‘This is a fight for the future of education’
RUG staff must step up their opposition to the government’s cuts to universities, says lecturer Rodrigo Gonzalez. ‘These cuts are not just financial – they are political.’
»Echoes of a community: Folkingestraat’s painful past
Thousands of people walk through Folkingestraat every day, unaware of its painful past. International student Lukas Wrangel set out to uncover the traces of the war that are etched into the walls, embedded in the pavement, and hidden behind closed doors.
»â€˜Pro-Palestinian protesters are fighting the good fight in the wrong place’
Pro-Palestinian protesters are mainly focusing on universities, but these are the wrong target, says UG professor Frank Hindriks (philosophy) in a letter. ‘They should occupy the Torentje, not the Maagdenhuis.’
»What’s behind that door? From cabinets full of teeth to telescopes
Everyone knows that the UG buildings house classrooms, libraries, and labs. But almost every university building hides wonderful places behind seemingly ordinary doors. Join UKrant on a tour of these hidden treasures.
»Dining with Natalie: Lust
As a native of culinary melting pot Malaysia and the daughter of a restaurateur, UG student Natalie Voo knows her food. Every other week, she reviews Groningen’s student-friendly dining scene. This time: Lust.
»Bookbinder Erends is retiring: who will make the UG’s PhD degrees now?
For more than seventy years, spread out over two generations, bookbindery Erends made PhD degrees and other books for the university. But owner Berend Erends is shutting down his traditional business in the Pelsterstraat. ‘Enough is enough.’
»At UKrant: Long live ChatGPT (but we write our own articles)
Every day, the editorial staff at the UKrant wonders: What are we writing about, why are we writing about it, and how are we writing about it? ‘At UKrant’, an irregular column, we take a look behind the scenes.
»Government wants to end cheap student sports and cultural activities
Cheap workouts at ACLO or low-cost courses at Usva? The government wants to put an end to that starting in 2026.
»Let the rain in
Your lips are so cracked they look like jeep tires. Everything is dusty and dry. The air smells like wildfire smoke and tired earth. It’s winter and you are in Johannesburg, South Africa – where I grew up. But then, like clockwork, September comes. The guy from Green Day had it wrong. If he was South African, he’d never wait until the end of September to be woken up. Because everything changes. The sky darkens to a deep, dramatic blue, with clouds of cinematic grey. The world quiets. The birds form ominous patterns in the sky, warning: something is coming. The thunder demands to be heard. The lightning commands a […]
»Over 500 signatures against Big Tech at uni
More than five hundred students and staff members have signed an open letter calling on the university to reduce its reliance on Big Tech. They are urging the university to develop a plan to achieve this goal within three years. The opportunity to sign the letter closed last Wednesday, with a total of 503 signatures. The Young Academy Groningen has also expressed its support. ‘There is also contact with the University Library, the Centre for Information Technology, and the privacy officer, all of whom support this movement’, says initiator Oskar Gstrein. ‘There appears to be broad agreement that this is an important issue.’ Dutch
»Orthodox church in Groningen celebrates Easter with students
VIDEO BY TOM KELLENDONK From Greece and Romania to Russia and Ukraine, Orthodox countries in Eastern Europe celebrated Easter this weekend, at the same time as other Christians. For those in Groningen who couldn’t go home, the Russian Orthodox church organised the traditional Easter midnight mass on Sunday. Around two hundred people, including many students, gathered for a procession through the city centre of Groningen. Dutch
»American Studies organises symposium on the Trump administration
American Studies will host a symposium on the Trump administration on Tuesday, 20 May. Guest speakers include Debora van Nijnatten, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), who will discuss U.S.–Canada relations. Photographer Nicola Moscelli will also be present to speak about his book Dead End, which explores the past and present of the U.S.–Mexico border. In addition to these guest speakers, experts from the American Studies programme’s teaching and research departments will also contribute. You can register for the symposium here. Dutch
»How do you prevent academic burnout? ‘Work hard, but rest harder’
A burnout isn’t just something that affects working people – students can experience it too. But how do you recognise the symptoms, and how can you prevent it from getting worse? ‘I thought it was normal, that everyone hates getting out of bed.’
»Universities create ‘self-regulation plan’: Groningen largely spared
The UG appears to be largely spared in a joint plan by Dutch universities to reduce the number of international students. The umbrella organisation Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) sent a ‘self-regulation proposal’ to the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science on Wednesday. It’s an attempt by the universities to take control themselves, rather than wait and see what the consequences will be of the Balanced Internationalisation Act (Wib). For Groningen, the impact so far seems limited. The UG had already discontinued its English-language medicine track, which attracted relatively few students. For now, pharmacy appears to be the only English-language track that is being cut. Exception for psychology Nationally, universities […]
»Distract, support, ask for help: How to intervene in threatening situations
A woman getting harassed on the street, one student calling another a slew of bad names, two men fighting each other: almost everyone has witnessed situations like these. But what are you supposed to do when it happens? ‘The sooner you do something, the better.’
