The association of Dutch universities (UNL), including the University of Groningen (RUG), has issued a stern letter [pdf] to the new government, protesting the planned budget cuts to higher education and research. The association warns that if the proposed cuts are not withdrawn, they will consider taking legal action.
According to the association, the budget cuts will inflict significant harm on both education and research. Hans Biemans, a RUG executive, expressed the frustration felt by many: “It is very disheartening to see the progress we made with previous funding now being undone.”
Sector plan smackdown: Funding cuts threaten new hires
Biemans refers to the so-called sector plans for which universities received funding from the previous government. The aim was to increase cooperation within and between universities, create more permanent positions, and reduce work pressure. The new coalition government of PVV, NSC, BBB, and VVD has stated in its outline agreement that it wants to cut €215 million per year from these plans. According to UNL, the positions of 1200 employees are at risk.
For the University of Groningen, that means 210 full-time positions, of which about 140 have already been filled. In other words, the money has already been spent. “These are real people who are already working here,” Biemans says. “We will do everything we can to avoid layoffs, but we will have to find cuts elsewhere, amounting to 23 million euros annually starting in 2026.”
International student squeeze: RUG faces massive losses
Furthermore, calculations by the RUG of the cabinet’s plans show that the university will lose €40 million per year due to the requirement to reduce the number of international students. Biemans continues, “It doesn’t even matter if it actually succeeds in reducing the number of international students, the cabinet has already booked this cut anyway.”
The University of Groningen expects to have to make €16 million in cuts next year. It is still unclear exactly where these cuts will be made. The new cabinet’s cuts are only listed in a financial annex to the outline agreement; the exact details have yet to be determined.
Biemans adds, “All together, we are facing a cut of €80 million for the University of Groningen, four years from now. But we need to know where the cuts are going to be made, because that will determine our problems.”
Universities clutch purse strings after government funding slash
In their letter to the new education minister Eppo Bruins, the joint universities refer to “maladministration,” citing the commitments made in the 2022 government accord. That agreement allocated a total of €650 million per year for both universities of applied sciences and research universities.
If the cabinet alters the commitments in the accord, the universities will “seriously consider legal action.” Biemans adds, “We also plan to talk to the minister in hopes of preventing this or finding a solution that minimizes the impact.”
In the meantime, the University of Groningen is already taking action. Vacancies are only being filled internally. Only in cases of compelling reasons and if there is no other way can people from outside also apply. External hiring is being kept to a minimum, and all construction and renovation plans are being reviewed.
Biemans explains, “We have a ten-year plan for our real estate. We are now taking stock, because if we have fewer students, we will also need fewer lecture halls and workspaces. We have to anticipate now, otherwise we won’t be able to react quickly later.”
New government on notice: Universities key to solving your problems!
In their letter, the University of Groningen and its fellow universities remind the new government of its own ambitions, such as strengthening the financial security of all Dutch citizens, safeguarding their security, working on good governance, and achieving green growth.
Universities have an important role to play in this, Biemans says, by conducting groundbreaking research and training scientific professionals. This is now in jeopardy. “We can now mean less in those societal transitions, while those problems are not going away. Our view is that society will feel shortchanged here. The cabinet is making the role we want to play a lot more difficult.”
