Thursday 10 April 2025
Trump’s war on academics: has the fallout already reached Leiden?
The Trump administration is turning global academia on its head. American universities are being targeted, funding is being cut off abruptly and students are being deported from the country. To what extent are these developments affecting Leiden? ‘It’s getting scary to say certain things.’
Thursday 3 April 2025
We can’t let this happen here: the lessons of Trump for Dutch higher education
While American academics are under fire by the Trump administration there are valuable lessons to be learned for Dutch universities, argues William Michael Schmidli.
Monday 10 February 2025
Honorary Doctor Eliot Higgins has faith in the new generation: ‘Only critical thinking can save democracy’
Eliot Higgins is the founder of the investigative journalism firm Bellingcat, which has uncovered major war crimes. Last Friday, he received an honorary doctorate. ‘Whether I look at it or not: all those terrible things are happening.’
Thursday 23 January 2025
Don't let Urban Studies become the next victim of budget cuts
Now that study programmes in English are in the crosshairs, Urban Studies students are fearing for the worst. Their interdisciplinary bachelor should not dissapear, Anouk Moritz writes.
Monday 28 October 2024
These students broke out of their bubble and decided to learn Dutch
Suddenly, international students have turned from cash cows into scapegoats. The government is working to reduce the number English-taught university programs. Despite this, international students are still taking steps to integrate through language learning. ‘I don’t feel like it’s going to be possible for me.’
Friday 18 October 2024
Humanities overhaul: African Studies to be axed, language and Asian programmes to merge
The Faculty of Humanities is facing a major overhaul: the board plans to scrap the bachelor’s programmes African Studies and Latin American Studies and to merge Chinese, Japanese, Korean and South and Southeast Asian Studies into a new bachelor’s programme: Asian Studies. French, German and Italian are also to be merged into a single bachelor’s programme in European Languages and Cultures.
Thursday 17 October 2024
Obituary: Stefan Landsberger (1955-2024)
Sinologist Stefan Landsberger passed away unexpectedly. According to colleague Florian Schneider, he was a fervent advocate of the humanities with a great sense of humor and deep compassion.
Wednesday 25 September 2024
University Council opposed reappointment of Annetje Ottow following ‘worrying signals from the workplace’
This summer, the University Council opposed the reappointment of Executive Board president Annetje Ottow. The Council had received ‘worrying signals’: Ottow had allegedly ‘created a difficult working environment, particularly for subordinates’. The Board of Governors disregarded the negative advice.
Tuesday 24 September 2024
Want to see the rental contract? That’s €1200 upfront
Leiden University promotes various commercial landlords among prospective students. One of those companies, Student Housing The Hague, charges exorbitant amounts of money just to see the rental contract. ‘It seemed trustworthy to me because the university recommended it.’
Wednesday 18 September 2024
How 25 crosses led to 14 life sentences: statistician rallies against another 'miscarriage of justice'
British nurse Lucy Letby has been convicted of murdering seven babies. It is only after that judgment that Leiden statistician Richard Gill – who previously helped acquit two wrongly convicted nurses – is allowed to explain why this case is another ‘miscarriage of justice’ due to ‘statistical blunders’.
Tuesday 25 June 2024
Refugees in Leiden learn to live from day to day: ‘A bomb could be dropped on you at any moment’
Last week was World Refugee Day. Mare spoke to three refugees who work or study at Leiden University. Two are still waiting for a residence permit. ‘For a month, I did nothing but run away from the police.’
Friday 21 June 2024
Trouble in teacher’s tent: misconduct beyond the Hofman affair
Is the work environment at archaeology ‘unhealthy’, as the investigating committee recently concluded? Mare spoke with several female archaeologists. ‘With one lecturer, you have to be careful if you wear a short skirt, another steals your data, and a third will shout at you angrily.’