Monday 9 March 2026
Bas InSite is like a black hole where invoices disappear. ‘The whole system is straining at the seams’
There are major problems with the Bas InSite administration system. Users ‘hop from one error message to the next’, see ‘expense claims disappearing into black holes’ and are finding debt collection agencies on their doorstep due to non-payment. ‘It breaks my heart that this is bringing colleagues to tears.’
Wednesday 4 March 2026
‘Extremely undesirable’ mould and fungi in the Herta Mohr building
A leak has caused mould problems in the Herta Mohr building, and it remains difficult to control the temperature there. The Huizinga building is also having issues. ‘The CO₂ level rises above the recommended values when the door is closed.’
Thursday 19 February 2026
Board president Sels fights a ‘humanities apocalypse’ at Dies celebration
At the Dies Natalis on 9 February, President of the Executive Board Luc Sels delivered a passionate plea for the importance of the humanities and social sciences in his Foundation Day Lecture. ‘We must cherish them: not as heritage, but as a foundation for the future.’
Friday 5 December 2025
University to scale back security at Wijnhaven, with checks limited to evenings
From January onwards, access checks at the Wijnhaven building will only take place in the evenings. The deployment of external security guards will also be scaled back and will be discontinued by March next year at the latest.
Friday 5 December 2025
USC sports instructors lose their jobs: ‘I don’t know if I want to keep exercising here’
Because of new legislation for self-employed workers, instructors at the University Sports Centre (USC) are losing their jobs. This has led to anger and incredulity among instructors and students alike. ‘It’s a mess.’
Thursday 6 November 2025
How one Arabic-speaking man sent university security into a panic: ‘Something is brewing’
Why was the Wijnhaven building closed two years ago and why has university security been tightened since? Newly released documents under the Open Government Act (WOO) reveal that the police and the university have completely different views on threats.
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Psychologists work from home to avoid mice
Researchers and lecturers at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences are fed up with the mice infestation in their offices. The clinical psychology department has been hit particularly hard. ‘On several occasions, they have raced past my feet.’
Monday 15 September 2025
Student protest at Pride despite ban: ‘The university is guilty of pinkwashing’
Students protesting police violence from the university boat during Pride were blocked by fellow passengers. The riot resulted in the resignation of the chair of the university’s LGBT+ network. ‘Silencing students goes against everything I teach.’
Tuesday 9 September 2025
University suspends exchanges with Israeli universities
This decision was announced last week by the Executive Board. It follows an advisory document issued by the Committee on Human Rights / Conflict Zones in July of this year.
Tuesday 9 September 2025
No forced redundancies at the Faculty of Humanities: ‘Larger reserve than expected’
Staff at the Faculty of Humanities can breathe a sigh of relief: the prospect of redundancies is off the table now that the faculty is in better financial shape than expected. Nevertheless, 150 FTE will be cut over the next five years. ‘We’re not out of financial trouble yet.’
Monday 23 June 2025
Committee on Israel to issue advice on collaborations only after the summer break
The committee investigating ties with Israeli institutions will issue advice on student exchanges with Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem in mid-July. Advice on other collaborations will follow ‘at a later stage’.
Thursday 22 May 2025
Executive Board president Annetje Ottow to leave early
Annetje Ottow is stepping down on Septembe 1st after close to five years as chair of the executive board. She started her second term in February. na bijna vijf jaar als collegevoorzitter. Ottow states that she wants to dedicate her time to nature conservation and sustainability.