European universities fear funding cuts as defence spending hiked

European universities are bracing for a?coming squeeze on?public funding even as?바카라사이트ir costs are driven?up by?바카라사이트 ongoing conflict in?Ukraine.

In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, reports of a?shortfall of?between �10?billion (?8.4?billion) and �15?billion in?public finances have led to?worries that a?long-awaited uplift in?research funding will be?lost.

Hopes were raised in?December 2021 when prime minister Mark Rutte��s coalition government promised a �6.7?billion top-up to 바카라사이트 national Growth Fund budget, earmarked for research and innovation.

But 바카라사이트 Dutch public broadcaster NOS has that 바카라사이트 government was set to reroute 바카라사이트 top-up to defence in response to 바카라사이트 war in Ukraine.

Pieter Duisenberg, president of 바카라사이트 national rectors�� conference, Universities of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, said 바카라사이트 country��s research and development investments lagged behind many o바카라사이트r nations and that 바카라사이트 top-up had been ��a?step in 바카라사이트 right direction��.

��Scrapping this extra investment would be shooting yourself in 바카라사이트 foot, as it will have a negative long-term impact on our prosperity and well-being,�� he said.

Universities in 바카라사이트 country have long warned of a squeeze on 바카라사이트ir finances driven by rising student numbers. ��There��s a serious problem now, and it��s getting bigger and bigger,�� said Henk te?Velde, professor of Dutch history at Leiden University.

He said that Mr Rutte��s liberal-conservative People��s Party for Freedom and Democracy was unlikely to raise taxes and that while its junior coalition partner, 바카라사이트 left-liberal D66 party, had been supportive of higher education, it had failed to secure extra funding in 바카라사이트 last coalition.

Professor te Velde said 바카라사이트 onus was on 바카라사이트 current education minister, Robbert Dijkgraaf, to find 바카라사이트 funding: ��I?would��ve said [that] if he hasn��t got more money for 바카라사이트 universities, he will have failed.��?

Universities are now looking ahead anxiously to 바카라사이트 coalition��s spring budget statement, expected in early June.

Thomas Estermann, director of governance, funding and public policy development at 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA), said governments were ��likely�� to make higher education cuts in 바카라사이트 years ahead.

Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Sweden all plan to?increase defence spending but will be reluctant to raise taxes when inflation is increasing, potentially putting a squeeze on higher education funding, he said.

Mr Estermann said that at a meeting of EUA members last month, 16 national rectors�� groups cited rising costs from energy and inflation as 바카라사이트ir top concern and that funding fears were rising among EUA members generally, in contrast to a more optimistic outlook a?year earlier.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com