»Cinema Politica aims to spread political awareness: ‘We want students to feel inspired’
It would be good for students to talk politics outside the classroom, a group of arts lecturers felt. Now, they organise film nights in the Harmonie building, followed by a discussion.
»Joke or offence? Judges struggle with humour
Court cases involving satire or other forms of humour are sometimes not properly assessed because the context is not taken into account. UG researcher Alberto Godioli is working on guidelines to help judges decide in these cases.
»Astronomer Inga Kamp appointed director of Kapteyn Institute
Professor Inga Kamp has been appointed the new director of the Kapteyn Institute in Groningen, effective April 1. She will serve a three-year term, succeeding Professor of Astrophysics León Koopmans, according to astronomie.nl. Kamp has been affiliated with the University of Groningen since 2008, initially as an assistant professor and, since 2017, as a full professor. Her research focuses on star and planet formation, as well as the composition of planet-forming disks — the cradles of new planets. With her appointment, Kamp also becomes a board member of the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA). Dutch
»Economics and Business discontinues trial of smarter academic year
The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) will not continue with the experiment of a smarter academic year for now.
»At UKrant: We’re staying on X (for now)
Every day, the editorial staff at the UKrant wonders: What are we writing about, why are we writing about it, and how are we writing about it? ‘At UKrant’, an irregular column, we take a look behind the scenes.
»Ammodo Science Award 2025 for Nathalie Katsonis
Professor of active molecular systems Nathalie Katsonis has been awarded the Ammodo Science Award 2025. Katsonis will receive the award and a monetary prize of 350,000 euros for her research on molecules that can work together in a coordinated manner. Through this collaboration, materials are created that can, for example, pulsate, curl up, stiffen, and explode—functioning like molecular machines. As a result, they can continuously adapt. In the future, such materials could be used for medical applications, and as alternatives to steel and ceramics. The award ceremony will take place on 7 May at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Dutch
»Out on the town with: Olivia | The cosiest backyard in the city centre
There’s so much to do in Groningen that you really need a guide to help you uncover the city’s hidden gems. UKrant’s student editors share their cultural agenda with you. What’s their favourite venue and which events are absolutely not to be missed?
»Bye-bye savings: the dangerous allure of gambling
Betting on sports with their roommates or trying their luck at the casino: many students enjoy the excitement of gambling. But that kick they get from winning – or losing – is exactly what makes it so dangerous. ‘I lost everything.’
»A small price for a bigger cause
My long-postponed visit to the Groninger Museum caught me by surprise. About to wave my pretty student card and effortlessly enter the exhibition for free as I did a year ago, I was brought back down to earth by a polite request to pay ten euros. The urge to see the ongoing Van Gogh show and enrich my dull existence with some culture won over the creeping greed. However, that rather small fee solidified a bigger fear I’ve been carrying for a while: the direction we’re heading in when it comes to art, access, and what we value. From a short chat with one of the staff members, I found […]
»UG considering joining lawsuit against the government for breaching agreements
The University of Groningen (UG) is considering joining a lawsuit against the Dutch government, following the example of two other universities.
»UG will help students with information about renting
The UG will facilitate workshops to inform students about their rights as tenants. The idea was proposed by student party Lijst Calimero in the university council. Students often have little choice when it comes to where they live. In addition, they usually have limited experience with the housing market and are poorly informed about their rights. This is especially true for international students, who face the added challenge of a foreign language and unfamiliar laws. Location and promotion That’s why Calimero has proposed offering workshops to students twice a year. The municipality of Groningen’s Rental Support Centre could provide the workshops, meaning the UG would only need to take care […]
»Rush for film night with Guy Pearce (star of the classic ‘Memento’)
The film night on April 25 featuring actor Guy Pearce, organised by art history and arts, culture & media student association IK, sold out within two minutes on Wednesday. The evening will include a screening of the acclaimed 2000 film Memento, followed by a live Q&A with Pearce, who played the lead role. Memento tells the story of a man suffering from memory loss, who uses note cards, Post-its, Polaroid photos, and tattoos to search for his wife’s killer. The film was directed by Christopher Nolan, who later went on to direct blockbusters such as Oppenheimer, Interstellar, and Inception. Dutch
»An alternative scenario: make smaller faculties bigger instead
The University of Groningen (UG) is considering a new governance model that could lead to a mega-merger of faculties. But let’s also keep an eye on alternative scenarios, argues Henk van Putten—such as making smaller faculties bigger by adding programmes to them.
»Beware the smiling, smooth-talking government members
Education minister Eppo Bruins says that higher education should focus on filling the gaps in the labour market. Columnist Dirk-Jan Scheffers thinks this is nonsense. Proper remuneration and favourable labour conditions will get rid of these shortages on their own.
»Five years after Covid, students don’t know how to make contact
From fewer social interactions to more time behind screens, two years of lockdowns and blended learning have left a mark on students’ behaviour. Or are there other factors at play? ‘Younger people are much more on their own.’
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