Flemish Government Cuts €2.6M Funding for Antwerp IOB Staff

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