Academics’ excessive workload ‘needs urgent attention’

Alexandra Vennekens talks us through the Rathenau Institute’s latest analysis of Dutch science

Dutch science is in a strong position internationally, engages well with society and enjoys a high level of trust from citizens, a report has found. But to continue its successes, its funding model needs to change dramatically. One issue that requires urgent attention is the excessive workload faced by academics.

These were the findings of a report called Balance of Science 2020, published by science policy think tank the Rathenau Institute at the end of August. Since 2016, the institute has been monitoring the development of Dutch science every two years on the basis of a few dozen indicators.