On this page, we explain what the sectorplans for higher education are and what they mean for the SSH-domain.

What are sectorplans?

Sectorplans are shared plans for higher education and science. There are sectorplans for four domains: social sciences and humanities, science, engineering, and medical.

Starting in 2022, the government aimed to improve the quality of higher education and science with these sectorplans.

As part of the plans, universities collaborate on various societal themes. In the social sciences, universities work together on themes such as youth resilience, mental disorders, the human factor in new technologies, societal transition and behavioral change, and social inequality and diversity—essential themes for the advancement of society. For example, the Talma Institute of Vrije Universiteit (VU) conducts research on information exchange, communication and cooperation as crucial factors for accessible care.

In the humanities, the focus is on humane AI and the datafied society, as well as cultural heritage and identity. Utrecht University, for example, conducts interdisciplinary research on Human-centered Artificial Intelligence by linking insights from computer science, philosophy, linguistics, and psychology to societal issues and partners.

With government investments in 2022 and beyond, universities have hired 1,200 university lecturers to conduct research and teach on the themes outlined in the sectorplans.

Added value of the sectorplans

At the end of 2024, minister of Education, Culture and Science Eppo Bruins decided to cancel the planned cuts to the sectorplans. By preserving the sectorplans, minister Bruins ensured continued coordination and collaboration between universities and disciplines. Moreover, universities and researchers can continue their substantial contributions to the major challenges facing the Netherlands. Moreover, the 1,200 researchers collectively help alleviate the workload.

The SSH-sectorplans

The SSH-council represents the Dutch domain of social sciences, humanities, law, and economic sciences.

Experts and leaders from the social sciences sector developed the sector plan ‘From insight to impact’. For the humanities, the sector plan ‘Tradition in transition’ was developed.

The SSH-council proposed a broader SSH-plan: ‘Prosperity, participation, and citizenship in a digital world’. With this sectorplan, we aim to optimally contribute to answering fundamental questions and challenges for society. This is achieved by strengthening the foundation, collaborating and making clear choices. Joanne van der Leun is the national coordinator of this broader SSH-sectorplan.

The broader SSH-sectorplan can be found below, in Dutch. The document next to it also contains the sectorplans for the social sciences and humanities.