On Wednesday evening, 18 February, dozens of students gathered on the lawns of VUB’s Etterbeek campus to protest against proposed cuts to higher education funding. The action was initiated by a group of students shortly after the first policy proposals reached the table of Minister Demir.
Students came together to share their concerns about the potential impact of the measures currently under discussion. Although no final decisions have been taken, the proposals are already causing unease across campus.
Many students see significant risks in the plans. There are fears that a substantial number could lose their grants. Others are concerned that grant holders might be required to repay their funding if they fail to obtain enough credits within a set timeframe. Stricter conditions — such as a higher minimum credit load and tougher progression requirements — could also raise the threshold for starting or continuing a degree. For many present, this strikes at the heart of what higher education should stand for: access, fairness and genuine equal opportunity.
Several students addressed the crowd during the protest. Rector Jan Danckaert also spoke, underlining the broader importance of sustained investment in higher education:
“The Flemish Government has not only cut funding for higher education, it has cut funding for students in higher education. Cutting higher education means cutting the future — innovation and prosperity tomorrow. It is, first and foremost, your future and that of the generations to come. So let your voice be heard. And make sure the minister hears you too.”
With his remarks, he expressed clear support for students’ right to speak out and to take part in public debate.
Later that evening, the conversation continued at the bar of Poincafé, the new student café and multipurpose space, created for and by students. In an open debate, students engaged in dialogue with one another about the potential impact of the budget cuts. The measures being challenged remain under political discussion. What the gathering on the Etterbeek campus made clear is this: the debate is alive, and students are determined to have their say in what they see as a defining conversation about the future of higher education.
