UU students mainly concerned about the future

DUB wants the UU community to become even more involved in its coverage. Enter Deep Dive, a new project in which we let readers decide the topics our journalists will explore. 

A total of 134 students participated in DUB’s second Deep Dive round through our online questionnaire, Instagram and WhatsApp polls, or in person, talking to our team at Utrecht Science Park and the University Library City Centre. Of these respondents, 57 chose “How to stay hopeful about the future?” as the issue they worry about the most. 

“Is freedom of speech under threat?” came second, with 50 votes. The least popular option was “How can we have a healthier relationship with our phones?”, chosen by 27 respondents. 

Uncertain, powerless and looking for agency
The 57 students who chose the question on hope are mainly worried about the world. Climate change, wars, and the rapid spread of artificial intelligence were all mentioned as factors that make them feel uncertain about the future. 

Many respondents have expressed a desire for tangible tips on how to deal with those feelings and prevent the state of the world from damaging their mental health.

Some students also feel powerless. They would like to help build a better future, but don’t know where to start or whether what they do would matter much. “How can we have real impact?” one of them asks. “How can you actually make the world a better place?” wonders another. And lastly, “how can Utrecht University support students in becoming more optimistic and feeling more agency?”

Other respondents interpreted the question more individually: they don’t know what to do after their studies, and the future seems daunting. They wonder whether they will be able to find a nice job and be happy. Concerns about the job market and the rising cost of living played a role here.

As promised, DUB will closely examine the results and strive to provide as many perspectives on the winning question as possible, with the help of Utrecht University’s scholars. We will organise dialogue sessions, take students' questions to experts, and ask columnists to write about the winning topic, to name but a few ideas in the pipeline. 

Of course, there are no definitive answers to the question of how to stay hopeful about the future. However, DUB hopes that a deep dive into the underlying social, economic, and psychological factors that lead to these feelings, along with an investigation of possible next steps, will help students glimpse a path forward. So, stay tuned!

Another relevant question
“Is freedom of speech under threat?” was a close second, with 50 votes. Dutch students showed an overwhelming preference for the question about the future, while international students were clearly concerned about freedom of speech.

An international student who took our online survey wrote: “When people complain about freedom of speech, they usually expect others to listen to them. I get the feeling that they can’t make a distinction between ‘freedom of speech’ and ‘free of consequences’. In other words, what does freedom of speech actually mean?”

Someone else wondered why people seem “so sensitive” these days, while another student noted that some people “call themselves progressives even though they are the most close-minded.” 

These international students are also worried about academic freedom and how the university can create space for dissenting and minority opinions without fear of repercussions. 

While we’d need another survey to determine exactly why there is such a clear difference between Dutch and international students, a couple of answers in our survey offer clues. “I don’t think freedom of speech is under threat in the Netherlands as it is in other countries,” said a Dutch respondent. “I’d only like this topic covered in depth if DUB talks about other countries as well. I don’t think it is a problem here,” said another Dutch respondent. 

Since students, particularly those from abroad, also care deeply about this topic, DUB has decided to bear that in mind, even though the question about freedom of speech didn't win. Therefore, readers who voted for the question on freedom of speech should also stay tuned to our website. In the meantime, they can check out our articles on democracy, one of our focus topics for 2026.