'Theology and religious studies' at the Vrije Universiteit will once again be a Dutch-language bachelor's degree programme. The university is not afraid that the decision to stop English-taught lectures from September 2025 will lead to a reduced influx of new students. On the contrary.
“The number of people we brought from abroad was limited in the bachelor's program,” says Frank van der Duijn Schouten, interim dean of the Faculty of Religion & Theology. “Only five in fifty students come from another country each year. We had the impression that English was a barrier for Dutch students to register. We hope that they will now come to our training in larger numbers.”
The VU hopes to solve two issues at the same time. First of all, the university complies with the order from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to determine which courses can be switched from English to Dutch. According to the ministry, this is necessary because international students are displacing Dutch students, both in lecture halls and when looking for housing. In addition, the university sees this as an opportunity to “reposition” the study, which will now be called theology and religious studies, says Van der Duijn Schouten. He was appointed to that assignment last fall.
Not just a preacher
According to him, there are quite a few misunderstandings about the field of study. “It is often thought that it is the only way to become a preacher. Classically it was indeed a training for preachers, and you can still become one with it. But the bachelor's degree we offer is much broader in scope. Our course is multi-religious and therefore also suitable for students with an Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist background. The dialogue between religions is central. Students who are affiliated with the seminary of the restored Reformed Church within the VU must complete a paper together with a Muslim student. In addition, in our research programs we often collaborate with other faculties within the VU, on themes where there is a need for reflection, such as medical ethics and sustainability.”
Van der Duijn Schouten is convinced that there are plenty of job opportunities for theologically trained academics, also outside the church. “Different beliefs come together every day in healthcare, education, penitentiary institutions, business and government. Knowledge of religions and philosophies is certainly no less important today than in the past.”
Identity
Until last year, the Faculty of Religion & Theology worked closely with the Protestant Theological University (PThU). They lived together in a building at the VU in Amsterdam and jointly offered a Dutch-language bachelor's program in theology. Last year, the PThU decided to move to Utrecht and offer its own course. This left only its own English-language bachelor's program at the VU. “The PThU has retreated more into its ecclesiastical identity,” says Van der Duijn Schouten. This meant that the VU also had to reorient itself.
“Theology is sometimes viewed critically within the VU: is this still appropriate in an academic institution? But it is part of the identity of our university,” says the interim dean. “We want to offer an alternative to the church theology courses in Apeldoorn and Utrecht and, in the interest of theology, safeguard our multi-religious course for the future.”
Due to the low student numbers (three hundred in total), the Faculty of Religion & Theology is having difficulty arranging its budget. The bachelor's degree in theology has already been abolished at the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University and Leiden University. There you can only study religious studies. The VU, with its Protestant Christian roots, wants to prevent this scenario.
According to the university board, maintaining Religion & Theology as an independent faculty is not possible. A merger with two other faculties (Humanities and Social Sciences) is being pursued. The three old faculties should make a new start under one faculty board as so-called 'schoolish'. The university board is also anticipating possible cuts by a next cabinet in the humanities and social sciences in favor of the natural sciences.
There is quite a bit of opposition to the plan within the university. The Works Council is not convinced that the merger will save costs and believes that insufficient attention has been paid to alternatives. The conversation about this is ongoing at the university. Van der Duijn Schouten does support the plans. He thinks that the merger is the best opportunity to retain theology and religious studies at the VU.
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