TU Delft professor voted for cutbacks as a senator: ‘I did so reluctantly’

It came as no surprise when the Senate voted in agreement of the budget of Eppo Bruins, Minister van Education, Culture and Science on 8 April. Two weeks earlier, the senators had held lengthy discussions about the enormous cutbacks that are on the cards: EUR 1.2 billion in higher education.

While the PVV, BBB, VVD and NSC parties do not hold the majority in the Senate, there were four parties that wanted to vote in agreement. These were A21, ChristenUnie, CDA and the SGP.

Green light

While Rector Magnificus and Executive Board Chair Tim van der Hagen stood among the demonstrators outside, inside TU Delft Professor Marc de Vries gave the cutbacks the green light.

De Vries has had a seat in the Senate representing the Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP, Dutch Reformed Political Party) since 2023. His portfolio consists of education, culture and science. He is also Professor of Science Education (since 2008) and Endowed Professor of Reformational Philosophy (since 2003) at TU Delft.

Why did you vote for the Education budget, knowing that it would be bad for higher education and your own TU Delft?

“I did so reluctantly. Nobody likes cutbacks, but I am there as a senator and not as a professor. I need to keep both roles separate at a time like that because of a potential conflict of interests. I will retire on 20 May, and it will then be clear that this is not the case.

What is important for the SGP is that voting against a budget is a very heavy and unusual action. It is like saying ‘just resign. This is a big step as education would be even more disadvantaged. A budget is usually a rubber stamp.”

Other opposition parties had no difficulty doing so.

“There was indeed good reason to vote against the Education budget. This is why the House of Representatives had been able to avoid some cutbacks, such as the long-term study penalty, but far reaching interventions remain.

‘I hope that as a first step, universities look at efficiency’

On the other hand, you can send a minister away, but that does not mean that there is suddenly more money. Education, Culture and Science is not the only ministry that needs more money. On top of that, the consequences of voting against were not clear at all. It might have meant that the Ministry would not have a budget and could not spend any money at all.”

Do you have a more technical view?

“That is what the Senate is for. We assess laws and budgets for legitimacy, execution potential and enforcement.”

There are universities that have doubts about the legitimacy. They are threatening to go to court as Bruins is not adhering to the administrative agreement.

“Breaking open administrative agreements does happen frequently. That is ingrained in the terms of the agreements. It would also be improper for a minister to restrict parliament’s budget rights through an administrative agreement.”

Higher education has already started taking drastic economising measures, while all kinds of investigations show that good education actually generates money.

“I am very saddened by the cutbacks. They are very painful. I hope that as a first step, universities look at efficiency. Gains can be made in their management structures.”

On Thursday 24 April, staff members and students at TU Delft will go on strike against the cutbacks in higher education. Do you dare show up there?

He laughs. “I have faced worse firing lines than this.” Then he is serious again. “I am a bit hesitant about using strikes as a tool, but everyone is free to do so if they wish to send a message. People are standing up for the importance of education and research. It is not wise to cut back on them as they are about our future.”