SP and PVV angry, students and universities optimistic

The first reactions to the coalition agreement are trickling in. The higher education sector is mostly relieved that the austerity measures imposed by the last cabinet are being scrapped.

The views of trade unions, employers and interest groups are more important than ever, given that this is a minority cabinet. The three parties in the coalition, D66, CDA and VVD, do not have a majority in either chamber, so they need civil society to support their measures. Having their support will make it easier for the cabinet to win over the opposition parties.

However, two parties have already signalled that the new cabinet cannot count on them: the Socialist Party (SP) and Party for Freedom (PVV). Both parties announced their opposition soon after the coalition agreement was unveiled. SP leader Jimmy Dijk said he "cannot cooperate with this," while PVV leader Geert Wilders promised to "oppose it fiercely."

The remaining parties, which may or may not help the coalition, are keeping quiet for now. On an X post, the left-wing party GroenLinks-PvdA, which has been considered for the cabinet but shunned by VVD, calls the agreement a "starting point for negotiations". Joost Eerdmans, from the right-wing party JA21, which was also considered for the cabinet but shunned by D66, has not yet reacted to the agreement. 

Students satisfied
The National Student Union (LSVb) is pleased that the protests staged by students and higher education staff to oppose the severe budget cuts imposed by the last cabinet seem to have worked. "The National Student Union has taken to the streets with thousands of students, teachers and staff. After months of protests, we're finally seeing the results."

LVSb appreciates that the coalition agreement addresses students' mental health and proposes to increase benefits for students not living with their parents. "Nevertheless, the incoming cabinet could take further steps to improve the lives of young people even more. For example, they could extend rent benefits for people renting rooms."

The national student association (ISO) has also reacted favourably to the coalition agreement. "We're curious about the details and specific amounts," the organisation says. "But this is good news, and we were ready for it after all the austerity measures imposed these past few years."

Regarding the introduction of a mandatory internship allowance, ISO says: "Finally. We have been asking for this for years. Students need it so badly." But this is another matter for which details are yet to be finalised.

Universities: good news
Research universities are pleased, too. Caspar van den Berg, chair of the Association of Dutch Universities (UNL), says: "It is very good news that the coalition parties fully endorse the idea that investing in education, research and innovation is crucial for the future of the Netherlands."

Research universities are also happy about the incoming cabinet's new course on the internationalisation and anglicisation of Dutch higher education. The new coalition does not want to make things difficult for universities offering English-taught programmes. "This means that the English-taught bachelor's programmes in Psychology, Economics and Business Administration that were bound to be scrapped no longer have to be converted to Dutch."

Universities of applied sciences are excited
Maurice Limmen, chair of the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, is equally excited. "The coalition agreement presented today contains some good news for universities of applied sciences," he says.

One of the things universities of applied sciences appreciate is the intention to invest more in practice-oriented research. The coalition agreement also proposes structural funding for continuing education (courses for professionals looking to brush up on their skills or change careers). Dutch universities of applied sciences would like to play a greater role in that area. They are also pleased that the agreement seems to value mathematics and language education.