The University of Groningen (RUG) has endorsed a protest against proposed cuts of over a billion euros in science and higher education budgets.
The AOb, the largest education union in the Netherlands, is organising a so-called ‘alternative opening of the academic year’ that coincides with the official opening. The protest action will be taking place on September 2 from 11:00 to 12:30 on the Domplein in Utrecht.
On its website, the union said that the planned government cutbacks will hit higher education hard. It added that the quality of education and research will decline, jobs at universities will disappear, and that studying will become even more expensive.
“This threatens our ability to tackle the major problems of our society!” the AOb wrote.
RUG professor Caspar van den Berg, who also chairs the Association of Dutch Universities (UNL) will be speaking at the event in Utrecht.
The RUG’s endorsement of today’s action which affects its own finances comes a few months after proposing draconian rules for protests (including banning the taking of photos) and cracking down violently on pro-Palestine activists.
The official opening ceremony of the RUG takes place today at the Martini Church at 15:30. The event will not be live streamed and admission requires prior registration, which has now closed.
Ukrant reported that the RUG is taking extra safety measures against possible protests.
