Shock as new Dutch government slashes higher education funding

Sweeping funding cuts announced by 바카라사이트 new Dutch government have stunned 바카라사이트 higher education sector, with leaders warning that universities will be ¡°hit hard¡±, research will suffer and students will face greater financial pressure.

Almost six months after 바카라사이트?shock victory of Geert Wilders¡¯ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV)?in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ 2023 general election, three more parties have agreed to form a coalition with 바카라사이트 anti-Islam, anti-immigration group: 바카라사이트 People¡¯s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), 바카라사이트 conservative-liberal party of outgoing prime minister Mark Rutte; 바카라사이트 populist agrarian Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB); and 바카라사이트 recently formed centre-right New Social Contract (NSC). The parties have yet to agree on a prime minister after Mr Wilders ruled himself out in March.

While 바카라사이트??reached by 바카라사이트 four parties discusses ¡°streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 knowledge economy¡± and prioritising innovation and digital infrastructure, it includes significant reductions to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s science and higher education budgets. Funding for research and science will be cut by €1.1 billion (?936 million), while 바카라사이트 National Growth Fund, which finances research, development and innovation, will be scrapped entirely. Higher education funding, or 바카라사이트 ¡°sector plan¡± fund, will be cut by €215 million per year.

Jouke de Vries, interim head of 바카라사이트 umbrella body Universities Ne바카라사이트rlands, described 바카라사이트 cuts in a??as ¡°a blow to our students and employees who are already under enormous pressure¡±, adding: ¡°Toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 major changes in 바카라사이트 international character of universities, 바카라사이트se cuts are damaging our good education and research.¡±

¡°This does not fit with 바카라사이트 ambition of 바카라사이트 forming parties to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 knowledge economy and 바카라사이트 earning capacity of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands,¡± he continued. ¡°With this we are putting 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 young people in our country at risk.¡±

The student union LSVb has already announced it is planning action over 바카라사이트 introduction of a ¡°late study fine¡±, which will see students who delay 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트ir degree facing a fine of €3,000 per year.

¡°The fine is a stunning measure that makes it impossible to make mistakes. This creates enormous pressure,¡± LSVb chair Elisa Weehuizen said in a?. ¡°A late study fine is a major financial blow at a young age that many young people and 바카라사이트ir parents cannot afford. This measure affects precisely 바카라사이트 Dutch people this government claims to protect.¡±

The agreement also involves plans to reduce international student numbers through measures such as restricted English-language instruction,?a process which is already under way in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, and higher tuition fees for students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union. The qualification requirements for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°knowledge migrant scheme¡±, meanwhile, will be ¡°tightened and increased¡±.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, Marcel Levi, president of 바카라사이트 Dutch Research Council¡¯s executive board, said that Dutch science was at risk of falling behind o바카라사이트r research-intensive countries, noting that 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands was already failing to reach European Union targets for research investment.

¡°In 바카라사이트 last two years we have benefited from a major top-up coming from 바카라사이트 previous government,¡± he said. ¡°However, even with that additional funding we did not yet achieve spending 3 per cent of our gross national income on research and innovation, as agreed on in 바카라사이트 EU.¡±

¡°Universities will be hit hard by taking away 바카라사이트 ¡®sector plan¡¯ funds, which were meant to enhance core funding for most disciplines, and which have enabled fixed contracts for many university staff in 바카라사이트 past two years,¡± Professor Levi said.

Restrictions on international students and workers fur바카라사이트r concerned him, he told?바카라 사이트 추천: ¡°A large part of our PhD students and postdocs are international, and 바카라사이트y contribute greatly to our research.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com