During the Council meeting, Annetje Ottow painted an extremely grim picture of the university's financial future. If the austerity plans proposed by the Schoof cabinet go ahead, the Board will have to make ‘difficult decisions about what we can even continue to fund’. ‘Though it pains me deeply,’ we’ll have to say: “It’s a shame, but we’re not going to do this anymore.” It’ll be back to basics with the remaining budget we will receive from The Hague.’

She added that ‘the seven fat years are over, we’re now heading into seven very, very lean years... And I hope it won’t be longer than that.’

The political discussions on the education budget also gave the Board president little cause for hope. ‘The prospects are very grim.’

The latest developments suggest that the long-term study penalty will likely be scrapped. ‘Great news for students, of course. But the bad news is that the universities will have to cover the costs. The funding per student is being reduced. We’ll be paid less for the same work.’ That’s an additional cut on top of the already substantial pile of savings.

Drastic measures

Incidentally, the coalition reached an agreement with part of the opposition on the education budget on Wednesday night. The cabinet will scrap the long-term study penalty but universities will not bear the costs (see text box).

Ottow explained that the Board is working with the faculties to assess which cost-cutting measures will need to follow. The Board will then put forward a proposal. It has already become clear that drastic measures are needed. ‘Shaving off bits and pieces, as we’ll be doing in 2025, won’t be enough. Everyone will feel the pain.’

In fact, it is possible that even deeper cuts will need to be made in 2025 than expected. ‘We’re talking to deans about austerity measures leading up to 2026.’

The Council asked Ottow about the plans for recruitment freezes and filters. ‘We will carefully evaluate where recruitment freezes are needed,’ said the Board president. ‘Certain areas of expertise are more essential than others.’

Joost Augusteijn of staff party LAG had questions about the recruitment freezes. ‘If you stop filling vacancies arising from natural attrition, that constitutes a cutback. A job position is eliminated. Is there an analysis behind which positions will disappear and which will remain?’

Reorganisation

‘We assume that the faculties will make a thorough analysis,’ Ottow responded, ‘which we will then discuss with them.’

‘It’s actually a kind of reorganisation,’ said Augusteijn. ‘We’re going to stop replacing certain positions. That requires a reorganisation plan. It’s currently happening without any proper assessment – something we do need.’

‘There’s no such thing as “a kind of reorganisation”,’ Ottow argued. ‘It’s either a reorganisation, or it isn't. We’re currently taking stock of the situation at the faculties. Humanities is a good example. As of yet, no decisions have been made there regarding the cuts. When that happens, the Board will determine whether additional decisions are necessary. We will then also assess whether we need to reorganise or not.’

Timothy de Zeeuw of LAG asked Ottow whether Leiden will object if the cuts from The Hague are implemented. ‘During the protest on 14 November, Ingrid Robeyns, professor of ethics at Utrecht University, called upon all Executive Boards to engage in administrative disobedience: to not help implement the cuts. Is that one of the scenarios for Leiden?’

Administrative disobedience

‘We haven’t reached that point yet,’ Ottow responded. ‘We also have to realise that if we do that, we won’t receive much funding from The Hague. If the money for the university doesn’t come through in January, we will all have a very serious problem. We’re going to see what is and isn’t possible to keep this university afloat.’

Floske Spieksma of staff party UB wanted to know whether there have been consultations with other universities about working together to retain expertise and programmes. ‘There are national discussions underway,’ replied rector Hester Bijl. ‘Last Friday, the rectors looked at the entire range of programmes. If programmes are at risk of being discontinued, the deans of the different universities discuss this together. There’s the national interest to consider, of course, but each institution also has its own interests. Those conversations can be difficult at times.’