Education, Finance
Update location: Support the protest against higher education cuts in Utrecht on 14 November
On 14 November, university students and staff will protest in Utrecht against the cuts in higher education. We, the Executive Board and Deans, support this protest and call upon Leiden University students and staff to travel to Utrecht and let their voices be heard.
We find both the scale of the plans and the uncertainty they bring to the education sector unwise and completely irresponsible. The quality of our research and teaching is at risk. With a high turnout on 14 November, we can all support this message together. Participants will gather at the Moreelsepark in Utrecht. From there they will walk together to the Domplein, where the program will continue with speakers and music.
The protest is being organised by organisations including WOinActie, AOb, FNV, CNV, LSVB and ISO, and will take place on Thursday 14 November from 13:00 till 15:00.
Teaching on Thursday afternoon
To prevent additional work and study pressure, we have consciously decided not to declare a lecture-free afternoon for the whole university. However, we do want to give students and teaching staff the opportunity to go to Utrecht on Thursday afternoon. If you have classes on Thursday afternoon, please see what your lecturer says in Brightspace. If they have decided to go to the protest in Utrecht and have cancelled your classes, they will inform you of this.
If your classes will go ahead as usual, it is up to you to decide whether to attend or to travel to Utrecht instead. Attendance is not compulsory for students on 14 November, with the exception of compulsory practicals and exams that cannot be retaken/postponed. It is your responsibility to catch up on what you have missed.
Faculty of Medicine students can decide for themselves whether they want to attend classes or travel to Utrecht. It is your responsibility to catch up on what you have missed. For compulsory classes, this can result in having to catch up next academic year.
Sign the petition
As well as letting your voice be heard in Utrecht, you can also sign the petition (in Dutch), which is part of the campaign against the cuts in higher education
If more information becomes available about the protest, it will be added to this announcement.
Executive Board and Deans.