果冻传媒

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025
Location: Coronazaal / Hubble Caf茅 (building Luna)
Time: starting at 14:00, with closing drinks until 17:00

Dear colleague,

On Thursday, October 2, 2025, WISE is hosting an event on Essential or Fluff? The Impact of Budget Cuts on Higher 果冻传媒 and Gender Equality.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Luana Russo (Maastricht University) will deliver the keynote address.

Her work,  , resonates strongly with the theme of this event.

Recent budget cuts in Dutch higher education and research pose a significant risk to the nation's status as a knowledge-driven economy. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) warns that these reductions may lead to a loss of expertise and talent, ultimately impeding advancements in critical fields such as health, climate science, digitalization, and national security (NWO, 2023). 

The effects are particularly severe for female academics, who are already underrepresented in Dutch science relative to other European countries (Van den Brink & Benschop, 2018). Given that women in academia disproportionately hold precarious positions, funding cuts exacerbate existing gender disparities, threatening recent progress toward inclusivity in research. Austerity measures frequently target programs deemed "non-essential," a category that often includes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, professional training, networking, and mentoring programs.
These initiatives, sometimes dismissed as "fluff," play a crucial role in addressing systemic barriers for women and underrepresented groups in academia (Ahmed, 2012). Research demonstrates that DEI programs contribute to increased retention and career progression for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) (Bilimoria & Liang, 2012). Similarly, professional development and leadership training enhance career trajectories for female academics, yet these initiatives are often among the first to lose funding in times of financial constraint (Morley, 2013). Networking and mentorship are critical components of academic success, particularly for women, who often face barriers to traditional power structures in research institutions (Van den Brink & Stobbe, 2014). Reduced investment in these areas limits access to professional support systems, further disadvantaging female scholars.

As budget cuts continue to threaten structural support mechanisms, the long-term consequence may be a widening gender gap in Dutch academia, undermining efforts toward equity and innovation.

- Following a short break, a panel discussion will take place, further exploring the implications of budget cuts on gender equality in academia.
 

Program:

Bio and abstract Luana Russo can be found 

Signing up is possible via this 

Everyone is warmly invited to join, feel free to share this invitation with friends and colleagues. We look forward to welcoming you,

Board WISE Network