The Executive Board plans to abolish the Honours Academy as of 1 January 2027. The measure will allow the University to save €2.3 million annually. Edita Poljac, head of the organisation, is deeply concerned.

The Radboud Honours Academy is there for students who wish to complete an extra programme in addition to their regular curriculum. The Honours programme allows students to follow interfaculty programmes or explore their own discipline in more depth.

In response to the need for significant cutbacks, the Executive Board (CvB) plans to abolish this extra programme in 2027. Following questions from VOX, a spokesperson stated today that this is only a ‘proposed decision’; the participational bodies, among others, have yet to respond to it. The University also published a news item about this.

The measure could save the University €2.3 million per year. The Honours Academy currently employs 11 staff members. Edita Poljac, head of the academy, is stunned and deeply concerned about what this means for her team. ‘I did realise that we would have to cut back. But I cannot get my head around the idea that we will disappear altogether. The Honours programme has been around for 22 years and the Executive Board wants to trash it all in one go.’

Pending advice

The way in which Poljac had to hear about the proposed decision made her more angry still. Rather than being informed directly by the Rector, she heard it from colleagues who knew about it before she did.

‘We are currently awaiting advice on the financial and substantive future of the Honours Academy,’ says Poljac. ‘But even before that advice is ready, the Executive Board already decided to do away with the Honours Academy. They are not following any kind of democratic procedure.’

In the article on the site, the Executive Board express their ‘regret’ that the news about the possible dismantling of the Honours Programme has already become public. The Board spokesperson says that they understand ‘the concerns and questions this raises’. Should the decision go ahead, the Executive Board will talk to the staff members concerned to ‘jointly consider appropriate next steps’.

Poljac is not simply accepting the decision. ‘I hope the participational bodies can do something about it. Or the deans of different faculties. It is very worrying. These are difficult times with the budget cuts, but it is not how you’re supposed to handle it as a board.’

What is Honours?

The Honours Academy was founded in 2002 by then-rector Kees Blom. At the time, it targeted excellent students who wanted to look beyond their own curriculum.

Honours offers small-group teaching with students from different disciplines within their own faculty or beyond. Students are given the opportunity to learn about current topics in depth and at no extra charge. They often go on field trips (sometimes abroad). In the Master’s phase, participants work with fellow students to solve issues presented by social partners with whom the University works.