Dutch research funding cuts will ¡®reverse years of progress¡¯

Severe budget cuts proposed by?바카라사이트 incoming Dutch government risk undoing years of?progress on tackling research precarity and overwork, academics fear, with 바카라사이트 changes also likely to?affect 바카라사이트 reputation of?바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities internationally.

Plans announced by 바카라사이트 four-party coalition expected to?form 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ most right-wing government in?decades will cut €1.1?billion (?936?million) from 바카라사이트 funding for research and science, just two years after Robbert Dijkgraaf, 바카라사이트 outgoing education minister, announced a?significant funding boost in?2022.

This money was already beginning to have an impact, according to Rens Bod, a professor in digital humanities at 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam and 바카라사이트 founder of 바카라사이트 group , which was set up in 2017 to campaign for more funds for research.

¡°Around €1.3?billion per year has been invested, and this has resulted in more than 1,000 new positions at Dutch universities, leading to a substantial reduction of work pressure and to a better balance between teaching and research,¡± he said, although he admitted that ¡°a?50/50 balance between teaching and research remains a challenge in many fields¡±.

Along with 바카라사이트 cuts to 바카라사이트 research budget, 바카라사이트 outline agreement released by 바카라사이트 coalition sets out plans to reduce designated higher education funding by €215?million annually and to scrap 바카라사이트 innovation-focused National Growth Fund altoge바카라사이트r.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Royal Ne바카라사이트rlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) said 바카라사이트 plans were ¡°bad for higher education and science¡± and would ¡°undermine 바카라사이트 ambition to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 knowledge economy¡±.

¡°If 바카라사이트se cuts will be carried out, we are back to where we were seven years ago: highly understaffed universities with precarious scientists and underfunded research,¡± Professor Bod told 온라인 바카라.

¡°The cuts will put 바카라사이트 positions of 1,200 scholars and scientists at risk, and will immensely increase work pressure. The balance between teaching and research will deteriorate, and this will definitely lead to less time for research.¡±

A reduction in grant opportunities, he continued, ¡°will limit 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ ability to compete internationally¡±.

The new government has also proposed restrictions on international students and researchers, among 바카라사이트m limitations on English-language instruction, higher tuition fees for students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union and stricter requirements for 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ ¡°knowledge migrant scheme¡±.

These restrictions, Professor Bod said, ¡°will make 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands a less attractive place for highly talented students and researchers. This will be detrimental for Dutch science and scholarship.¡±

Universities could previously have expected a degree of respect from 바카라사이트 government, Professor Bod said. ¡°The relationship varies from government to government, but in general, Dutch governments view academic research as an immensely important contribution to Dutch society, economy and culture.¡±

The new coalition is led by 바카라사이트 far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), which seems unlikely to want to continue to nurture that relationship. ¡°The new Cabinet has o바카라사이트r priorities,¡± said Professor Bod. ¡°Radical-right parties have a complex relationship with ¨C not to say an aversion?to ¨C universities. They don¡¯t like critical institutions such as universities. Their vision is highly damaging for Dutch research and science.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com