In the run-up to the large demonstration on Monday against the cutbacks in higher education and research, a petition is circulating. It has been signed 56,800 times so far.
Two Members of Parliament from the Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC) party are stepping down: Rosanne Hertzberger and Femke Zeedijk. Interim parliamentary leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven announced their departure following the party’s weekly meeting. The resigning MPs will return their seats to the faction. Their resignation follows last Friday's cabinet crisis, when NSC State Secretary Nora
Microbiologist Elisabeth Bik will receive 200,000 euros in recognition of her fight against scientific misconduct. According to the German Einstein Foundation, her work has helped to raise awareness of research fraud. After completing her PhD in Utrecht, Elisabeth Bik worked at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) for a number of
This academic year, Dutch universities saw a 6% drop in international bachelor’s students – and this is before the strict Government plans came into effect. The UNL university association fears an ‘indiscriminate slash and burn’.
A judge has wiped the student debt of a woman who was the victim of identity fraud. The Minister of Education ‘stuck to a rigid stance for too long,’ according to the ruling. In 2022, several suspects were convicted of identity fraud. Using the DigiD accounts of 48 people, they applied for student finance. They
Education minister Eppo Bruins has promised to compensate students who fell victim to education agency DUO’s overzealous anti-fraud campaign. This is good news, but what about the ‘reverse burden of proof’? An analysis by the Higher Education Press Bureau that helped uncover the failing fraud hunt.
The government is setting aside 61 million euros to compensate all current and former students who were fined by DUO and had to pay back their basic student grant. Around 10,000 people will receive restitution.
The long-term study penalty may be withdrawn and replaced with another cutback. According to RTL Nieuws, Minister Eppo Bruins is discussing this with his colleagues in the government. One would be to increase tuition fees for all students, another to raise fees only for internationals.
After Leiden University, Utrecht University is now also planning to overhaul its Faculty of Humanities. Six Bachelor’s programmes, including German and French, will have to close up shop in 2030. Critics say the board has demonstrated a lack of transparency.
Dutch students, higher education administrators, and politicians will read out over 25,000 ‘objections’ to the long study penalty in an attempt to reach the governing parties (and voters). On the morning of Tuesday 5 November a read-aloud marathon against the long study penalty will commence outside the House of Representatives. Students and university leaders will
