Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Flemish government will end €2.6 million annual funding for the University of Antwerp’s IOB, impacting 32 staff, 3 master’s programs, and international research, says IOB chair Nathalie Holvoet.
As VRT News reported, the Flemish government will stop the annual subsidies of over €2.6 million for the Institute of Development Policy (IOB) at the University of Antwerp. The funding supports 3 master’s programs and several research projects.
The institute’s management agreement ends this year and will not be renewed. Holvoet, a spokesperson for the IOB, said the agreement allows renewal after a positive evaluation.
“The government’s announcement was unexpected,”
he added.
“We had just submitted our new policy plan,”
said Professor Nathalie Holvoet, president of IOB.
What will the Flemish funding cut mean for Antwerp IOB and 32 staff?
The loss of funding will affect 32 staff members and force the closure of 3 postgraduate programs. Students will have fewer opportunities to study development policy. The IOB has trained experts and contributed to international research and policy discussions worldwide. Its studies have been especially important in Central Africa.
Experts warn that the decision could weaken the institute’s international reputation. Partnerships with other universities may be affected. Belgium’s influence in development studies could also be reduced.
“The impact of this subsidy freeze goes beyond our university or even our country.”
Nathalie Holvoet, chair of IOB
Holvoet, spokesperson for the Institute of Development Policy (IOB), said the Flemish government’s funding cut will have effects beyond the University of Antwerp and Belgium.
“The impact goes beyond just our university or even our country,”
he said. The institute’s research programs employ staff in Africa, Asia, and South America.
He mentioned that projects on climate change and the conflict in eastern Congo would no longer be possible without the subsidies. The decision threatens the IOB’s international research work and decades of expertise.
The subsidy freeze also creates uncertainty for the institute’s 32 employees. Holvoet said it is not yet clear if staff will be laid off.
“They might be offered other jobs within the university,”
he said. The IOB was funded separately from other university programs. Holvoet warned that the freeze is causing a chain reaction.
“Our alumni often hold high-ranking positions in foreign governments,”
Holvoet emphasises.
“Our embassies collaborate extensively with them for their knowledge and networks. Our government forgets how incredibly important this is.”
The Institute of Development Policy (IOB) at the University of Antwerp
Comments
10 responses to “Flemish Government Cuts €2.6M Funding for Antwerp IOB Staff”
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Funding cuts? Brilliant! Who needs educated professionals tackling global issues when you can save a couple of euros? 🍻
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Cuts to funding? Brilliant move, really. Who needs international experts when you can just toss a couple of euros and call it a day, right? 💸🙄
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Cutting €2.6M? Brilliant strategy, really. Who needs education and expertise when you can just let the talent wander off like lost tourists in Brussels? 😂
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Cutting €2.6M from the IOB? Brilliant strategy, really! Why invest in future leaders when you can just have a couple more rounds at the pub instead? 🍻
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What a brilliant move by the Flemish government—who needs a thriving academic environment when you can just snip €2.6M and sprinkle a little chaos instead? Bravo, really, let’s see how quickly we can turn a research powerhouse into an educational ghost town! 🥳
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Cuts? Brilliant move, really! Who needs experts and international research when you can just keep the change for a few more cappuccinos? ☕️💸
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Cutting €2.6M from the IOB, brilliant move! Who needs international research and development experts when we can just wing it, right? 🤷♂️
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Cutting €2.6M for IOB? Brilliant move, mate! Who needs educated experts in development policy when you can just wing it, eh? 🤷♂️💸
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Cutting €2.6M for research? Brilliant move! It’s not like having a solid grasp on development policy is important or anything. 😏
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Cutting €2.6M from Antwerp’s IOB? Brilliant move, really! Who needs global expertise and research on development when we can just keep our brains in a box and our wallets even tighter? 😂💸
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Cutting €2.6M for research in Antwerp? Brilliant move, really! Who needs educated experts when you can just wing it like a true European, right? 😂💸
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