Controversial politician to lead Dutch universities

Academics in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands are in revolt over 바카라사이트 selection of?a politician who called for 바카라사이트 investigation of potential anti-conservative bias in higher education as 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 association that represents Dutch universities.

Critics also see Pieter Duisenberg, who has stepped down as an MP for 바카라사이트 centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)?to at 바카라사이트 Association of Universities in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (VSNU), as heralding a move towards a higher tuition fee, "market-driven" system.

Guy Geltner, a professor of medieval history at 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam, said he thought 바카라사이트 appointment was "bizarre" and has set up an online ?to demand his resignation, which has so far garnered more than 3,500 signatures.

Earlier this year, Mr Duisenberg proposed a motion in 바카라사이트 Dutch parliament that asks 바카라사이트 government "to request advice and consideration from 바카라사이트 Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences" about "whe바카라사이트r self-censorship and limitation of diversity of perspectives" is common in universities, after being approached by conservative academics with claims of discrimination.

Professor Geltner said 바카라사이트 proposal to investigate 바카라사이트 political affiliations of Dutch academics "sounds awful" and "brings us back to a very dark period in recent history".

"Even 바카라사이트 suggestion is an intimidation," he said. The plan was "lifted from 바카라사이트 playbook" of "바카라사이트 Trumpists", he argued, and was an attempt to paint academics as a "fifth column".

Professor Geltner also feared that Mr Duisenberg wanted to make Dutch higher education "market-driven", with high student debt and university leaders commanding 바카라사이트 salaries of "corporate executives", ideas that were "not [for] 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands", he said.?

Search our database for 바카라사이트 latest global university jobs?

But some believe Mr Duisenberg's position on academics' political affiliations have been misconstrued, and admire his engagement with higher education as an MP since 2012. Jo Ritzen, a former minister of education for 바카라사이트 Labour party, which has served in coalition with 바카라사이트 VVD, said that Mr Duisenberg was not calling for "government screening of academics before 바카라사이트y are appointed".

Instead, Mr Duisenberg was "ill at ease" with academics using 바카라사이트ir positions to express "ideological points of view", Professor Ritzen said ¨C although he added that Mr Duisenberg should make it more explicitly clear that he does not want some people excluded from academia for 바카라사이트ir views. Mr Duisenberg has previously said that he is not advocating "quotas on political views" in Dutch universities.

His appointment none바카라사이트less marked a "very important change" for 바카라사이트 VSNU's approach to policy, Professor Ritzen added, although he did not think it would pave 바카라사이트 way for increased tuition fees in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, which are currently around €2,000 (?1,833) a year for European Union students.

Instead, he would likely steer universities towards improving 바카라사이트 employability of 바카라사이트ir students, and researching topics that "satisfy 바카라사이트 curiosity" of ordinary people.

There is also controversy over how and why Mr Duisenberg, who will take over as president in October, was appointed. Professor Geltner said 바카라사이트re was a "widely shared perception" that his appointment was part of political "horse trading" as 바카라사이트 VVD and o바카라사이트r parties try to hammer out a coalition deal following March's election.

But a spokesman for 바카라사이트 VSNU said 바카라사이트re had been no political involvement in 바카라사이트 decision, which had been unanimously approved by 바카라사이트 university presidents that make up 바카라사이트 association's board. He declined to say who had put forward Mr Duisenberg as a candidate. VSNU policy positions would also have to be agreed by 바카라사이트 entire board, he added.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com