20 June 2025
The Executive Board and the deans share the concerns of the representative advisory bodies about the ongoing and large-scale violence against the Palestinian population. For this reason, an urgent letter was previously sent to the Dutch government, calling on it to take a stronger stand against the violence in Gaza. Rector Peter-Paul Verbeek and FMG dean Christa Boer reflected in various messages on their personal struggles and dilemmas around the issue. You can also listen to their thoughts on the subject in this podcast.
Pending the EU investigation, no new HorizonEurope collaborations will be entered into with Israeli organisations. By making this choice, the UvA is sending a signal that the EU investigation is of great importance. It also means that we can prevent collaborations from starting in the period prior to the publication of the results of the investigation from which it would be difficult or impossible to withdraw, should the outcome of the investigation require this. As soon as the EU publishes the results of the investigation, we will consider how we will deal with HorizonEurope collaborations with Israel. Individual collaborations between scientists can continue.
The only ongoing UvA-wide collaboration in the field of student exchange is the one with Tel Aviv University. This collaboration has been submitted to the Advisory Committee on Collaboration with Third Parties in an expedited manner. The committee is now considering the project and will advise the Executive Board, which can then decide whether or how the collaboration can continue.
The so-called assessment guidelines for collaboration with third parties will also be available very soon. This is a practical tool that researchers can use to make an initial assessment of possible issues regarding collaborations with external parties and whether they should submit a collaboration for an assessment by the Advisory Committee on Collaboration with Third Parties. The UvA has had a policy framework (which will be updated soon) and an advisory committee since 2022. Collaborations are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Updated web pages with information on the new assessment guidelines and the extended policy framework for collaboration with external partners will be published soon. More information will follow.
In order to continue the discussion within the university about collaborations in the context of geopolitical developments, meetings will be organised for students and staff in the near future. Staff and students from the UvA community will be able to discuss dilemmas and experiences relating to collaborations with external partners in changing geopolitical and social contexts. The specific form is still being worked out and will be discussed with the UvA representative advisory bodies.