The TU Delft unions are watching the compulsory redundancies at the University of Twente with concern. Dozens of jobs are being cut in a single faculty to save EUR 6.2 million. TU Delft needs to save EUR 79 million. Will that cost hundreds of jobs? The unions feel there’s a lack of vision and want a new Executive Board to develop this first.
The Student Council is delving into the recently announced cutback measures requiring all faculties to reduce their costs by 10%. In a strongly worded response, the student representatives warn that this blanket approach to economising will jeopardise the quality of education.
The FNV, CNV and AOb unions started a survey on 6 February to see how employees are experiencing social safety and leadership in the workplace. They did not want to wait for the Inspectorate of Education’s reassessment that was started earlier this week.
TU Delft is facing serious cutbacks: up to EUR 79 million per year from 2028. The Executive Board does not rule out staff dismissals. Much will depend on the plans to economise by 10% that all faculties and services have to make in the next few months.
A baseline measurement will be done to show how TU Delft staff is experiencing social safety. This is what TU Delft wrote in the update of the social safety plan of action as required by the Inspectorate of Education. The Inspectorate will start its progress assessment this Monday.
In the very year dedicated to mobility, Bert van Wee, TPM Professor of Transport Policy, is retiring. A passionate cyclist, he plans to spend his time restoring car engines. How does he look back on his time at TU Delft?
Last Thursday, the square in front of the Industrial Design Engineering Faculty was transformed into a pump track – a hybrid between a BMX and a skate park. The demonstration setup was part of the graduation project of IDE student Jesse Pupping. One striking detail was that the final bump in the course is made from the back section of a wind turbine blade.
Mobility represents freedom and is an economic necessity, but all that travelling comes at a cost to the environment and our living environment. TU Delft researchers presented four scenarios for 2050 at the 183rd Dies Natalis. “It’s a wicked problem,” says Professor Deborah Nas.
The government is working on a bill to improve cybersecurity in the Netherlands. It may also apply to higher education institutions. This would make education administrators co-responsible for the resilience of their institutions.
The planned departure of the Executive Board is causing concern among various bodies about the stability of governance at TU Delft. Internal trade unions warn that the changes will come at a critical period of major challenges. The student and works council, on the contrary, face the changes with confidence.