Independent journalism about VU Amsterdam | Since 1953
15 February 2026
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1 September 2025

Forum and Volt election manifestos: totally different, slight overlap

Volt wants to make studying accessible to all, Forum voor Democratie wants to allow fewer students to enrol in higher education. And yet, there’s a slight overlap between these two polar opposites.
26 August 2025

PVV and CDA outline their plans for higher education

PVV and CDA have now also unveiled their election manifestos. A key point of divergence between them is their stance on international student arrivals.
12 July 2025

4,600 signatures against ‘equal opportunities’ in flatmate interviews

In a short amount of time, a petition against DUWO’s plea for ‘equal opportunities’ in flatmate interviews for housing has been signed 4,600 times. Residents want to continue to decide for themselves who their new flatmate will be.
8 July 2025

The Young Academy sounds alarm over power of tech companies in education

Higher education institutions are leaning too much on commercial tech companies, warns The Young Academy. This puts the core values of science at risk. In a manifesto, the society calls for a radical change of direction.
8 June 2025

Rectors want broad debate on academic freedom

University rectors are concerned about academic freedom in the Netherlands and want to start a broad dialogue about it. “The freedom to think and speak is under threat, from outside and from within.”
5 June 2025

Government fallen: what are the consequences for higher education?

This morning, Geert Wilders (PVV) pulled the plug on the government. It now has an outgoing status and new elections will be held. Is this good news for higher education and scientific research?
2 June 2025

More students feel safe enough to be themselves

According to the National Student Survey, more and more students are positive about the atmosphere within their programme. They are also more likely to feel safe enough to be themselves at their educational institution.
8 May 2025

25 million to bring threatened top researchers here

In the years ahead, 25 million euros will be available to bring scientists from the United States (and other countries) to the Netherlands. This is revealed in the ‘supplementary budget’ that was recently published by the government.
8 May 2025

Harvard changes name of diversity department

Harvard’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) department is getting a different name. This seems to be a concession to Trump, who is forcing American universities to abandon their ‘left-wing’ diversity programmes.
1 May 2025

Who will protect students whose study programme was scrapped?

If a programme is axed due to budget cuts, existing students still have the right to complete it, even if it takes them years. But who ensures that they are getting a good education? Inspector General Alida Oppers of the…
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