Elections, political crisis, funding... : All the higher education policy news from 09/2024

European countries have gone through many political changes and decisions regarding higher education and research since September 2024.

France went through two governments: the first one was appointed on 21/09/2024 but fell following a motion of no confidence by the National Assembly, and Élisabeth Borne was appointed Minister for Education, Higher Education and Research on 23/12/2024 while Philippe Baptiste was appointed Minister for Higher Education and Research under Élisabeth Borne.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science announced a cut of €342 M, in addition to an already planned €1 Bn saving on the education budget. This led to protests by universities, labour organisations, action groups and students. The Dutch coalition parties ended up agreeing with part of the opposition, reducing the planned cuts by €748 M, but they remain huge, according to Utrecht University.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the new Labour government announced "the highest ever level of Government investment of £20.4 Bn (€24.32 Bn) in R&D for 2025, reinforcing the Government’s…