million euros in ‘starter and incentive grants’.
The starter grants were introduced to reduce pressure and create research opportunities for early-career researchers, while the incentive grants were intended for tenured assistant, associate and full professors.
In 2024, the then Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Eppo Bruins, announced the termination of the starter grants, a budget cut of 175 million euros. Around 80 million would remain available to help reduce workload. This year, both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the cuts. The universities have decided to challenge the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science’s decision in court.
Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), which is supporting the universities in the legal action, stated: ‘If you conclude a multi-year agreement, the government cannot simply terminate that agreement before its end date. As an umbrella organisation, we reached this agreement with the minister. Such an agreement is meaningless if it can be revoked so easily. You have to be able to reach reliable agreements with the government. Although taking the case to the administrative court is a lengthy process, many experts in administrative law have indicated that the provisions in the agreement are legally binding.’
Leiden University has engaged a law firm to assist with the proceedings.