In the VSNU contract for 2018-2021 with publisher Springer Nature a yearly maximum of scientific papers that can be published in Open Access by corresponding authors of the Dutch universities and UMC’s is agreed upon.

An opinion piece was published on Scienceguide.nl in response to article by Nature referring to Utrecht University abandonment of the #impactfactor. We appreciate academics expressing their concerns about #RecognitionRewards and we will engage in dialogue.

On 8 July, the Dutch universities presented the Knowledge Security Framework to outgoing Minister of Education, Culture and Science Ingrid van Engelshoven. Pieter Duisenberg, President of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU): ‘We cherish transparency in science while also maintaining awareness of its potential downsides. With this framework, scientists and universities are gaining an even more precise tool for weighing the interests of open science against those of preventing undesired knowledge transfer.’

VSNU and employee organisations reach agreement on CAO NU 2021

In its press conference of 18 June, the government announced that universities can prepare themselves to abolish the 1.5-metre distance measure for staff and students in higher education from 16 August. On 13 August, the government will make a final decision on this. Pieter Duisenberg, VSNU president: ‘It would be very good news if virtually all the coronavirus restrictions for higher education would be abolished. As a result, first-year students can still enjoy their orientation weeks and we can look forward to a new academic year without restrictions. The pandemic has shown that the academic community is present everywhere, but especially that social contact is essential for academic education.’