The Bachelor’s programme in Earth Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will remain in place. The current Bachelor’s programme will be restructured so that it aligns with the faculty strategy and addresses the budget cuts VU Amsterdam is facing. This decision was taken by the Executive Board in consultation with the Faculty Board.
“The intensive process we have gone through together has led to this decision, in which we have tried to do justice to all parties involved,” says Aletta Kraneveld, Dean of the Faculty of Science.
This outcome is the result of a review of the advisory report by the Earth Sciences Taskforce, which was presented to the Executive Board last Tuesday, 11 November. The report examined whether new information, including contributions from external stakeholders, provides grounds to reconsider the proposed decision to reorganise.
Advice
One of the taskforce’s key findings is that the contributions from field partners have created new opportunities to retain parts of the teaching and laboratory facilities. Together with the Department of Earth Sciences, the possibility of continuing to offer the Earth Sciences Bachelor’s programme has also been explored.
A reorganisation of the department remains necessary. Over the coming period, the management team of the Department of Earth Sciences, supported by the Faculty Board, will develop the reorganisation plan further, incorporating the adjustments needed to sustainably continue the Earth Sciences Bachelor’s education in its new form. In addition, the specialisations within the Master’s programme in Earth Sciences will also be revised.
Developing these plans will take several months. This means that, while more jobs are expected to be retained, unfortunately uncertainty will remain for colleagues in the Department of Earth Sciences for the time being. This is a complex situation. We are doing our utmost to provide clarity as soon as possible.
The full advisory report of the Earth Sciences Taskforce can be read here.