At the beginning of September, it became clear that the curtain fell on ATLAS, the small-scale excellence programme that was struggling with a disappointing intake. No more students will enrol from September next year, but current students will have until September 2029 to complete their studies.
This does mean that the programme will be phased out in the coming years – and that with it the staff will slowly say goodbye. ATLAS dean Heleen Miedema is currently writing a plan for this.
University Council wants fair treatment
However, the University Council questions the transparency of that process, 'since the plans to gradually phase out the appointment of lecturers can be regarded as an organisational change with far-reaching legal consequences'. In the most literal sense: a reorganization, according to the University Council.
And since rector Tom Veldkamp said he would take the lead in that process, the University Council believes it is a matter for the University Council to be informed about the plans at an early stage. So the rector must announce a formal reorganization early and follow the associated procedure, is the council's plea. Not only because of the staff members at ATLAS, but also to guarantee fair treatment in the event of reassignments. At the moment, the faculty of Science & Technology is reorganizing. One reorganisation could therefore affect the other, says the University Council.
Too premature
However, rector Tom Veldkamp did not go along with that. In any case, according to the rector, there will be an organizational change, but what kind is still unclear. And according to him, it is too premature to declare a reorganization now. 'These are valid concerns, but this academic year it will remain business as usual. We expect the first impact from September 2025. There is no rush now.'
Veldkamp pointed to a first draft for a plan that ATLAS dean Heleen Miedema shared with him. According to him, it is important that the process – whatever it will look like – takes place thoroughly and carefully. 'We have no experience with completely terminating a programme. This raises all kinds of questions, also legal questions. And we also have to discuss such a plan with all the deans. They must be committed to the plan, as some of their employees work part-time at ATLAS. And if there is a plan, we will of course share it with the people involved.'
In addition, the rector pointed out that the quality of the programme should be maintained. That is another reason why the phasing out of the training will not happen overnight. There should be more clarity within now and a few months, Veldkamp said.
