Five questions about the budget cuts to Vice President Margot van der Starre

Utrecht University (UU) faces a tough task: next year we have to cut 35 million euros. With government measures still to come, this could rise further to 70-80 million euros in 2029. This financial situation calls for clear choices and adjustments. By further sharpening its focus, UU wants to remain a sustainable healthy university. What exactly does that mean? Five questions to vice president Margot van der Starre on the budget cuts. 

1. What has been done since Budget Day (Prinsjesdag) and what decisions have already been taken? 

"We regularly discuss with all the university’s deans and directors how we implement the budget cuts in the short and long term. UU's ambitions remain our guiding principles for the future, and we are all in agreement on this. High-quality education, distinctive research and professional management are our top priorities.  

In terms of education, we are committed to the Utrecht education model, which focuses on a solid academic basis, connection with society and personal development. In our research, we continue to focus on the four Strategic Themes. And in operations, we are looking at what is really necessary to remain strong in the future, what we can postpone and what is not essential." 

2. What does this sharpened focus mean concretely, what will change at UU? 

"Of course, we are being more vigilant with our spending across the university. Vacancy restrictions have been announced for most departments. At the same time, we are going to focus more and therefore also assess what we will no longer do, in order to keep things manageable for everyone.  

So what does that focus look like? We will implement a number of joint, university-wide measures. For instance, we are considering phasing out faculty honours programmes within Bachelor’s programmes by September 2025. This measure will eventually generate over 1.5 million euros annually in the long term. In practice, this means that the extra challenge currently offered to a select group of honours students will be woven into the education of all students. This way, every student will receive sufficient challenge and the opportunity to develop their talents, and we will deploy the knowledge gained from honours education within the education model." 

3. Can you give any other examples of broad measures?  

“In terms of operations, we will limit the opening hours of buildings, especially outside office hours and during holiday periods. By closing buildings when they are used very little or not at all, we can save hundreds of thousands of euros by reducing costs for building receptions, energy consumption, and cleaning. The portfolio of IT services and external hiring will also be reviewed, so that sharper choices are made in this area too." 

4. What measures are being taken within faculties and departments?  

"In addition to the UU-wide measures, also the faculties and UCU, the Corporate Offices and also the University Library are taking targeted measures specific to their areas. They have all drawn up their own savings plans for this purpose. These include postponing or cancelling planned investments and selective vacancy stops. Of course, the university council, faculty councils and employee consultative bodies play an important role in determining appropriate measures. Ultimately, we are doing this together: this period calls for solidarity and collaboration. Only in this way can we tackle these challenges. 

We see that a lot is going on at the Faculty of Humanities. The choices being made in making the Faculty of Humanities more sustainable are painful – we, as the Executive Board, see and feel that too. However, these measures are necessary for a future-proof faculty." 

5) It sounds like we are facing a fait accompli. What can we do to turn the tide and prevent these budget cuts? 

"Let me be very clear: we are responsible for keeping our beautiful university substantively strong and financially sound in the long term as well. This is what we work hard for every day. This means that we cannot avoid taking measures now.  

However, the planned cuts to higher education threaten not only our future, but also the future of the Netherlands. We as the Executive Board - and I know this from the deans as well - are very concerned about this. So we make this loud and clear at every table where this conversation is held, here and in The Hague.  

That is why we are protesting, putting pressure together with universities and other allies in the hope of influencing the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science's (OCW) budget debate, and, where possible, taking legal action together with other universities because of commitments that are now being reversed. Investing in science and innovation is key to enabling social change. That is also why it is so important that we all send a clear signal and continue to protest against the cuts. For example, we plan to do so again on 25 November."