Corona support: millions of euros distributed for higher education
The money to limit the damage of the corona crisis in higher education and research is divided: over the next two years, 284 million will go to higher professional education and 83,6 million to universities. For researchers there is another 162 million.
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That is stated an administrative agreement that the ministry closed on Friday with higher education and research. The money comes from it National Education Program, an unprecedented support package for education as a whole, into which the outgoing cabinet has invested 8,5 billion euros.
Next academic year, the statutory tuition fees will be halved from this in higher education. How much money would be spent on coaching students, on 'catch-up and support education' and on tackling internship shortages had not yet been agreed, but now it is.
Internship shortages
The universities of applied sciences will receive a combined EUR 216 million for the next two years. 76 million euros is allocated to the universities. This also enables them to tackle the shortages of internships in medical training. Due to the corona crisis, doctors in training would have been delayed by two to four months.
The institutions themselves, within certain limits, are allowed to determine what they spend the millions on
In addition, educational institutions must limit study delays and drop-outs in teacher training programs 'as a result of internship shortages'. 68,4 million has been reserved for this in higher professional education and 7,6 million in university education.
The institutions themselves are allowed, within certain limits, to determine what they spend the millions on. One institution may be more committed to retaining internships, the ministers expect, while another will hire additional psychologists for students.
Right of consent
The participation will have the right to consent to the plans, the ministers emphasize. If students and staff do not like the ideas of the board, they can therefore put their heels in the sand.
The participation will have the right to consent to the plans, the ministers emphasize
The government will monitor in all kinds of ways what choices the institutions make and what the effect is. The institutions will also exchange knowledge and experiences. An evaluation of the program will follow in 2023.
Separate agreement
A separate agreement has been concluded for researchers, involving a total of 2022 million euros this year and in 162. It is estimated that the work of about 20 researchers with a temporary appointment has been delayed by about three months, for example due to problems with data collection or the use of laboratories.
These are researchers from universities of applied sciences, universities, academic hospitals and institutes of NWO and KNAW.
