Amsterdam’s VU university has announced it will cut 37 jobs and close its earth sciences department due to falling student numbers and nationwide spending cuts.

The VU is facing a decline in both international and domestic student numbers and the closure is part of a €60 million cost cutting programme, according to the Parool.

This academic year, the number of foreign students enrolling in new degree programmes at VU has dropped by 21% to 1,102 as the government’s efforts to make universities more Dutch language-centric take affect.

“We are facing gigantic cutbacks,” board chairwoman Margrethe Jonkman told the paper. “You cannot deal with this by cutting a bit here and there. You need to take far-reaching measures.”

The 130 students currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in earth sciences at VU will still be able to complete their studies, with support from Utrecht University, the paper said.

The closure of the department is only the first step, and more job losses will follow, according to Jonkman. VU currently employs the equivalent of 4,700 full-time staff and offers 47 bachelor’s and 97 master’s degree programmes.

The right-wing government plans to bring in a major budget reduction for colleges and universities, although the measure still has to be voted on in the senate.

“I will continue to speak out strongly against the spending cuts that are undermining the foundation of our education and research,” Jonkman said on the university website.

“I therefore make an urgent appeal to the cabinet to halt these cuts and instead invest in research and education — sectors that are vital for a sustainable future.”

Earlier this year it emerged that the University of Twente in Enschede is cutting 40 jobs, while University College Roosevelt in Middelburg is reducing its workforce by 20, or 25%. The college is part of the University of Utrecht.