Protest against education budget cuts: striking allowed, mandatory classes go on

December 3, 2025 - On Tuesday, December 9, students, teachers, researchers, and other staff members from universities and universities of applied sciences across the country will gather in Amsterdam to protest budget cuts in higher education. Employees have the right to strike; if they participate in the national strike day, they will continue to receive their pay. They are, however, expected to hand over their duties beforehand.

Students do not have the right to strike. Each university or university of applied sciences may decide for itself whether to give all students the day off, but most are not doing so. According to spokesperson Ivo Jongsma, TU/e is following the same guidelines it used during earlier protests against these cuts. Students are free to participate unless they have mandatory exams, labs, or other required classes that cannot be rescheduled. Many other institutions are following the same approach. / HOP & CdW

Scientist goes to court over missed permanent contract

December 3 2025 - A member of the academic staff has filed a lawsuit against TU/e, arguing that her temporary contract—a tenure-track position aimed at academic career advancement—was wrongfully not converted into a permanent employment contract after five years. She believes the university failed to clearly communicate which measurable targets she needed to meet in order to qualify for a permanent appointment. She also fears that her pregnancy and periods of illness may have negatively affected her performance evaluation.

During Tuesday afternoon’s hearing at the courthouse in Eindhoven, TU/e stated that the scientist had repeatedly been informed during annual review meetings about several shortcomings, including an insufficient number of publications in reputable journals. She was also criticized for, among other things, poor communication. The academic staff member disputes these claims and is asking the court to rule on the matter. A verdict is expected no later than January 13, 2026. / BAS

Short | “Unsafe” culture? CvB invites TU/e community to lunch walk

December 2 2025 - The Executive Board (CvB) responds on the intranet to the article recently published by ED. The newspaper reports on its own investigation, which reveals that an “unsafe” culture prevails at TU/e. In their message, the board members express their concern about any fear among staff and students to speak out: “We are an open community in which dialogue is pivotal, and we stand firmly behind this principle.”

Anyone who is hesitant to raise an issue is therefore explicitly invited to come along for a lunch walk and a good conversation with president Koen Janssen, rector Silvia Lenaerts, vice president Patrick Groothuis or secretary Eric van der Geer-Rutten-Rijswijk. / LvA

The news items in this overview were translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor