Independent journalism about VU Amsterdam | Since 1953
26 July 2026
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Emma Sprangers

29 January 2025

Dutch government plans to invest in researchers with novel innovations

Silent vacuum cleaners, lithium-free batteries, faster treatment for lung cancer patients… By investing 19 million euros over the next seven years, the Dutch government aims to help researchers bring their innovations to market.
22 January 2025

US universities brace for Trump’s plans

Universities across the United States are bracing themselves as Donald Trump begins his second term as president. Some universities are already saying they have no intention of cooperating with the mass deportations he has announced.
16 January 2025

Higher education gatekeeper: ‘It kept me up at night’

Does degree programme X really need to be offered in English? Paul Rullmann, outgoing chair of the committee in charge of deciding this question, understands the rationale for introducing a language assessment. “But not”, he says, “in the context of…
8 January 2025

Microsoft 365’s AI assistant compromises user privacy

IT organisation SURF has issued a warning against the use of Microsoft Copilot in higher education, claiming that the AI assistant compromises the privacy of students, teachers and researchers.
21 December 2024

Dit zijn de meest gelezen Ad Valvas-verhalen van 2024

Een nieuw kabinet, stress om bezuinigingen, voortrazende oorlogen… 2024 was ons er eentje. De tien meest gelezen stukken van het afgelopen jaar geven een – zij het wat zwaar – overzicht van de grootste onderwerpen die speelden voor onze lezers.…
28 November 2024

Millions for training extra technical workers

Vocational schools and higher education institutions are set to receive a total of 81 million euros in government funding over the next two years. The money, which will go to the Eindhoven, Twente, Delft and Northern Netherlands regions, is being…
21 November 2024

From powerpoints to playful education

Educational trainer Ermelinda Jaku believes creating good education is a joint effort. ‘We need to co-create a space for everyone to challenge their own assumptions.’
14 November 2024

‘If they don’t want me here, I’ll just leave’

The new Dutch cabinet doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to their intent on limiting internationalisation. How do international students experience these plans?
19 September 2024

‘Decolonisation can be unsettling’

For some researchers, their role in society is almost as important as their work. Meet three of VU’s activist academics. Tamara Soukotta taught courses on decolonisation at VU, until she was ‘relieved of her duties’.
5 July 2024

How SRVU lost board members and votes this year

It lost half its votes in the university student council elections, waved goodbye to most of its board members and processed a lot of criticism from its members. While SRVU was consistently the largest party, it is now facing hard…
Emma Sprangers
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