Illustration Valerie Geelen The budget cuts at WUR have been given a number for the first time. The board has announced today that 130 to 180 jobs in supporting services will disappear between now and 2028. These services include the staff departments, Facilities and Services, CS+ and ESA.
The employees of these departments have been informed today. The austerity measures are part of WUR’s efforts to cushion the effects of an expected reduction of 80 million euros in education and research funds. The departments involved currently employ some 1400 staff members.
The executive board has presented the plans to the codetermination council for advice. The suggested measures affect the central staff departments, Facilities & Services and CS+ (including Corporate Communications & Marketing, Human Resources and Finance), through which WUR will save some 35 million euros. The remaining 45 million is to be cut from departments directly affected by the reduction in funding from the ministries of LVVN and OCW, ie. Research and education, in the next two years.
Limiting impact
‘By implementing cuts in the supporting services, we aim to restrict the impact on education and research as much as possible’, says WUR president Sjoukje Heimovaara. She stresses that preventive measures, albeit painful, are needed to safeguard WUR’s raison d’être. Board member Rens Buchwaldt – who is responsible for finance- says: ‘The demand and the need for the things we do here, climate research or research on biodiversity, for example, has never been greater. However, the political willingness to invest in these topics is under pressure.’
There are no golden faucets we can remove
WUR president Sjoukje Heimovaara
Although the funding deficit is mostly the result of budget cuts in the ministries of OCW and LVVN, WUR will have to adjust its spending. Buchwaldt also expects fewer investments from public and private partners that invest in Wageningen research. ‘Moreover, student numbers in the Netherlands are declining, while the payroll costs are increasing.’
Not without pain
The cuts make the already launched austerity measures permanent. This means less money for the upkeep of buildings and the campus grounds (‘the green in the garden may proliferate somewhat’), and possibly further restrictions in opening hours and fewer services offered by the staff departments. ‘This is certainly not without pain’, says Heimovaara. ‘There are no golden faucets we can remove. The services on which we currently depend, and which make the lives of researchers and teachers easier, will be restricted.’ Buchwaldt: ‘And that is particularly painful for those whose services are well appreciated. We are now telling them that less is better.’
Although the board stresses again that research and education will be protected as much as possible, the effects will be felt there too in the coming years, because there are still 45 million euros in budget cuts that have not been detailed yet. Heimovaara says there are currently no plans to terminate particular programmes. ‘But the more costly aspects, such as practicals, field trips and field work, will be critically scrutinised.’ The coming round of budget cuts will be diligently rolled out, in consultation with stakeholders, says the WUR president. ‘We have been elected the best university by students for twenty consecutive years, and we aim to keep it that way.’ Students are not expected to feel the impact of the financial situation.
Ball in the codetermination’s court
The EB hoped to achieve part of the loss of jobs through natural attrition, such as retirements. This will not suffice, however. Some departments face immediate cuts, while others are given up to three years to make changes. Individual employees will be informed as soon as the codetermination council has assessed the plans. Their advice is expected at the onset of July. Hence, the board can not divulge details on what departments or persons will be affected.