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A future-proof financial position

A strong and balanced financial position ensures the continuity of education and research.

General

In 2022, the university received additional funds pursuant to the Administrative Agreement the universities signed with the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in the form of start-up and incentive grants and sector plans to create ‘peace and space’. This will enable the university to address workloads and create space for unaffiliated research. These additional funds were not foreseen in the 2022 budget. Partly at the Minister’s insistence on diligence in spending the funds, the Executive Board distributed the grants to the faculties in 2022. The funds will be released based on a spending plan.

The year 2022 ended with a negative operating result of €13.8 million. The budget for the year projected a negative result of €18.1 million. The university handles public funds prudently and has no investments.

Financial overview for 2022

The negative result of €13.8 million realised for 2022 is €4.3 million less negative than budgeted. This difference can be broadly explained as follows:

  • incidental financial income in the amount of €2.1 million due to the impact of valuing the facilities at present value;

  • some of the National Education Programme (Nationaal Plan Onderwijs) and sector plan funds allocated were not used in 2022, resulting in a positive impact of €1.1 million;

  • structurally lower Catering and Sports revenues of €2.1 million due to developments in the post-pandemic era. This loss was then compensated by several smaller positive effects (including an underspend in travel and accommodation expenses at €0.4 million and continuing development of Radboud Services at €0.6 million);

  • income from tuition fees was €4.9 million higher than budgeted due to a cautious estimate in the 2022 budget.

Budgeted result

Budgeted result

  

-18.1

in € millions

   

Temporary and one-off outlays

   

- unused sector plan and National Education Programme funding

1.1

  

- effect of valuing facilities at present value

2.1

  

- problem of less revenue from Campus & Facilities

-2.1

  

- fewer travel expenses

0.4

  

- continued development of Radboud Services

0.6

  

- tuition fees

4.9

  

- other

-2.7

  
   

4.3

Realised result

  

-13.8

Liquidity increased by €42.6 million to €118.2 million at the end of 2022. This increase is a result of additional government funds received in advance to be spent in future years, an increase in tuition fees received and stricter monitoring of the application of payment deadlines.

COVID-19 pandemic and continuity

The university has assessed whether the developments in the pandemic after the balance sheet date affected the continuity assumption. We concluded that there is an uncertainty, the extent of which cannot yet be estimated.

Given the expected developments in the liquidity position and the lump sum of government contributions, there is no material uncertainty about the continuity of the university as a whole. As in 2022, the negative pandemic effects in 2023 are mainly reflected in the loss of turnover in the catering and sports facilities. The personnel costs were higher than budgeted but lower than they would have been without the extra funds received. This was caused by not filling vacancies or filling them later.

2022 profit and loss statement including 2022 budget, and 2021 results

amounts x €1,000

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2022

Realised 2021

    

Income

   

Government funding (excl. workplace function)

401,871

390,096

379,167

Other government contributions and grants

253

-

1,836

Tuition, course, lecture and examination fees

35,660

30,790

40,370

Income from third-party work

228,343

224,142

217,175

Other third-party income

48,735

46,659

40,337

Total income

714,862

691,687

678,885

    

Expenses

   

Personnel expenses

542,100

522,503

503,913

Depreciation and amortisation

32,694

33,801

34,343

Accommodation expenses

32,107

32,161

33,217

Other expenses

124,110

121,212

112,445

Total expenses

731,011

709,677

683,918

    

Balance of income and expenses

-16,149

-17,990

-5,033

Financial income and expenses

2,338

-31

-175

Corporation tax

-

-

-

Result from participating interests

-6

-50

-71

Operating result

-13,817

-18,071

-5,279

Explanation of the most important developments in the 2022 result compared to the 2021 result

The main reason for the further decline in the result from 2021 (€5.3 million negative) to 2022 (€13.8 million negative) lies in the deliberate decision to increase expenses by €47.1 million, which is greater than the increase in income (€36.0 million).

