This is despite reports of budget cuts and forced layoffs at other Dutch universities. According to Letschert, these issues are unrelated to the Internationalisation in Balance Bill (IBB), through which the government seeks to reduce internationalisation and the use of English in higher education. The financial challenges are primarily linked to sharply increased energy and salary costs, along with the already declining intake of international students. Dutch universities have not been recruiting abroad for several years. According to the university’s leadership, UM can manage the consequences: “We are currently financially stable.”
Much uncertainty
This is despite all the news about budget cuts and forced redundancies at other Dutch universities. Letschert said that those were separate from the Internationalisation in Balance Bill (IBB), an effort by the cabinet to reduce the internationalisation and use of English in higher education. They were related more to the significant rise in energy costs and salaries, and the already decreasing intake of international students. For a number of years now, Dutch universities have stopped recruiting students abroad. According to the board, UM can bear the consequences: “We are currently financially stable.”
‘Currently’ was a key phrase during the 45-minute session. There is still a lot of uncertainty about the IBB – and its impact on each university. Will institutions in contracting regions, such as UM, be granted an exemption and still be allowed to welcome internationals? That remains to be seen, but if not, “that will affect everyone here”.
The minister would also like the fourteen Dutch universities to present their own plan to limit the internationalisation and use of English. When asked, Letschert admitted that communication between the fourteen institutions is “difficult”. For example, UM would like further clarification on the possible exemption, before exploring which programmes should be switched to Dutch. When will that clarification be provided? “I have no idea.”
Full-time lobbyists
Someone wondered whether UM should be more explicit about possible scenarios for the budget cuts. “We have been discussing them since the summer and are constantly updating them,” responded Letschert. “But a lot of effort is being put into fighting the IBB.”
“Successfully”, too, she added – for example, the penalty for delayed graduation has since been taken off the table. Her tone is assertive, “we are full-time lobbyists now”, and “we are still working on getting all the cuts off the table”.
Nevertheless, “we can’t alleviate all concerns”, said Letschert. Looming cuts, an unstable government in the Netherlands, and global unrest: “I completely understand why people are worried about that.”