Coffee with Gert and Niels: ‘Positive results, strong growth and new challenges’
The balance is positive: the faculty is growing faster than expected, reserves have been built up, and new programmes are attracting many students. At the same time, rapid growth requires realistic budgets, targeted staff expansion and agility in changing circumstances.
We spoke with Gert Renkema, Head of Financial and Economic Affairs at FGGA, and Niels Laurens, Director of Operations, about the challenges and opportunities the faculty foresees in the near future in the financial and administrative domain.
So, does the second Governance and Financial Report (BFR 2) once again show a positive picture?
Gert Renkema, Head of Financial and Economic Affairs: ‘That’s right and we already saw this coming at the start of the year, but by now we know that the result is turning out slightly more favourable than expected. Especially on the revenue side we are growing faster, while the filling of vacancies is lagging behind. In terms of student numbers, we have grown enormously but, of course, these students also need lecturers.’
Niels Laurens, Director of Operations: ‘We’ve grown by 11%, yet only 4% of that growth has gone towards filling vacancies, leaving a 7% gap. To give an example: ISGA alone has welcomed 24 new colleagues. While work pressure remains high due to unfilled positions, this growth is essential and shows that we are looking ahead and planning for the future.’
Can we already look ahead to 2026?
Gert: ‘In the 2026 budget we assume that we will actually have the people we need in place. The positive result of 2025 is probably a one-off effect.’
Niels: ‘Yes, we will be catching up in the period ahead. The challenge now is also: can we predict that growth better, so that, for example, we can recruit lecturers earlier.’
‘With boldness, cooperation and realism we can achieve our ambitions in the coming years.’
But that also means that we actually have money left over now. What happens with money that remains unused?
Gert: ‘Just like at home we transfer it to a savings account. Sometimes permission from the Executive Board is needed to use it, but the money doesn’t disappear. In recent years we have already built up a small reserve.’
Niels: ‘We are doing well and have just a little more left over than budgeted. Within the university the principle applies: don’t spend what you don’t yet have. At the same time, I think there may well be places where you can budget with a bit more boldness, as long as it is responsible. This approach also aligns well with the character of The Hague, being enterprising and prepared to take calculated risks. It is important that we continue in this spirit.’
Gert: ‘The number of students from outside the European Union is higher than we expected and is actually going against the trend. From the Faculty Council, for example, there is a clear request to budget cautiously when it comes to those students. Of course, I take that seriously.’
What other positive developments do you see within our faculty?
Niels: ‘What is nice to mention is that our CPL portfolio is in good shape. For the first time in years we are seeing a positive result there. This really is a difficult market, so this development is favourable and we now have a solid position.’
Gert: ‘In addition, of course, there is our new bachelor Cybersecurity & Cybercrime with 175 applications. The Master’s in Crisis and Security Management also continues to grow: this year 718 applications, compared to 521 last year.’
Niels: ‘Those are really great results. As a faculty we have the ambition that eventually a third of our teaching provision will consist of new initiatives.
We are very open to ideas that come from the organisation bottom-up. As Dean Koen Caminada also mentioned at the opening of the academic year, we have the opportunity to free up staff for new research initiatives. So please do come forward with good ideas, especially as the institutes are buzzing with them. Share these ideas with us and hopefully we can free up time and funding for them.’
What upcoming changes should we keep an eye on?
Niels: ‘What will be exciting is the transition from the Selfservice system SAP to the new core administration system BAS InSite. Managers have already been informed about this, but it is relevant to every staff member. By 30 November everything related to payroll administration, expense claims, GROW reports and leave must have been transferred. This affects every employee. More information will follow centrally in the coming period.’
Gert: ‘That’s right! For our team and the HR team this will mean extra work in the autumn and also in 2026, but fortunately we are flexible enough to handle it. However, we do need everyone’s cooperation. So we also call on you to work on this in good time. Place your order at the service desk on time and make sure your own administration has been updated in good time.’
And looking at changes in the future: should we also take current national politics into account?
Gert: ‘We expect that there will be further cutbacks from the new government. Fortunately, as a faculty we are financially healthy enough to absorb that, but we are monitoring the situation closely.’
Moving forward together
Niels and Gert conclude: ‘We are proud of what we are achieving within FGGA, but we also know that we are not there yet. With boldness, cooperation and realism we can achieve our ambitions in the coming years.’