Financial support for Dutch participants in European Universities Initiative
The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science has announced financial support for participants in the European Universities Initiative. In the Netherlands, 11 universities and two universities of applied sciences are currently involved in the initiative as full partners. Utrecht University is an alliance partner of CHARM-EU since 2019.
The additional funding means that from 2023, the minister will grant participating institutions an annual amount of €250,000 for four years. Non-participating institutions will receive a one-time sum of €50,000 to lower the threshold for a new application. National co-funding is not a prerequisite for participation in the European Universities Initiative, but the lack of additional national financial support was perceived as a barrier by Dutch participants.
Minister Dijkgraaf supports the roll-out of European Universities Alliances as a driver of European cooperation in higher education. He also explicitly considers the opportunities these alliances offer for brain circulation, higher participation of universities of applied sciences and knowledge sharing with the rest of the higher education field. Minister Dijkgraaf believes that the high quality of Dutch higher education cannot be achieved without openness, international cooperation and talent.