Faculty Board Column: Looking Ahead Together in Challenging Times
To underline the urgency: Our faculty faces a significant financial challenge. With a structural reduction of €5 to €6 million in annual income, dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. Added to this are the uncertain consequences of budget cuts from The Hague, including the Balanced Internationalisation Act and the Extended Study Penalty. Waiting is not an option. If we don’t make firm decisions now, the problems will only escalate.
Responses to the plans announced for the future of Humanities faculties are appearing daily in national newspapers and on social media. The potential discontinuation of programmes is drawing considerable attention, which is entirely understandable. Our programmes are not only scientifically valuable but also hold significant societal and cultural importance.
Given the media reports that are now emerging, we feel it is important to add some nuance. For us, as the Faculty Board, simply cutting programmes is not on the agenda. Our primary aim is to maintain our broad, global expertise. Naturally, we would prefer not to reduce our educational portfolio, but given the current financial situation and the way universities are funded by the government, we will have no choice. This means we are seriously considering the possibility of merging and broadening programmes where it makes academic sense and where we believe such a broadening can be a strength—alongside other measures both within and outside the educational domain. The burden of these budget cuts will ultimately be felt by all of us. These measures affect all programmes and institutes within the faculty: even larger programmes are reducing tracks and cutting back on teaching staff. Additionally, cuts have been implemented in the faculty office, while the Faculty Board is advocating for savings in central services.
Request for Advice from Programme Chairs
We take your questions and concerns about the planning process to heart. We feel it is important to reiterate that no final decisions have been made. This is why it is essential for programme chairs to provide their input at this stage. Have alternative options been thoroughly explored? Has careful consideration been given to a fair distribution of budget cuts? Why are these specific programmes being reviewed? Each decision impacts our education and research, as well as the people—you—who dedicate themselves daily with heart and soul to our faculty.
We acknowledge that we should have involved the programme chairs more closely in the process, and we accept responsibility for that. This is why we are particularly pleased that the programme chairs are constructively engaged and are working with us creatively to find the best solutions for the faculty, despite the complex and demanding situation.
We have asked the programme chairs to provide additional advice that aligns with the Faculty Strategic Plan and the frameworks and parameters established by the Task Force on the Education Portfolio. This is certainly not an easy task. The advice from the programme chairs—like the proposed plan of the Faculty Board—must generate the required savings within the range of €5 to €6 million per year. We have asked them to take on board several criteria, such as maintaining the quality of education, managing the workload for academic and support staff, and reducing administrative overheads by limiting the number of labels and tracks.
What’s Next?
The programme chairs will submit their advice to the Faculty Board by 1 December. We will carefully review the Perspective 2028 Action Plan alongside their advice and conduct the necessary financial analysis before the Christmas recess. Discussions are also underway with other faculties across the country regarding the decisions each faculty is making. We will take these insights into account in our decision-making process. Early in the new year, we will present a more developed plan to the co-participation bodies. Only then can we make a decision on any potential reorganisation. This decision-making process requires careful consideration and will proceed in multiple stages, as outlined in the Reorganisation Code. We recognise the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible and hope to be able to provide all staff and students with answers to the questions we all have.
This complex puzzle demands a lot from all of us, and we realise how much we are asking of the programme chairs. With all these challenges ahead, we, as the Faculty Board, have no choice but to work together with our institutes, programme chairs, the faculty office, and the co-participation bodies—under time pressure—to take responsibility in finding a responsible way forward. The changes are significant, and the choices are difficult. We are confident that, in good collaboration, we can take the necessary steps to ensure our faculty remains sustainable in these uncertain times.
More Information
The Perspective 2028 webpage will keep you updated on all developments. You can also find all documents and an overview of frequently asked questions on this page. The FAQ will be updated based on the ongoing information sessions at the institutes, the faculty office, and in The Hague. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email us at perspectief2028@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
The Faculty Board,
Mark Rutgers
Jeroen Touwen
Mirjam de Baar
Saskia Goedhard
Nova Verkerk