In The Hague last week, academics demonstrated for more structural funding and fewer temporary contracts in higher education. During the protest at the Hofvijver in The Hague, many academics were present to express their concerns. Among them was our own alumnus Pieter Duisenberg, president of the VSNU.
A study commissioned by the Ministry of Education found that there is a budget deficit of €1.1 billion every year for higher education. The demonstrators argue that the financing that Dutch universities currently receive is not enough to provide good education for students. The four EUR academics that were present at the demonstration agree that only a structural approach will make a difference. There are many problems associated with a budget that is too small, like the large number of temporary contracts.
In this YouTube video, you can see alumnus Pieter Duisenberg jump into the water fully clothed in his suit during the protest (around minute 2:30). He argues that “the pressure at the workplace in universities is simply too high”. Duisenberg tells the interviewer that there have been investments in the past, but that they are not sufficient. “The water is at our lips, and that’s what we tried to depict.”
Read more about the protest here in the article of Erasmus Magazine.
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Pieter Duisenberg studied Economics and Business Economics at Erasmus School of Economics. He graduated in 1990. He is now president of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU).