Cabinet allocates billions for higher education and research
Universities and colleges can look forward to hundreds of millions of euros. Much of the money goes to 'personal working capital' for researchers, says a letter from Minister Dijkgraaf.
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“The stretch is gone, especially for young researchers and teachers who supervise our students,” says Dijkgraaf in a press release. “The billions we are investing now are necessary to keep our course as a knowledge country.”
The cabinet wants to spend 700 million euros extra annually on higher education and research, plus 5 billion euros through a ten-year research fund. That was already in the coalition agreement; Dijkgraaf is now writing to the House of Representatives about how he wants to divide that money.
Working capital: 300 million
The 'working capital' of 300 million euros per year for researchers is striking. It is an idea launched by the KNAW science society. He called the stock exchanges rolling grants, but the cabinet will not adopt that name.
Dijkgraaf speaks of 'stable and free to spend starters and incentive grants, in the form of personal working capital for (young) researchers', although 'young' is a relative term. These are university lecturers and professors.
The 'working capital' of 300 million euros per year for researchers is striking. It is an idea that the KNAW science society has launched
The amount for the grants is divided into 156 million euros in starter grants from the regular funding plus 144 million euros in incentive grants from the ten-year science fund. After ten years, the latter exchanges will therefore disappear again.
The starter grants amount to 300 thousand euros for university lecturers who receive a permanent contract. That equates to 520 assistant professors per year. The incentive grants can also be less than three tons, and they are also allowed to go to senior lecturers and professors.
Six years
“Researchers can spend the grant within a maximum of six years”, explains Dijkgraaf, “for example on research time for themselves and teammates, new colleagues and the purchase and use of (small-scale) research facilities.”
During that time they are not allowed to submit an application to NWO, because they already have enough money at their disposal. This should reduce the application pressure at NWO, so that the remaining applicants have a better chance with the science funder.
The grants are distributed in proportion to the number of students, but the young universities of Rotterdam, Maastricht and Tilburg receive slightly more money. On historical grounds, there is a skewed distribution of research funding in the Netherlands, so Dijkgraaf can ease that pain a bit.
Sector plans: 200 million
Another major item is the 'sector plans' in science, on which the minister wants to spend 200 million euros a year. The idea is that universities will cooperate more effectively and also keep small programs such as Dutch language and literature up and running.
Of that 200 million, he uses 60 million euros for “bottlenecks in sectors that are identified as priorities in any case by all parties involved”. He wants to start with that this year. It remains to be seen which bottlenecks he has in mind.
Colleges: 100 million
The universities of applied sciences receive 100 million a year for their applied research: 50 million from the regular budget and another 50 million from the fund that will finance research over the next ten years. By far the most money (85 million) comes directly from The Hague, but 10 million euros per year goes through applications to the SIA governing body, part of research funder NWO. Another 5 million is for the development of the hbo PhD track, which professional doctorate is called.
For example, there are more subjects for which Dijkgraaf reserves money, such as matching European research grants at a raison of 75 million euros. Research funder NWO will receive an additional 60 million euros for the 'open competition' and another 20 million euros for top research to be determined, in which consortia of scientists and institutions have already proven themselves.
Workload
And of course he also wants to tackle education, although he is less specific about this. The minister wants to consider a number of subjects, such as the influx of international students, the future of higher professional education and the renewal of quality supervision in higher education.
The minister wants to think about a number of topics, such as the influx of international students, the future of higher professional education and the renewal of quality supervision in higher education.
He does not set aside a separate amount for the workload of lecturers and employees: perhaps it helps that the system of research grants changes somewhat with the arrival of working capital. But he continues to talk about it with universities and colleges, he says.
The same applies to the pursuit of 'recognition and appreciation', in which researchers can be rewarded for things other than their scientific achievements, such as teaching, taking charge and disseminating knowledge in society. No extra money, but permanent attention.
Student welfare: 15 million
Dijkgraaf also pays attention to the increased "gloomy, motivation and concentration problems and substance use among students" and their concerns about the future. “These signals affect me deeply,” he says. He allocates 15 million euros per year for this.
Impact and shortages
Can higher education and scientific research contribute to problems in the areas of climate, energy, nitrogen, housing, health, safety, equality of opportunity, the labor market and more? Yes, thinks Dijkgraaf, but that results from the other investments.
He reserves an amount of up to 30 million per year for universities of applied sciences for courses in three deficit sectors: health care, education and science technology. They have to do everything with this: increase the intake of students, ensure that fewer students drop out and improve the connection to the labor market.
He also has 20 million in mind for open science and 10 million for a center for science communication, so that the results of research will find their way into society more easily.
