Representation bodies get the right to advise on the austerity plans after all

This step will allow the Works Council and Student Council to exercise their right to advise. The Higher Education and Research Act (in Dutch) states that representation bodies have the right to advise on ‘circumstances that affect the continuation and state of affairs at universities’. The right to advise is also laid out in the Works Council Act. Yet, at a previous meeting in September the Executive Board was not intending to ask the representation bodies for advice on the issue of how TU Delft could reduce expenditures by EUR 79 million in the years to come.

At the meeting, the Executive Board Chair, Tim van der Hagen, said that the advisory role only related to the internal representation bodies such as the Personnel Committee (ODCs, internal representation bodies that each faculty and service has, Eds.) and the faculty student councils for students. Van der Hagen said that the central councils could only exert any influence on the austerity plans through their right of consent to the budget for 2026 and the multi-year budget. The OR Chair, Ronald Kuil, did not agree, he said during the meeting.

Turnaround by the Executive Board

During the meeting between the OR and Executive Board meeting last Thursday, it appeared that the Executive Board had changed its position. “We had a few strong discussions with the Executive Board,” explained Ronald Kuil, the OR Chair. “Luckily we managed to convince the Board members that it is important to listen to our expertise.” The Executive Board Secretary announced on paper that they have now asked the central representation bodies for advice. This while both the Works Council and the Student Council had expressed their wish to give their advice earlier.

Advisory letters from the representation bodies

Starting in 2028, TU Delft needs to reduce its expenditures by EUR 79 million every year. The Executive Board thus asked the faculties, QuTech and the University Services to submit plans to reduce expenditures by 10% each without any forced dismissals.

The Student Council, Works Council and the Personnel Committee are currently working on their advisory letters to the Executive Board. The ODCs are addressing the plans of the services and faculties substantively, while the Works Council is primarily pushing for greater central management. “We are striving to complete the letters within two weeks so that the process can be rounded off before we discuss the budget with the Executive Board,” says Kuil.

Proposed decision on 18 November

The Secretary of the Administrative Office writes ‘The Executive Board has stated that it wishes to discuss the content of the austerity plans and after receiving their advice in writing, the Executive Board will respond in writing’.

The next meeting between the Executive Board and the OR will take place on November 13. That meeting will also focus on the budget cuts and the related recommendations, says Kuil. The advice and the related response from the Executive Board will ultimately ‘shape the input for the decision taken about the budget’ states the Secretary. The Executive Board is expected to take that decision on 18 November.