Independent journalism about VU Amsterdam | Since 1953
22 December 2024
Magazine
Nederlands

Politics

Student Life & Society 26 October 2023

Politician wants to stop tax advantage expats in favor of students

Pieter Omtzigt wants to phase out of the tax advantage for highly-educated expats. The millions of euros this would save could then be used to decrease the interest on loans incurred by students belonging to the ‘bad luck generation’.
Student Life & Society 20 April 2023

Government investigates potential risk posed by Chinese PhD candidates

Chinese PhD candidates attending Dutch universities on a scholarship sometimes pass on sensitive information to China, according to various media reports. After months of delay, Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf announced he is launching an investigation. Replying to written questions from…
Student Life & Society 13 April 2023

Government wants more permanent contracts: will lecturers benefit?

Fewer flexible contracts, more security for staff… This week, the government put forward a plan to reform the labour market. What will that mean for higher education? After lengthy discussions with trade unions and employers, the government has sent the…
Student Life & Society 23 February 2023

Politicians fear return of grant will attract more foreign students

The reinstatement of the basic student grant has met with a positive reception from all sides of the House of Representatives. But some parties have expressed concern: will this overhaul of student financing end up attracting even more international students…
Student Life & Society 6 October 2022

Universities should be even more careful

The House of Representatives wants educational institutions to be more critical when it comes to analysing their knowledge security. It did not go so far as to adopt a motion to ban Chinese students and researchers from all ‘sensitive’ knowledge…
Student Life & Society 20 September 2022

‘Data collection on ethnicity may be a necessary evil’

In order to combat ethnic discrimination and racism, collecting data on the migration background of students and staff may be a “necessary evil”. This is a tentative conclusion drawn by The Young Academy based on interviews.
Student Life & Society 6 April 2022

VU Amsterdam and other universities ask for financial support to help refugees

Many schools in the Netherlands have already welcomed young Ukrainian refugees to their classes. Higher education would also like to admit newcomers, but this is easier said than done. Nearly a month ago, the refugee student foundation UAF – with…
Student Life & Society 28 May 2021

Conflict between Israel and Palestine causes political unrest in higher education

The recent conflict between Israel and Palestine has led to protests, intimidation and a call to boycott Israeli knowledge institutions. But Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences do not want to take sides. Shortly after violence broke out again…
Student Life & Society 20 May 2021

Dutch academics boycott Israeli universities

Nearly 500 researchers and lecturers are boycotting Israeli academic institutions because of their ties to Israel’s military. They want the Netherlands to express support for the Palestinians by cutting all economic, political and military ties with Israel for the time…
Student Life & Society 1 April 2021

VU student becomes Minister in student cabinet

As of this week there is a Dutch Student Cabinet, complete with a student Prime Minister, ministers representing all Dutch universities, and their own coalition agreement. But what’s the reason behind it? “We are not the voice of students.”