What exactly does the rector of Maastricht University mean when she says that universities might ‘collapse?’ Letschert: “The fourteen universities have some financial reserves, so they probably won’t go bankrupt any time soon. But when students stay away from campus for a longer period of time, it will affect both the universities and the local economies.”

Redundancies

Does she fear compulsory redundancies? “I don’t have a crystal ball, but when student inflow decreases and the crisis continues, we will be affected financially. In that case, we will provide less education and our capacity to conduct research will diminish. I think we can hold out two years, but perhaps I’m too optimistic. Universities will have less work for researches and lecturers with temporary contracts. Their contracts will not be extended and they might not be able to find employment at other universities either. That’s no compulsory redundancy, but it’s basically just as bad.”

That is why Letschert describes minister Ingrid van Engelshoven’s comment in the House of Representatives last week that she saw no reason to support scientists with temporary contracts as “a bit naïve.” Van Engelshoven said that universities were in the position to offer some permanent positions. “I wish that everyone could have a permanent contract,” Letschert says, “but that’s just not realistic. It’s not even possible under normal circumstances, let alone now. Also not for postdocs who are in a crucial phase of their research, although we are currently figuring out ways how to accommodate PhD candidates and postdocs so that they can complete their research.”

Too premature

Robert-Jan Smits, president of TU/e’s Executive Board, acknowledges that many things are uncertain at this moment. “How many students will register at our university? How many foreign students will actually come here? Can and may we take things one step further in September, after we open the labs on a limited basis today, May the 6th, and all goes well? Will the industry still provide enough third flow of funds recourses? How will the corona crisis affect the NWO financially?”

All the universities have these questions on their minds, Smits says, “but to argue, at this early stage, that a number of universities will ‘collapse’ seems a bit premature to me. Don’t forget that Maastricht, with all its foreign students, occupies a special position.”

Smits believes that the impact of the corona crisis will only become truly apparent by the fall. “I also see quite a few bright spots. Look at what’s happening in our neighboring countries: economies are gradually reopening, and schools and businesses are opening their doors again. Denmark in particular is leading the way. The universities will be part of this reopening as well. At TU/e, we intend to dedicate ourselves to blended learning in particular, meaning that we will provide our education partly online and partly on campus.”

Smits has started to make an inventory of the first lessons learned from this crisis and how this will affect TU/e’s Strategy 2030. “That will certainly be addressed during the opening of the new academic year. But for now, my conclusion is that it’s still too early to paint a grim picture of the long-term consequences of the crisis. My motto is still: we will get there one step at a time through our combined strength. Stay positive.”

Outbreak Management Team

Letschert thinks that universities should be very careful with making decisions about online education in the coming academic year.  But who else should make that decision? Letschert: “In the coming period, the government should look further ahead than three weeks at a time. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing control over different sectors in society that will make decisions on their own and influence many others. As it stands, the government leaves the decisions about education practically entirely up to the university boards. The Outbreak Management Team should carefully consider all consequences, with an interdisciplinary approach.”

Maastricht University’s rector expects that the university towns will also be hit hard. “Suppose cafés, restaurants and cinemas will be allowed to carefully reopen as of September, and we tell our students: don’t come to campus, we will continue online. That’s not really an option. Many students will stay away, or they’ll decide to continue to live with their parents, and this will eventually affect everyone in the city.”

She also finds it central to their personal development that students live together in a student town. “That’s just as important as going to lectures. We shouldn’t be stricter than the government from the outset. It even remains to be seen whether it’s legally allowed: our programs aren’t accredited as distance learning, therefore you can only resort to this in case of emergency. For that reason alone, I don’t think you can simply go ahead and say: we are going to do everything online.”