Direct government funding increased by €22.7 million in 2022, due mainly to wage and price adjustments (€12.6 million) and reference estimates (€13.9 million). More in detail:

Changes in government funding

 

in € millions

wage adjustment

7.5

price adjustment

5.1

reference estimates (series up to and including 2021)

13.9

study financing resources (increase)

2.7

performance (registrations, degrees, PhD ceremonies)

-4

sector plans and grants

2.7

Van Rijn discount

-4.2

other

-1

Total

22.7

Tuition fee income decreased by €4.7 million due to a temporary halving of statutory tuition fees. Incidentally, the government compensated for this reduction through an increase in direct government funding. The ‘income from third-party work’ increased by €11.2 compared to 2021, mainly due to a catch-up effect of activities delayed or postponed by the pandemic in 2021. The ‘other third-party income’ was €8.4 million higher than in 2021, partly due to higher revenue from catering facilities.

Personnel costs rose by €38.2 million, mainly due to higher staffing levels (as of 31 December 2022, the total workforce was 258 FTEs more than at the end of 2021), a related increase in leave liability, and an increase in collective labour agreement wages. The magnitude of depreciation and accommodation costs is comparable to 2021.

Other costs increased by €11.7 million. That increase was mainly due to:

  • Consumption of raw materials and consumables (€1.7 million), partly due to increased catering revenue;

  • Outsourced third-party services (€3.0 million), largely related to strengthening the ICT organisation in terms of privacy and information security;

  • Higher travel and accommodation expenses (€4.2 million).

Normalised results for 2022 and 2021

Amounts x €1 million

 

2022

  

2021

 

Realised operating result

  

-13.8

  

-5.3

       

Temporary and one-off outlays

      

- unused sector plan funding

-0.3

  

-2.9

  

- continued development of Radboud Services

-0.6

  

1.8

  

- structural NPO funding

-0.8

  

-5.0

  

- effect of valuing facilities at present value

-2.1

  

0.0

  

- additional support for top research

0.0

  

1.9

  

- additions to provision for projects or accommodation

1.0

  

2.0

  

- digital assessment

0.0

  

1.0

  

- problem of less revenue from Campus & Facilities

2.1

  

0.0

  

- non-capitalised small works

0.0

  

2.8

  

- other

1.0

  

-0.1

  
       

Effects of Covid-19 virus

 

0.3

  

1.5

 

- Radboud Services (catering and sport)

0.0

  

4.7

  

- underspending on travel and accommodation expenses

-0.4

  

-3.7

  

- higher hiring costs

0.9

  

1.8

  

- other

0.2

  

0.0

  
  

0.7

  

2.8

 

Normalised operating result

  

-12.8

  

-1.0

Explanation of the most important developments in the 2022 result compared to the 2022 budget

General

The operating result for 2022 (€13.8 million negative) is less negative than in the 2022 budget (€18.1 million negative). One reason for this is the increase of €11.8 million in direct government funding and of €4.2 million in third-party income, which is offset by an €18.8 million increase in personnel costs. Apart from the increase in staffing levels, the increase is also caused by higher collective labour agreement wages (€9.4 million).

Income from tuition fees was €4.8 million higher than budgeted due to an overly conservative estimate when drawing up the budget. Depreciation and accommodation costs remain in line with the budget.

The financial income is €2.5 million higher, much of which is related to the fact that the present value of a number of facilities was redetermined due to increased interest rates.

Quality agreements

Use of resources for the quality agreements

Amounts in € millions

Realised 2021

Budgeted 2022

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2023

Estimated 2024

Estimated 2025

Estimated 2026

Estimated 2027

         

Resources

        

- Ministry of Education, Culture and Science contribution*

11.2

14.0

14.2

14.6

16.5

16.5

16.4

16.4

- additional own resources

5.6

4.3

5.8

5.9

4.9

4.9

4.9

4.8

Total resources

16.8

18.3

20.0

20.5

21.4

21.4

21.3

21.2

         

Expenditures per theme

        

More intensive and smaller-scale education

6.0

7.5

6.9

7.8

8.3

8.1

7.9

7.8

Increased and improved student support

3.8

4.3

4.4

4.7

5.1

5.1

5.1

5.1

Study success

0.7

0.7

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.6

Educational differentiation

0.9

0.8

0.8

0.8

0.8

0.9

0.9

0.9

Educational facilities

1.2

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.9

1.9

Teacher qualification

1.4

1.6

1.6

2.0

2.0

2.1

2.1

2.1

 

