The most important aspect of the document with which the council's approval is made official is that the reorganisation phases are separated and the council has right of approval for each new phase, as well as for major changes to the reorganisation plan.
Until now the council had problems with accepting the whole reorganisation plan in one go, because it could not sufficiently assess the consequences, both financial and concerning personnel.
The council now agrees to the executive board's reorganisation plan 'as a framework for the development of implementation plans' (in the faculties and services). The council will only really approve the UT-wide reorganisation plans if the implementation plans are complete (phase 2, December 2002). These should among others show the strategy and size of the new units. 'Before that no members of staff will be dismissed because of the reorganisation', according to the agreement of the council and the board. This means that only after the council has tackled the implementation plans personnel will be informed on the consequences of the reorganisation for them 'according to the careful procedures that apply in cases like this' (second week of January 2003).
Also removed is the concern of the council that shortly after the reorganisation a new wave of dismissals would go through the institute because of a new round of cutbacks. This week the Management Team of the UT (executive board, deans, scientific directors) holds a strategic meeting, which will, amongst others discuss the reduction of UT-projects and the mission of the new faculties and institutes. The agreement reads that whatever the outcome of this meeting, the cutbacks discussed there should not have consequences for personnel (on top of those of the reorganisation plan).
As is well known the UT-wide reorganisation plan should yield 12 million euro to pay for the necessary investments in the UT-real estate. This operation will cost 160 fte (full time jobs), partly through involuntary dismissals. Rector Frans van Vught told the university council last week that the dialog on the real estate problems with the new members of the cabinet for education has been resumed, and that there is 'some hope' to reach an 'administrative-technical solution'.
