Illustration Valerie Geelen WUR’s various staff departments will be severely impacted by the budget cuts. Support services, which include HR, Marketing & Communications and Legal, will see their joint budgets reduced by 13 million euros, which equals between 80 and 115 jobs.
A detailed look at the austerity plan that was divulged on Thursday revealed that the most severe blow is for the Marketing & Communications department, which is to have its budget reduced by no less than 25%.
Alumni
Particularly, content makers within the communications department, as well as editors and designers, should fear for their jobs. Text writing and design for brochures will be outsourced or replaced with audio and visual communications. Alumni contacts and activities will be reduced, and the plan states that the size of the Resource team must be aligned with the cutbacks.
Other supporting services will also be affected by the budget cuts in varying degrees. However, the number of jobs affected is not yet clear. What is apparent is that recruitment will take a hit, and the number of management positions in HR will be reduced considerably.
VIP visits
WUR will also reduce the number of international visitors it hosts. Hosting such visits is costly in terms of time and money. The number of account managers and WUR’s representation in China will also be restricted. The Science Shop will be reduced to no more than a counter. WUR’s contribution to the University Fund, Startlife and the partnership with the other universities within the 4TU will also be restricted.
Facilities & Services must also cut its budget by 15 million, which equals 50-65 job positions (together with the supporting services, this leads to the termination of 130-180 positions). Noteworthy measures include the termination of the Bike Hub (free bikes for loan), moving out of the Clock building near the Dreijen and WUR’s presence in the Business & Science Park Lelystad. In addition, numerous smaller measures have not yet been detailed.
End of year gift
WUR will also cut 12 million from its general budget. Two million will be cut from the exploitation of expensive equipment (Shared Facilities), and the end-of-year gift will be replaced by a cheaper alternative. Moreover, Science Groups will have to cut back on subscriptions to journals, international business travel, courses and training, team field trips, and lunches during internal meetings.
The plan is currently under review by the codetermination council.