14.0

16.7

16.2

17.7

18.6

18.6

18.5

18.4

         

Central expenses

        

- University Library opening hours

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

- ICTO

2.0

1.0

2.8

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

- web lectures

0.7

0.4

0.9

0.7

0.7

0.7

0.7

0.7

subtotal

2.8

1.6

3.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

Total expenditures

16.8

18.3

20.0

20.5

21.4

21.4

21.3

21.2

The Bestuursakkoord Nationaal Programma Onderwijs (NPO administrative agreement for education) and the Bestuursakkoord NPO onderzoek ‘Steunprogramma voor herstel en perspectief onderzoeker’ (NPO administrative agreement for research ‘Support programme for recovery and perspective of researchers’) were published and discussed in the House of Representatives on 21 May 2021. On 5 July 2021, the University Joint Assembly (UGV) approved the plan for spending the NPO education and research resources. A lot of hard work went into developing a solid plan that prioritised student well-being. This involved collaboration across the university with various disciplines and with all faculties and institutes. At the request of the UGV, the method of monitoring progress towards the goals set was added to the plans. €11.5 million in total has been allocated to Radboud University from the NPO administrative agreements for education and research. The NPO education resources may be spent in the years 2021–2023. The NPO research resources may be spent in the years 2021–2024.

The progress achieved in 2022 and a future outlook are detailed in Appendix 1 of the annual report.

Balance sheet realised 2022, budgeted 2022 budget and realised 2021

amounts x €1,000

 

realised 2022

budgeted 2022

realised 2021

ASSETS

    

Fixed assets

    

- Tangible fixed assets

    

- buildings and grounds

 

330,708

347,889

334,034

- inventory and equipment

 

28,690

23,158

28,320

- information systems

 

-

643

712

- Tangible fixed assets

 

359,398

371,690

363,066

- Financial fixed assets

 

-

60

7

  

359,398

371,750

363,073

Current assets

    

- Inventory

 

237

200

315

- Receivables

 

25,857

20,000

19,808

- Projects in progress

 

11,634

-

9,531

- Cash and cash equivalents

 

118,170

31,234

75,592

  

155,898

51,434

105,246

Total assets

 

515,296

423,184

468,319

LIABILITIES

    

Equity

 

228,156

229,714

241,973

Provisions

 

24,396

21,165

27,614

Long-term liabilities

 

7,448

7,305

7,782

Loan o/g

 

-

-

-

Current liabilities

 

255,296

165,000

190,950

Total liabilities

 

515,296

423,184

468,319

Explanation of the most important developments in the 2022 balance sheet compared to the 2021 balance sheet

The tangible fixed assets decreased slightly compared to 2021 (€3.3 million) because investments were lower than the depreciation of existing assets.

The €42.6 million increase in cash and cash equivalents was mainly caused by the increase in current liabilities (€73.5 million). Important elements in this are the €17.1 million increase in the volume of projects in progress (grants received in advance), the stricter enforcement of payment deadlines (€21.0 million) and funds received in advance for sector plans and start-up and incentive grants (€10.1 million).

Equity decreased due to the negative result. The lower provisions are mainly a result of valuing them at present value since 2022 (higher discount rate).

Explanation of the most important developments in the 2022 balance sheet realised compared to the 2022 budget

Tangible fixed assets were lower than budgeted due to under-investments totalling €11.2 million less invested than budgeted.

Cash and cash equivalents showed a substantially higher balance than budgeted: €86.9 million. Besides fewer investments (€11.2 million), there was higher working capital (a positive difference of €60.8 million) than budgeted. The reasons have already been mentioned above: increase in funds received in advance (more advances received for R&D projects, passivation of unused funds under the sector plans, and start-up and incentive grants), better enforcement of payment deadlines as well as a higher liability due to increased leave balances.

