Flemish rectors, the heads of our universities, are sounding the alarm now that the Flemish government has decided to make further substantial cuts in higher education. Universities in particular will have to make significant savings: just under €35 million. “We feel compelled to increase tuition fees by €150 per student, against our will,” says Bernard Vanheusden, chair of the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR). But minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist N-VA) is clear: there will be no such increase.
Flemish universities and colleges will once again have to make substantial savings: their basic funding is being reduced by 46.3 million euros annually. Last Friday, the Flemish government approved draft legislation stipulating the savings.
For example, less money will go to foreign students from outside the European Union (i.e. non-EEA students). This will save 30.7 million euros. And the so-called ‘Brussels funds’ will disappear completely. This is Flemish cash that provides extra financial support to Dutch-language higher education in Brussels. 10.6 million is being cut. Savings will also be made at research institutions.
Universities hit particularly severely
€34.9 million in cuts means that within the Flemish budget for higher education universities are disproportionately severely hit. And then there is the federal budget to consider.
Bernard Vanheusden, chair of the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) and rector of Hasselt University, agrees. “Universities are facing an enormous challenge. In the long term, this could even lead to the loss of 350 full-time jobs, although we will do everything we can to prevent this.”
Dutch-speaking institutions in Brussels are particularly severely hit, partly due to the disappearance of the special cash the Flemish government sets aside for Brussels. Both the VUB and the Brussels campus of KU Leuven are affected. “We stand in solidarity with our Brussels colleagues and will share the impact,” says Vanheusden.
“The other universities, including Ghent University, Antwerp University and Hasselt University, will voluntarily give up a portion of their funding. This will make it somewhat more bearable for our colleagues in Brussels.”
In addition to the cuts in higher education, universities are also affected by a €14.5 million reduction in the budget for scientific research. “And this despite the fact that the Flemish government’s coalition agreement states that research must be an essential basis for innovation and a source of prosperity,” Vanheusden points out.
An extra €150 per student?
In order to bear all these savings, Flemish universities see no other option than to increase tuition fees. “All universities unanimously agree: if such severe cuts are imposed on us, we will have no choice but to increase tuition fees by €150 for all non-scholarship students from the next academic year onwards.”
This is a measure that can only be implemented by the Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist N-VA). She won’t hear of any increase. “We are not going to increase tuition fees, but I am willing to sit down and discuss the other options,” the minister responded.
Cuts to student grants too
Earlier this month, it also became clear that education minister Demir plans to save just under 34 million euros on grants. The Flemish Student Association (VVS) calculated that this reform could cause 20,000 students to lose their right to a grant.
“This will make it more difficult for these young people to access university education. We think it is particularly worrying that students are also directly affected by these savings,” rector Vanheusden noted.