The Communication and Marketing department will be completely overhauled, director Gijsbert Siertsema announced during a plenary meeting yesterday morning. A large portion of the employees will have to start working differently than they are used to, with more focus on the three core tasks of the new organisation: recruiting students, engaging employees, and strengthening the VU brand.
About one-third of the positions in the new organisation are new, one-third of the employees will end up in a comparable position, and one-third may end up in a position that partly involves the same work. Employees whose positions will be eliminated have to apply for the new positions.
Subdued atmosphere
Yesterday, throughout the day, all employees were informed in a personal meeting about their status and whether their position will be discontinued. The atmosphere at the plenary meeting in the morning was somewhat subdued. Employees clearly still needed time to take in the news.
In total, Communication and Marketing has to cut about 1.4 million euros from a total budget of 16 million. The department will lose 8.5 of its 110 full-time positions. It is still unclear how many employees this will affect, given all the role shifts, but it will likely be more than 8.5, because many of the employees work part-time. The reorganisation plan has been submitted by the Executive Board to the staff council for advice. A final decision is expected at the end of February 2026.
The reorganisation is part of a larger cost-cutting effort at VU. Over the next three years, the university will cut about 60 million euros. National cuts to higher education and declining student numbers are the main reasons for this.