Belgian universities protest against cuts to education

Belgian universities nationwide held a series of protests on Wednesday against cuts to higher education, including a march in Brussels.

The demonstration started at the Braem Building of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), a location chosen because Dutch-speaking Brussels institutions in particular have been hit hard by Flemish cuts.

VUB calculated that the university would have to make cuts of at least €10 million. When combined with cuts to Erasmushogeschool Brussel (EHB) and Hogeschool Odisee, the amount increases to €18 million.

Protesters say new restrictions on funding for non-European EEA students alone could cost VUB up to €5 million.

The Belgian federal government is also looking to make cuts to science policy.

“This jeopardises the future of many researchers’ jobs,” the action group said.

“The federal government’s measures pose an additional threat to universities. Cutting research funding for development cooperation and other federal research programmes, among other things, will cost jobs.”

Wednesday’s march was organised by trade union representatives and student representatives from VUB, together with the action group "Hoger onderwijs in opstand" (Higher education in revolt).

The multilingual group is an initiative of professors, lecturers and researchers. A petition against the cuts on their website has already gathered more than 5,500 signatures from across the country.

The joint trade union front of the ABVV, VSOA and ACV unions is also voicing demands for the withdrawal of various measures by different authorities, including the cuts to science policy by the Flemish government, a planned increase in tuition fees, cuts to funding for Brussels and the reduction in funding for EEA students.

This week's protest was not the first action against planned cuts to higher education.

The Flemish Student Association (VVS) staged a protest in October at the Flemish government’s office, where they placed 1,000 empty chairs to symbolise the more than 20,000 students at risk of having to drop out of university due to cuts in higher education.

The Flemish government aims to make more than €83 million in cuts to higher education.

VVS chair Nele Van Hoyweghen believes the austerity measures will have a significant impact on students with fewer financial resources and could result in poorer students dropping out or not even starting higher education.

“With this measure, the government is jeopardising access to higher education for thousands of Flemish students,” Van Hoyweghen said.

“The way in which the scheme has been drawn up suggests that the amount to be saved was determined first, and only then was it considered how severely students would be affected.”

According to Van Hoyweghen, almost one in three grant students would lose their grant under the planned cuts.

“This affects an incredible number of students,” said Van Hoyweghen.

“We understand the need for savings, but you should leave the scholarships alone. Just as you should leave the Brussels funds alone, and funding for international students.”