The new national protest against the budget cuts in higher education will take place on Monday, 25 November. It will be held on Malieveld in The Hague, starting at 1 pm. This new protest is being held after the previously planned protest on 14 November was cancelled for security reasons.
The UT Executive Board and deans of the faculties hope that UT employees and students will once again attend the demonstration in large numbers. Also, in Twente, many staff and students are motivated to make their voices heard against the major budget cuts in higher education. Those cutbacks add up to a billion euros in 2029, and mean a severe cutback for higher education and science. That is why we must join forces to make our voices heard and undo these cuts as much as possible.
UT is facilitating participation in the protest by drawing up a set of guidelines for this purpose. These guidelines are in line with those that also applied on 14 November and with those that many other universities adhere to.
The initiators of this nationwide protest are still working on the exact programme, so keep an eye on their websites, such as FNV. Want to get in touch with other UT staff active around the protests? Then, join the WhatsApp group Twente for Protest. Currently, almost 600 members of the UT community are in this group.
Guidelines for employees
- Employees who wish to participate do not have to take a day off to do so. This falls under special leave.
- Employees who wish to take part in the protest action will make arrangements with their managers. There may be weighty arguments that make their presence at the university necessary.
- Travel expenses will not be reimbursed by UT.
- Teachers will ensure that students are taught all the material within the duration of a subject;
- Scheduled tests go ahead. An employee who would be unable to attend as a result will seek a solution in consultation with their supervisor;
Guidelines for students
- Scheduled tests will go ahead.
- There is no attendance requirement for students on 25 November (except for patient care and compulsory practicals that cannot be made up/rescheduled);
- Making up missed material is the student's responsibility.
