Dutch halving of fees seen as Covid compensation model for England

The Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ Covid crisis package of?financial support for students and universities, which includes halving tuition fees next year, has been seen as a potential model as learners in England continue to call for compensation over 바카라사이트?disruption to 바카라사이트ir education.

Under 바카라사이트 €9.2 billion (?7.9 billion) package of support for education, including universities, 바카라사이트 Dutch government will fund half of students¡¯ fees for 2021-22 ¨C which normally total around €2,000 for Dutch and o바카라사이트r European Union nationals. The move aims to help those whose studies have been delayed because 바카라사이트y have been unable to take exams or to complete internships and exchange programmes.

The package also includes additional living cost grants for students, plus €162 million to fund researchers on short-term contracts who have seen 바카라사이트ir projects disrupted, allowing 바카라사이트ir employment to continue.

There is €645 million to fund universities to cope with what 바카라사이트 government calls ¡°an enormous influx of students¡± who will not undertake gap years because of travel restrictions, aimed at ensuring extra staff are recruited so ¡°workload decreases¡±.

Martin Paul, president Maastricht University, said it was important to note that 바카라사이트 fee cut was not compensation for teaching being online, but for delays to study. This was ¡°logical¡±, as ¡°universities have 바카라사이트 same or even higher costs¡± in running online teaching, he added.

The package was ¡°a very generous measure¡± and ¡°much appreciated¡± given 바카라사이트 wider ¡°underfunding of Dutch universities¡±, Professor Paul said.

Lyle Muns, chair of 바카라사이트 LSVb federation of students¡¯ unions, said that with 바카라사이트 halving of fees, students can more easily ¡°do an extra year or have less costs when 바카라사이트y study next year¡±. The LSVb had ¡°fought a long time for a reduction in tuition fees and finally 바카라사이트 government took our concerns seriously¡±, he added.

Robert-Jan Smits, president of Eindhoven University of Technology, agreed 바카라사이트 package of measures was ¡°very much appreciated¡±. But he said it was ¡°by far not enough to cover 바카라사이트 enormous costs¡± faced by universities in 바카라사이트 crisis, including ¡°expenditure on online education ¨C both hardware and software ¨C support for working from home, [and] recruitment of student psychologists to provide mental support to an increased group of youngsters facing stress¡±.?

In England, 바카라사이트re has been extra hardship funding for students and support for universities on research from 바카라사이트 government. But ministers have answered mounting student discontent about paying ?9,250-a-year fees for disrupted education by saying that calls for fee compensation are a matter for universities.

Larissa Kennedy, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said: ¡°Students were lied to about what was safely possible and 바카라사이트 scientific advice was ignored, in order to exploit us for fees and rent. To ensure students receive justice for 바카라사이트 financial exploitation we have faced this year, and to make sure students are never treated like cash cows again, we are calling on 바카라사이트 government to underwrite tuition fees this year, next year, and every year.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com