The cash flow overview for 2022 (realised and budgeted in € million) is as follows:

Cash flow overview

  

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2022

Balance of income and expenses

 

-16.2

-18.1

Depreciation*

 

28.2

30.0

Cash flow

 

12.0

11.9

Changes to net working capital

 

55.7

-7.2

Cash flow from operating activities

 

67.7

4.7

Cash flow from investment activities

 

-25.0

-35.4

Cash flow from funding activities

 

-0.1

-0.3

Changes to liquid assets

 

42.6

-31.0

* excludes Faculty of Medical Sciences/Radboud university medical center

   

Multi-year perspective and continuity section

Operating results up to and including 2027

amounts x €1,000

Realised 2021

Budgeted 2022

Forecast 2022

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2023

Estimated 2024

Estimated 2025

Estimated 2026

Estimated 2027

Income

         

Government funding (excl. workplace function)

379,167

390,098

400,560

401,871

401,381

414,420

421,853

431,481

434,286

Other government contributions and grants

1,836

-

-

253

-

-

-

-

-

Tuition, course, lecture and examination fees

40,370

30,790

36,000

35,660

51,095

53,200

53,732

54,270

54,812

Income from third-party work

217,175

224,142

229,037

228,343

249,490

251,856

256,360

260,337

262,323

Other third-party income

40,337

46,648

46,383

48,735

50,214

47,425

47,264

47,513

47,624

Total income

678,885

691,678

711,980

714,862

752,180

766,901

779,209

793,601

799,045

Expenses

         

Personnel expenses

503,913

523,345

539,945

542,100

575,493

589,941

599,189

608,664

614,693

Depreciation and amortisation

34,343

33,800

32,768

32,694

34,444

35,163

36,268

37,077

40,375

Accommodation expenses

33,217

31,411

31,765

32,107

35,883

36,221

36,565

36,911

37,261

Other expenses

112,445

121,111

120,815

124,110

126,172

119,941

115,232

109,388

110,952

Total expenses

683,918

709,667

725,293

731,011

771,992

781,266

787,254

792,040

803,281

Balance of income and expenses

-5,033

-17,989

-13,313

-16,149

-19,812

-14,365

-8,045

1,561

-4,236

Financial income and expenses

-175

-31

-104

2,338

-10

-10

-310

-1,510

-2,910

Corporation tax

-

-

-

-

     

Result from participating interests

-71

-50

-31

-6

-

-

-

-

-

Operating result

-5,279

-18,070

-13,448

-13,817

-19,822

-14,375

-8,355

51

-7,146

General explanation of multi-year operations

The university estimates negative operating deficits for the coming years, which is in line with the policy of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In keeping with what has been expressed in this regard in the 2023 budget, the university is aiming to rebalance its operations from 2027.

In the coming years, investments will be made in the quality of education and research by recruiting additional staff, partly to reduce the workload and increase the wellbeing of both staff and students. In addition, investments will be made to strengthen the organisation around privacy and information security. Finally, the university is preparing for a major improvement in its real estate portfolio (the Campus Plan).

2023 Budget

The budgeted result for 2023 is €19.8 million negative. In 2023, the university will maintain its investment in the quality of education and research initiated in 2022. The expansion of (academic) staff is intended not only to improve the education and supervision of students but also to reduce the workload. As was the case in the 2022 budget, the 2023 budget also anticipates that the tight job market will mean that not all budgeted vacancies can be filled.

2024–2027 estimates

Negative results are also projected for 2024–2027. At the same time, the external environment is no longer as stable as many years before. This is partly why we are facing an increase in the previously projected and accepted multi-year structural deficits, which, with unchanged policies, threaten to continue beyond the current forecast period. Without measures, this is going to put a disproportionate strain on the capital position, and this will impact the plans that have been established and are in preparation to maintain Radboud University over the long term. It is very important to closely monitor the developments of the reference estimate and market share as well as the development of wage and price compensations. There will be more clarity on this in spring 2023. At that time, it will also be possible to take stock and determine whether, and if so what, spending cuts should be initiated. These will then be used as input for the 2024 Policy Letter.

FTEs

In the table below, the FTE development in the years 2021–2027 is set against the number of students. Student numbers will initially increase slightly and are expected to remain constant from 2025 onwards, in line with the strategy. The university strives primarily for quality rather than quantity. Due to the extra investment in staff in the next few years to continue to offer quality and reduce the workload, we see a favourable development in the ratio of academic staff to the number of students. This will facilitate teaching in smaller groups and intensification of student guidance.

