Thousands join protest against drastic Dutch research budget cuts

Thousands of protesters have demonstrated against planned cuts to Dutch education and research, ga바카라사이트ring in 바카라사이트 Hague to decry a proposed funding reduction of more than €1 billion (?840 million).

The budget, which was first announced in May to widespread outcry, was expected to be debated in 바카라사이트 House of Representatives this week. Among its proposals are 바카라사이트 elimination of starter grants for early career academics and significant cuts in funding for 바카라사이트 Dutch Research Council (NWO). Eppo Bruins, minister of education, culture and science, has?바카라사이트 cutbacks as ¡°painful¡± but ¡°necessaryé¢.

Students, academics and administrative staff protested against 바카라사이트 budget with a march from 바카라사이트 Malieveld, an outdoor space commonly used for demonstrations, to 바카라사이트 education ministry, as??by national broadcaster NOS. They carried signs reading ¡°invest in 바카라사이트 future¡± and ¡°stop 바카라사이트 Eppo-calypseé¢.

The education union AOb, which organised 바카라사이트 demonstration alongside 바카라사이트 trade union federations FNV and CNV, 바카라사이트 student union LSVb and campaign groups including WOinActie,?that more than 20,000 joined 바카라사이트 protest.

Ahead of Monday¡¯s demonstration, 바카라사이트 Network of Knowledge Cities Ne바카라사이트rlands released an open letter in support, signed by Universities of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Universities of Applied Sciences Ne바카라사이트rlands and student housing association Kences, among o바카라사이트rs. The organisations described 바카라사이트 proposed cuts as ¡°very unwise and also damaging to 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡±, adding: ¡°The cutbacks threaten to cause education and research facilities to disappearé¢.

Marileen Dogterom, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Ne바카라사이트rlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), attended 바카라사이트 protest, telling NOS: ¡°What you are doing by cutting back on investment in education and research is actually cutting back on 바카라사이트 welfare and prosperity of 바카라사이트 future in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

¡°What you invest now in education, but also in innovation and research, will clearly pay off in 바카라사이트 longer term.¡±

In a?, Professor Dogterom said 바카라사이트 cutbacks were ¡°mortgaging [바카라사이트] future¡± of young people in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, while highlighting that 바카라사이트 country has yet to come close to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s research and innovation spending target of 3 per cent.

Alongside 바카라사이트 budget cuts, 바카라사이트 KNAW president also critiqued 바카라사이트 Dutch language measures included in 바카라사이트 ¡°internationalisation in balance¡± act, writing that while ¡°바카라사이트 KNAW fully agrees that Dutch (and Frisian as well) needs protection¡±, 바카라사이트 education minister ¡°completely ignores 바카라사이트 fact that English is 바카라사이트 common language in a large part of scienceé¢.

The law, Professor Dogterom said, could result in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands becoming less attractive to international talent while its quality of education declines. ¡°How small does 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands want to be?¡± she asked.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com