Announced cuts hurt him, says Dijkgraaf
“Those plans make me somewhat sad,” outgoing minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said yesterday in the House of Representatives about the upcoming administration’s cuts. He warned of the consequences.
“I realize that this may be the last time I get to speak about science here in plenary,” outgoing minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said yesterday in the House of Representatives during a brief debate on knowledge security in science.
According to him, the Netherlands is leading the way in research and science, thanks in part to additional investments. Foreign countries look at it with envy, he believes. But the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB are going to make severe cuts in higher education and scientific research.
Pain
Dijkgraaf: “I do have to say that it pains me that plans are now being made to roll back many of those investments.”
He cited as an example the “sector plans” for €225 million per year, in which universities within various disciplines jointly set the course. This created some 1,200 new positions for young researchers, the minister stated. “We did that together. The Netherlands often distinguishes itself internationally precisely because we do things in cooperation and not in competition.”
So the austerity plans make him “somewhat sad,” he says. “I feel a little bit like we are riding at the front of the pack and are now applying the brakes ourselves.”
Initial reaction
This is Dijkgraaf’s first reaction to the harsh cuts announced in the agreement outlined by the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB. Another example, which the minister did not mention, is the Research and Science Fund. This was supposed to spend five billion euros over 10 years but has to cut 1.1 billion euros.
The four parties are also going to adjust Dijkgraaf’s course on other points. For example, they want to save some €280 million by reducing the number of foreign students.
Another point: to relieve the pressure on students, Dijkgraaf wanted to adjust the binding study advice. That, too, is no longer going to happen. Instead, the pressure will be increased with the arrival of a long-study penalty. Those who overstay their studies by more than a year will pay an additional €3,000 in tuition.
