Faculty year opened in the Hortus
This year too, the faculty year was opened in the Hortus Botanicus. In the centuries-old garden, staff and students met with drinks and snacks.
In his speech, Dean Mark Rutgers addressed the faculty’s financial situation. 'It will not be an easy year. The faculty is expected to have to shrink in size,' he said.
Over the past year, various measures have already been taken for this, but it seems unlikely that these will also be sufficient to cope with the impending cuts from The Hague. ‘All this does not yet include what will come from politics,’ Rutgers stressed. 'We won't know that until Budget Day at the earliest. Only then can we assess in more detail what the effects of the various policy choices will be in the short and long term.'
‘Let your voice be heard’
Ahead of these policy choices, Rutgers encouraged attendees to make their voices heard. 'Before the summer, we did that with the flash campaign. Last Monday, there was a delegation at the alternative opening of the college year in Utrecht.' In doing so, Rutgers stressed that it is especially important for humanities scholars to call attention to their teaching and research at a time when ‘attention seems limited to technical knowledge and training for shortage sectors’.
'We cannot solve the major challenges in our global society without the humanities. Be it climate change and the need to adapt our lifestyles. The huge impact of artificial intelligence on our daily lives and self-image as human beings, migration or wars with deep regional, historical and cultural roots: without humanities knowledge and professionals and experts trained in it, we won't get there.'
Education Award
Following the speech, the Education Prize was awarded. After careful consideration by the Education Committee, it was awarded this year to university lecturer Christopher Green, whom the committee felt was talented in showing his students the world behind the personal, human stories that make up Korean history. Second was university lecturer Johan de Jong, who, according to the committee, ‘combines eloquence with a keen sense of humour.
Want more information on the financial situation and the measures the faculty is taking to address it? You can find the most frequently asked questions on Perspectief 2028 - Universiteit Leiden.