Executive Board response to agreement on education budget cuts
The government and several opposition parties have agreed on a budget for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Higher education will be hit hard, although there are glimmers of hope. The total cuts to education and research have been reduced from €2 billion to just over €1.2 billion. The long-term study fine is off the table. And our calls to recognise the necessity of international education and research in Limburg seem to have hit home, although how they will be taken into account remains unclear. Moreover, if this amended budget is definitively approved, the research sector will still face a €500 million hit.
The precise impact of the agreement on UM is not yet clear. As we have done previously, we will map out the financial consequences of the new education budget for our university as soon as possible. Uncertainty will linger, however, with respect to the cabinet’s measures to reduce the number of international students. The House of Representatives is requesting an amendment to the budget with the aim of sparing regions such as Limburg. Exactly how this will be implemented should be set out in the new Internationalisation in Balance Act (WIB), which the cabinet wants to adopt in the first quarter of 2025. During the last debate, however, the minister indicated that the introduction of the WIB may be delayed yet again.
Tailoring of the WIB per institution and region will be crucial. International talent is sorely needed for the labour market in Limburg and beyond, and must not be impeded by either the budget cuts or strict WIB measures. In the coming months, we will strive to retain the highest possible standards in our education and research. This is only possible if all Dutch universities can continue to form part of an international environment.
In recent months, many staff and students have expressed concerns about the future of education and research, both at UM and in the Netherlands more broadly. We are deeply thankful for their shared commitment and collective efforts to turn the tide. We have also been gratified by the hard work put in by many parties to draw The Hague’s attention to the importance of regional tailoring in internationalisation. Without the enormous efforts of the province, municipalities, fellow educational institutions and the business community, the possibility of customisation would have fallen by the wayside.
With severe cutbacks still looming, we are not off the hook yet. But we hope that you, like us, will continue to rally the energy to fight for education and research in Limburg and beyond.
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