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

Science & Education

Science 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.
Politics 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.
Internationalization 22 January 2025

Coalition parties decided they do in fact want international students

The House of Representatives has called on the government to prepare an action plan aimed at ‘retaining’ international students in the Netherlands. A resolution to this effect received the backing of three coalition parties yesterday.
Education 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…
Politics 16 January 2025

Education minister wants talks with unions after all

The unions have at last received a response to the ultimatum they issued to the government. Education minister Eppo Bruins now says he is willing to hold talks. But his concession comes with a warning: there is no prospect of…
Education 16 January 2025

Higher education is going on relay strike

Lecturers, researchers and other staff in higher education will be going on strike against government budget cuts. This is to be a so-called ‘relay’ strike.
ICT 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.
Internationalization 17 December 2024

Further budget cuts for international students may not be necessary

According to an analysis by HOP, there may no longer be a need for higher education institutions to cut their budgets for foreign students, as they’ve already reached their target. If the institutions attract the same number of international students…
Staff 11 December 2024

Almost all universities have more female professors

For the very first time, there are more than a thousand female full professors in the Netherlands. Their share increased at all universities, except in Rotterdam. With 30 percent female professors the VU is in the mid range.
Education 11 December 2024

Teachers share their love for chemistry through videos

Teachers Jaap Harteveld and Thomas Hansen are tackling one of the major stumbling blocks for students in the bachelor’s Pharmaceutical Sciences. They use videos in which they personally solve assignments.