The university had budgeted a deficit of 3 million euros this year, but now predicts that it will be well into the positive figures. A surplus of 12 million euros is noted in the latest management report. That’s an even more positive outlook than the figures from last Spring, when the UT was also expected to be in the plus.
Personnel costs
Not much has changed compared to the April figures, with a few exceptions. For example, the latest report states that the UT expects lower personnel costs due to the S&T reorganisation, the non-renewal of temporary contracts and the non-filling – or the delay – in filling vacancies. This will save the university a total of 8.5 million euros in personnel costs.
Moreover, the UT is also saving with the acute measures, such as the stop on catering, international travel and external hiring. That will save the university 2.6 million euros.
Shifts
However, the overall picture is reasonably in line with the April figures, albeit with some shifts. For example, the Faculty of Science & Technology has seen a reorganisational provision release, while ITC is forced to include such a provision because of the upcoming reorganisation. Since July, the UT has also had to take the new collective labour agreement into account, which means that wage costs are higher. On the other hand, there are some incidental windfalls.
‘Maintain discipline'
In a reflection on the figures, the Executive Board writes that the figures are a confirmation of 'the full awareness within the organization about the importance of organizational development and budget cuts'. For example, the Executive Board sees that 90 percent of the project hours are now being registered.
Still, the administrators do not want to cheer too soon. After all, a large part of the positive results are incidental. Moreover, the UT will have to break even next year, while government cutbacks will still largely affect the university. 'It is key to maintain discipline and not to slacken of', according to the Executive Board.
Concerns about workload
As a result, the acute measures will remain in force until at least the early Spring of 2026. By that time, 'it will be investigated to what extent the acute measures can be relaxed', writes the Executive Board, which says it is aware of problems surrounding 'perceived workload' due to the cutbacks. There should be a solution by mid-2026, at least for workload problems surrounding UT education.
In the short term, however, there is one relaxation. From 1 October, there will no longer be a general stop on international travel on the first money flow. This is now being examined on a case-by-case basis.
