How is the Steering Committee Perspective 2028 doing? 'Advice expected by the end of April'
If we continue with our current policies, the Faculty of Humanities will face a financial shortfall in 2024 and subsequent years. The Perspective 2028 Steering Committee, led by Manon van der Heijden, has been established to advise on potential measures that can be taken to improve the financial situation.
The Steering Committee succeeds the Core Team, which conducted an initial quantitative exploration of relevant developments and financial possibilities for the faculty. Since late January, members of the Steering Committee have been engaging in discussions within the faculty to gather more qualitative information and provide insight into aspects such as the decline in student numbers, the efficiency of programmes in general, and the specific costs and benefits of the faculty.
Three questions
The Steering Committee is guided by three questions: What are the ‘untouchables’? Where can costs be reduced? What financial opportunities exist that we are not fully exploiting? The Committee is assisted by an advisory group consisting of Monique van der Arend (head of financial and economic affairs), Annemiek Hogendorp (head of HRM), and Tim Lamers (head of educational advice and quality assurance).
Additionally, the steering committee has reached out to all members of the Faculty Board and the Scientific Directors to seek input from colleagues outside the faculty (Scientific Directors) or outside the university (Faculty Board members) on their experiences and ideas in this area. Similar problems exist in many other faculties and universities. The Faculty Council and members of the Student Services (OSZ) department have also made concrete suggestions.
Presentation of advice
The Steering Committee expects to present its advice to the Faculty Board by the end of April as planned. The advice will then be discussed in the Faculty Council. Colleagues with questions or suggestions can contact Chairperson Manon van der Heijden.
The Steering Committee consists of Manon van der Heijden (chair, professor of Urban History, former scientific director of the Institute for History), Maarit van Gammeren (Institute Manager LUCL, also a member of the Core Team), Lisa Cheng (professor of General Linguistics, former scientific director of LUCL), Ivo Smits (professor of Arts and Cultures of Japan), and Annemarie Bibo (board secretary). Members of the steering committee are appointed based on their expertise rather than their representational roles within our faculty.