News item | 17-06-2022 | 16:15
As a knowledge country, the Netherlands is currently still one of the world’s best. To ensure that this remains the case, a substantial investment is required. In more room for young researchers, for training talent, for student supervision, student welfare and a better connection to the labor market. Over the next ten years, an additional 5 billion euros will therefore be invested in higher education and science. In addition, 700 million euros will be added structurally per year.
Minister Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science: “Knowledge is more important than ever. With the challenges we currently face, from climate and pandemic to geopolitical-economic challenges, every investment in knowledge is a direct investment in our own security and prosperity. Our system of research and higher education has been under too much pressure for years. There is plenty to do, especially for young researchers and teachers who supervise our students. The billions that we are now investing are necessary to keep our course as a knowledge country.”
Creaking system
The Netherlands benefits from the fertile soil that higher education and research offer. This foundation is formed by the efforts of many teachers, researchers and supporters. Together they work hard every day to provide high-quality education, to innovate education, to guide students as best as possible and to make scientific progress. But work within colleges and universities has been under increasing pressure in recent years. The system is cracking: the workload and pressure to perform among teachers and especially young researchers are too high. This affects them, but also the students who are supervised by them. Applying for research grants is a difficult and intensive process that often ends without results. In addition, there are no permanent contracts and there is too little time to renew and prepare for education.
The structure of higher education and science in the Netherlands is special: it is widely accessible and of very high quality. We have good colleges and universities and do well in scientific and practice-oriented research. This allows us to compete internationally with the top of the world. We want to keep it that way, especially with all the challenges we face in the field of climate, pandemic, economy and geopolitics.
Research (including PwC) shows that universities of applied sciences have insufficient financial resources for practice-oriented research. For scientific education and research, the budget is not even sufficient to finance current education and research. As a result, the soil under higher education and science is becoming increasingly exhausted. A sustainable and stable system is therefore required in order to offer peace and space. We achieve this by investing heavily in this now.
Sustainable and future-proof system
Minister Dijkgraaf wants to make broad use of the necessary investments for higher education and research. In addition, a nutritious soil for both research and education must be created, with particular attention for young researchers and teachers. With the investments of the cabinet, students, lecturers and researchers are given the space to use their talent and creativity for society at universities of applied sciences and universities. The investments are made on the basis of three principles:
- A healthy and strong foundation, for example by giving (young) researchers another chance with the start-up and incentive grant, but also by stimulating practice-oriented research at universities of applied sciences. There will also be room to invest in facilities and to collaborate more in Europe.
- Providing room for diverse talent, for example by increasing the number of permanent contracts, but also by investing in student welfare and a socially safe environment for students and employees.
- Contribute to the social challenges of the present and the future, for example by investing in training for the sectors where we urgently lack people, but also through better cooperation, both in the region (shrinking areas), nationally and internationally.
The Research and Science Fund
With these measures, the government wants to implement the implementation of the Fund for Research and Science. This fund was announced in the coalition agreement and thus provides an investment of a total of 5 billion euros for the next ten years. In addition, 700 million euros per year will be structurally added for research and education.