Multi-year development of FTEs

 

Realised 2021

Budgeted 2022

Forecast 2022

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2023

Estimated 2024

Estimated 2025

Estimated 2026

Estimated 2027

FTE academic staff

3,238

3,482

3,395

3,468

3,690

3,743

3,766

3,787

3,772

FTE support & management staff

2,491

2,589

2,587

2,676

2,683

2,671

2,659

2,657

2,661

Total FTE

5,729

6,071

5,982

6,144

6,373

6,414

6,425

6,444

6,433

          

% academic staff / Total FTE

56.5%

57.4%

56.8%

56.4%

57.9%

58.4%

58.6%

58.8%

58.6%

Number of students

24,678

25,151

24,633

24,633

24,948

25,270

25,564

25,564

25,564

Number of students / academic staff FTE

7.6

7.2

7.3

7.1

6.8

6.8

6.8

6.8

6.8

FTE Executive Board (management)

2.4

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

The number of employees increased in 2022 compared to 2021. This is related, among other things, to the extra staffing investments from the additional structural resources (reference estimate 2021) and should lead to a better balance between education and research and a reduction in overall workload.

Balance sheet development up to and including 2027

amounts x €1,000

Realised 2021

Budgeted 2022

Forecast 2022

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2023

Estimated 2024

Estimated 2025

Estimated 2026

Estimated 2027

ASSETS

         

Fixed assets

         

- Tangible fixed assets

         

- buildings and grounds

334,034

347,889

332,384

330,708

343,098

372,089

411,823

480,445

513,706

- inventory and equipment

28,320

23,158

28,072

28,690

29,583

28,236

26,554

24,955

22,107

- information systems

712

643

712

-

712

712

712

712

712

Tangible fixed assets

363,066

371,690

361,168

359,398

373,393

401,037

439,089

506,112

536,525

- Financial fixed assets

7

60

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

363,073

371,750

361,168

359,398

373,393

401,037

439,089

506,112

536,525

Current assets

         

- Inventory

315

200

300

237

300

300

300

300

300

- Receivables

19,808

20,000

20,000

25,857

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

- Projects in progress

9,531

-

-

11,634

     

- Cash and cash equivalents

75,592

31,234

107,600

118,170

86,196

52,031

25,000

25,000

25,000

 

105,246

51,434

127,900

155,898

106,496

72,331

45,300

45,300

45,300

Total assets

468,319

423,184

489,068

515,296

479,889

473,368

484,389

551,412

581,825

          

LIABILITIES

         

General reserves

217,462

209,780

208,591

201,207

188,769

174,394

166,039

165,988

158,842

Designated reserves

20,279

16,038

16,038

23,116

16,038

16,038

16,038

16,038

16,038

Other reserves/funds

4,232

3,896

3,896

3,833

3,896

3,896

3,896

3,896

3,896

Equity

241,973

229,714

228,525

228,156

208,703

194,328

185,973

185,922

178,776

          

Provisions

27,614

21,165

24,884

24,396

22,385

21,533

21,385

20,838

18,874

Long-term liabilities

7,782

7,305

7,448

7,448

7,114

6,780

6,446

6,112

5,778

Loan o/g

-

-

-

-

-

-

14,192

79,980

119,240

Current liabilities

190,950

165,000

219,311

255,296

215,000

215,000

215,000

215,000

215,000

Grants/sector plans

-

-

8,900

-

26,687

35,727

41,393

43,560

44,157

Total liabilities

468,319

423,184

489,068

515,296

479,889

473,368

484,389

551,412

581,825

Explanation of liquidity at the end of 2023

The projected balance of cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2022 in the 2023 budget was €107.6 million. The realisation at the end of 2022 shows that the final position was €118.2 million, €10.6 million higher than forecast. As a result of investments of €42.7 million, a decrease of €21.4 million was budgeted in the 2023 budget (from €107.6 to €86.2 million).

Accommodation and investment policy

The development of tangible fixed assets is based on the multi-year investment projection (MIP) of July 2022. The campus plan, adopted and approved in 2022, details the vision for the campus over the next ten years and has been partially included in the 2023 budget and the multi-year estimate. The MIP of July 2022 includes projects that are already being implemented (e.g. Energie HEN++ and modifications to the Huygens building), projects that have already been decided upon (e.g. energy-saving measures) and projects that have yet to be decided upon (e.g. accommodation for the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies and the Faculty of Arts). 

