The Faculty Board of Nijmegen School of Management is concerned about recent developments that affect the independence of universities.
Recently, political parties in the House of Representatives called on the Minister of Education to address Radboud University about comments made by a colleague on social media. The minister agreed to discuss this with the university. We consider it unacceptable that an employee was named in parliament and that political pressure is being exerted. This undermines the autonomy of the university.
Academic freedom and freedom of expression are core values of our university. They require care, responsibility and a culture of respectful and critical dialogue.
The board is also deeply affected by the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Within Europe and the United Nations, there is a growing scientific consensus that Israel's violence shows signs of genocide. Reports from a UN commission of inquiry, the International Association of Genocide Scholars and rulings by the International Court of Justice confirm this view.
As a signatory to the UN Genocide Convention, the Netherlands is obliged to take all reasonable measures to prevent genocide – from diplomatic pressure to sanctions and legal action – and to be publicly accountable for this. In that light, we join the calls by ALLEA (European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities) and the KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) for immediate humanitarian action and restoration of essential infrastructure. We call on the Dutch government to send a strong signal by exerting pressure to suspend Israel's participation in the EU Association Agreement and other forms of scientific cooperation as long as the violations of international law continue.
Sources (selection):
- KNAW *Academic freedom in the Netherlands* (2025)
- KNAW Gaza Declaration (2025)
- IAGS Resolution on Gaza (2025)
- UN Gaza Commission of Inquiry (2025)
- CAVV Advice No. 50 (2025)