Amsterdam-based university wants to terminate the programme
Earth sciences students from VU Amsterdam allowed to finish their studies at UU
Photo: DUB's archives
A year ago, VU Amsterdam announced its intention to save millions of euros. These austerity measures have now led to the decision to scrap the Bachelor's programme in Earth Sciences by September 2027. The same will happen to one of the tracks of the Master's programme in Earth Sciences.
VU's Bachelor's in Earth Sciences has been attracting fewer and fewer students these past few years, consequently becoming too expensive for the university, explains Dean Aletta Kraneveld in VU's magazine Ad Valvas. The decision is not yet final as it must still be approved by their university council.
On Thursday, April 3, the faculty board informed the concerned staff members about the forced layoffs. A total of 37 out of 98 employees would have to leave if the council were to approve the termination of the programmes. This roughly corresponds to the 30-percent budget cut imposed on the department.
Transfer to UU
Students are dismayed by the news and wonder how they will finish their studies now. The VU programme has 130 Earth Sciences students at the bachelor's level, some of whom have just started their studies in Amsterdam. The dean says in Ad Valvas that new students may be forced to choose another programme, while individual plans will be devised with the remaining students.
VU is currently consulting with Utrecht University to see if its Earth Sciences students could take courses here. UU is home to the only other programme in Earth Sciences in the Netherlands. Utrecht University says on its website that it is exploring whether the VU students could start or complete their studies at UU without interruption from the next academic year onwards.
As for research, UU is considering whether a limited number of researchers from VU could move to the Utrecht University Department of Earth Sciences. 'This will involve a small number of researchers, who have earth science expertise unique to the Netherlands and complementary to the expertise in Utrecht. And possibly some research facilities that are needed by these researchers,' UU writes.
No financial risk
VU is not the only university in financial trouble. UU must make budget cuts as well. The university says it does not want to take any financial risks, be it short-term or long-term, because of this deal. The Department of Earth Sciences is financially healthy, partly due to a stable influx of students each year. According to Utrecht University, this provides sufficient financial leeway to facilitate the transfer of a small number of earth scientists from VU University Amsterdam without negatively affecting UU employees.