Independent journalism about VU Amsterdam | Since 1953
16 April 2025
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Nederlands

Science & Education

money 9 April 2025

Senate backs education cuts, universities to take legal action

The Senate has voted to back the government’s cutbacks to education and research. Doubts about the legality of some of the cuts were not enough to stall the budget. The universities now plan to take their case to court.
money 9 April 2025

‘Pay rises should go to those who earn less’

In times of austerity, professors don’t need the biggest pay rises. The most significant salary increases should go to people on lower pay scales, says Laura Batstra, an adjunct professor based in Groningen. She started a petition that’s been signed…
Education 31 March 2025

‘We learn how to use AI from Instagram and TikTok’

While VU Amsterdam struggles to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI landscape, students are getting important information about the technology from social media rather than the classroom.
Science 27 March 2025

NWO wants to attract only the best researchers

How much does it cost to get researchers working in the US to come to the Netherlands? “We need 20 million euros to bring 20 people here, and 40 million euros to attract 40”, says Marcel Levi, chair of the…
Campus 25 March 2025

With Earth Sciences specialized knowledge will also dissapear

Earth Sciences at VU is under threat of being discontinued, while the job market is in desperate need of graduates in the field. Scientists from other disciplines also rely on the knowledge that would be lost.  
Politics 20 March 2025

Education minister wants to force universities to work together

The government wants to reduce competition between higher education institutions by making it a legal requirement for them to work together. This is according to a letter from education minister Eppo Bruins.
Politics 20 March 2025

More flexible language policy for border regions

Thirteen Dutch higher education institutions are located within 25 kilometres of the border. Without giving any guarantees, the government plans to introduce more flexible language policy for these institutions.
Wellbeing 10 March 2025

‘Give all researchers their own budget’

Want to do something about workload issues in academia? Then give everyone their own research budget, says Eddie Brummelman, chair of The Young Academy.
Education 5 February 2025

Defence interested in collaborating with higher education

More work placements, a permanent group of ‘military lecturers’ and more money for research. Defence embraces the advice to make more frequent use of knowledge within higher education institutions. This does require these institutions to improve their knowledge security.
Exchange 5 February 2025

‘Number of internationals does not need to fall substantially’

The number of international students scarcely needs to be reduced, Education Minister Eppo Bruins has confirmed to the Senate. His planned budget cuts may have already been achieved if numbers remain at their current level.