AI Policy, People Strategy, Government Cutbacks and Elections

Dear members of the UM Community,

Outside, it’s getting a little darker and a little colder, and I don’t just mean in terms of the weather. But it may help to remind ourselves that our basic mission remains the same: to use the awesome power of sciences and academics to help our students and our species understand the wonderful world we live in a little better. As Ted Kennedy might have said, that work goes on, the cause endures, that hope still lives, and that dream will never die.

During its last meeting, the University Council spent considerable time discussing the University’s new Policy Framework for Generative AI. While the council largely thought that this framework was a good basis for thinking about the challenges that come with this new technology, members also asked for more concrete guidelines to help students and staff decide how to use it in their daily lives. Moreover, the council asked the Executive Board to not lose sight of the dangers of these technological developments for students’ cognitive development, the environment, as well as colleagues’ workload, and to not forget about the ethical implications. Moreover, it is crucial to reflect on the normative dimensions of this issue and how these technologies will change our professions as scholars, students, and supporting staff.

The council also discussed the new UM People strategy, aimed at making UM a better employer and reducing workload and work pressure. Many members of the council feel that part of the problem is partially caused by frustrating bureaucracy that doesn’t seem to serve much purpose. To draw attention to this, the council is gathering examples in cooperation with Observant. So, if you know of any such examples, please share them with us at registryuc@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

With regard to the implications of the upcoming government cutbacks, the council received an update on the current state of UM’s finances, which allows us to not take too drastic measures until we know what the government policy will be. Nevertheless, there are significant challenges ahead, and the council is in conversation with the EB about different scenarios and how the impact on UM’s teaching and research, as well as the staff, can be minimised. 

Lastly, the Elections Office, which organizes the elections for the University, Faculty and Service councils every year, came by to discuss the plans for the upcoming elections, to be held in May 2025. There are many ideas about how to recruit candidates and increase turnout. More about that later, but you can already check out our updated website, where you can also take a look at our new annual report poster, in which we explain what we were up to last year, which will be coming to a UM building near you soon.

Teun Dekker
Chair University Council