February 20, 2025
The Education, Culture, and Science Committee organized a meeting on February 18 with experts regarding the legality and feasibility of the proposed budget cuts in higher education for 2025. Five experts discussed the impacts of these cuts and reflected on the 2022 governance agreements. Each speaker provided a five-minute introduction followed by questions from senators.
Caspar van den Berg, chair of Universities of the Netherlands, advocated for caution in budget cuts. The government aims to reduce the international influx of students, but the Bontenbal amendment complicates matters by exempting border region institutions. If universities are exempt, it adds uncertainty: the same program can be taught in English at the HBO level but not at the university level. Van den Berg, a former senator, expects the Senate to avoid a reliability blunder.
Maurice Limmen, chair of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, fears HBO will lose ten percent of its students in five years. Despite amendments softening the OCW budget, challenges remain: shrinkage, subsidy cuts, and reduced foreign student intake, alongside rising costs. HBO has already taken various measures through self-management. Limmen feels an unfair law targets HBO.
Raymond Schlössels, professor of administrative law at Maastricht University, emphasized the distinction between policy and law. Governance agreements from 2022 contain clear financial commitments, fostering trust and subsequent action. The principle of legitimate expectations applies, and cuts will cause tangible harm, forcing PhD candidates to abandon projects. A transition plan could balance the process, as the Council of State suggested in its advice on these cuts.
Douwe Dirk van der Zweep, treasurer of the General Education Union (AOb), voiced the employee perspective. Announced cuts have caused unrest, halting projects. Employees need assurance on ongoing agreements, but its unclear where cuts will land, and the Bontenbal amendment doesnt help. It has only complicated the situation.
Ad Verbrugge, philosopher and chair of Better Education Netherlands (BON), is not necessarily against cuts if the public interest demands it. He criticized these cuts as visionless. Universities are driven by financial incentives, jeopardizing small programs. Only 41 percent of funds remain for education. Verbrugge believes internationalization has gone too far: 40 percent of students are foreign. Its undesirable for Dutch taxpayers to support this. Curbing the influx of international students would save money, but the Bontenbal amendment negates this saving.
Senators Questions
Senators questioned the status of governance agreements and the consequences of breaching them. They also asked what could be cut, such as the increased overhead. Questions arose about the Bontenbal amendments impact on workload and education quality. Senators and experts also discussed the proposal for the Internationalization in Balance Act, currently before the House of Representatives.
Experts stated institutions are exploring ways to absorb cuts without harming education, their primary task. Support services and housing remain necessary. Cuts cannot be made uniformly. The unknown impact of cuts is challenging. Many anticipate cuts; the region may be exempt, but institutions are preparing. Randstad universities expect doubled cuts as the region is spared, leading to unnecessary layoffs and deeper cuts than needed.
The OCW committee received the memorandum in response to the report on January 31, 2025, containing government answers to the first round of written questions from the House.
Members can submit input for the second report until February 25, 2025, considering the OCW ministers letter on the Bontenbal amendment regarding the regions position for international students.
The committee aims for plenary treatment of the bill on March 11, 2025, with voting the same day as on the Budget Statements Health, Welfare, and Sport 2025.
You can watch the meeting here. Agenda and background documents are available here.