Of the roughly €297 million investment/maintenance expenditures for the 2023-2027 period, approximately €85 million has been decided definitively. Concrete elaboration and decisions have yet to be made for the remaining €212 million. Pending a final decision on these investment and maintenance expenditures, negative liquidity balances (of €14.2 million) are expected as of 2025, which will necessitate the acquisition of loan capital.

An investment of approximately €43 million was estimated in 2023, of which approximately €31 million is for buildings and approximately €11 million is for equipment and inventory.

Development of provisions

In the period from 2021–2027, provisions will decrease by €8.7 million. This mainly relates to the senior staff scheme, which can no longer be used and will be phased out over the next few years (minus €1.4 million), and the demolition and asbestos removal (minus €4.6 million) as a result of carrying out the planned work.

The estimated changes in provisions up to and including 2027 are as follows:

Development of provisions up to and including 2027

amounts x €1,000

Balances at the end of 2021

Addition
2022

Withdrawal 2022

Release
2022

Cash value 2022

Balances at the end of 2022

Addition
2023

Withdrawal 2023

Release
2023

Cash value

Balances at the end of 2023

Balances at the end of 2024

Balances at the end of 2025

Balances at the end of 2026

Balances at the end of 2027

Staff provisions

               

- WNU

5,831

2,336

2,693

-

-

5,474

2,265

2,265

-

 

5,474

5,831

5,831

5,831

5,831

- long-term disability

1,814

3,333

1,517

-1

-

3,631

1,500

1,500

-

 

3,631

1,814

1,814

1,814

1,814

- transitional severance pay

1,610

1,470

1,272

-

-

1,808

1,299

1,299

-

 

1,808

1,604

1,604

1,604

1,604

- reorganisation expenses/restructuring

1,635

367

579

870

-

553

-

160

-

 

393

1,265

1,265

1,265

1,265

- sabbatical leave

2,119

412

324

94

-

2,113

230

225

-

 

2,118

2,124

2,124

2,124

2,124

- senior staff scheme

1,419

178

510

94

53

940

-

-

437

 

503

163

15

15

-

- anniversaries

4,743

698

273

-

1,419

3,749

700

300

500

 

3,649

4,543

4,543

4,543

4,543

 

19,171

8,794

7,168

1,057

1,472

18,267

5,994

5,749

937

-

17,576

17,344

17,196

17,196

17,181

Other provisions

               

- demolition/asbestos removal

6,244

500

890

300

602

4,952

-

600

-

 

4,352

4,189

4,189

3,642

1,693

- other provisions

2,199

-

1,022

-

-

1,177

-

1,207

-

 

-30

-

-

-

-

 

8,443

500

1,912

300

602

6,129

-

1,807

-

-

4,322

4,189

4,189

3,642

1,693

                

Total provisions

27,614

9,294

9,080

1,357

2,074

24,396

5,994

7,556

937

-

21,898

21,533

21,385

20,838

18,874

 Key figures

Key figures for the Inspectorate of Education

 

Realised 2021

Forecast 2022

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2023

Estimated 2024

Estimated 2025

Estimated 2026

Estimated 2027

OCW signalling value

 

Solvency*

0.59

0.52

0.49

0.48

0.46

0.43

0.37

0.34

> 0.30

 

Liquidity**

0.53

0.58

0.61

0.50

0.34

0.21

0.21

0.21

> 0.75

 

Resilience***

0.36

0.32

0.32

0.28

0.25

0.24

0.23

0.22

> 0.05

 

Profitability****

-0.01

-0.02

-0.02

-0.03

-0.02

-0.01

0.00

-0.01

> -0.10

1-year

         

> -0.05

2-year

         

> 0

3-year

  • * (equity + provisions) / total liabilities
  • ** current assets / current liabilities
  • *** Equity / total income
  • **** operating result / total income

Explanation for signalling values

The university meets the signalling values for solvency and resilience. The Inspectorate increased the signalling value for the liquidity ratio from 0.50 to 0.75. This value was not achieved on the balance sheet date, but there is no liquidity deficit. The budget is based on an amount of cash and cash equivalents of at least €25 million. The government’s payment schedule follows the expenditure pattern in terms of volume. Ample pre-financing of research projects (€97.2 million at the end of 2022) is also a regular source of funding, which contributes to liquidity.

In line with the wishes of the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the university is temporarily showing a negative budget, which means the signal value for profitability is not being met.

With regard to solvency, the Inspectorate of Education has also determined a value for the maximum size of ‘public’ equity. This gives an indication of the maximum amount of equity the university may reasonably require for healthy operations. The calculation is as follows: the purchase value of the buildings (x 0.5 x 1.27) plus a risk buffer of 5% of the total income minus 75% of the provisions. Based on figures at the end of 2022, this leads to a maximum permitted (public) equity of €506.0 million for Radboud University. The actual amount of these funds at the end of 2022 was €228.2 million, which is well within the norm. For the entire period from 2021 up to and including 2027, the university also meets this norm:

Normative equity capital

in €1,000

Realised 2021

Realised 2022

Budgeted 2022

Forecast 2022

Budgeted 2023

Estimated 2024

Estimated 2025

Estimated 2026

Estimated 2027

Actual public equity capital

228,028

213,175

215,769

214,580

194,758

180,383

172,028

171,977

164,831

          

Maximum normative equity capital

         

Acquisition value for buildings *0.5*1.27

441,592

452,041

453,701

447,668

467,544

499,675

539,235

597,719

635,946

5% of the income

33,944

35,743

34,584

35,599

37,609

38,345

38,960

39,680

39,952

Book value of other tangible assets

28,207

28,690

23,158

28,072

29,583

28,236

26,554

24,955

22,107

 

503,743

516,474

511,442

511,339

534,736

566,256

604,749

662,354

698,005

Treasury

In 2020, Radboud University switched to ‘treasury banking’, whereby surplus public funds are held at the Ministry of Finance. A major advantage of this is that there has been no negative interest. Beginning in the last quarter of 2022, the university will again receive interest on funds held at the ministry.

The treasury charter was updated in 2022. The starting point for the process of controlling, managing, and monitoring current and future cash flows is the creation of strategic plans for education and research and the future property investments based on it. The charter explicitly states which guidelines Radboud University follows in its investment policy, financing policy, participation in legal entities, and loans to legal entities. Furthermore, the charter’s basic principles are in line with the guidelines from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The university is registered as a non-professional investor in its banking relationships.

Detailed, weekly-updated liquidity statements are used to continuously monitor liquidity flows within the university. There are no investments or derivatives.

With regard to financing risks, Radboud University:

  • Only operates in the Netherlands, which means that incoming financial transactions have no currency risk and outgoing financial transactions have a limited or occasional currency risk;

  • Does not have securities and, therefore, does not run a price risk;

  • Has no material interest-bearing receivables and, therefore, no interest risk;

  • Has no significant concentrations of credit risk;

  • Has no liquidity risk in the first year and can finance investments for current investment plans from its own funds. The university anticipates borrowing from 2025 onwards.

Risk Management

Risk management is an integral part of the planning and control cycle. In 2022, the university took further steps to deal consciously and deliberately with risks related to the university’s strategy and objectives. Risk management is part of the discussions in the planning and control cycle. A more detailed account is included in the ‘Our organisation’ chapter of this annual report.

Clarity in the funding of higher education

General

Based on the Helderheid in de bekostiging van het hoger onderwijs (Clarity in the Funding of Higher Education) memorandum dated 29 August 2003 and the supplement of 27 August 2004, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science asks for clarity regarding the following funding-related matters.

Public-private policy rule

On 14 April 2021, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science provided further clarification on the conditions under which the university may invest public funds in private activities. With this clarification, theme 2 (investing public funds in private activities) of the clarity memorandum was superseded; this also applies to De Handreiking voor de inrichting van onderwijskundige publiek-private arrangementen (The Guideline for the Organisation of Public-Private Educational Arrangements), published in 2011.

The conditions are:

  • The private activity is in line with the funded legal duty;

  • The private activity in which the investment is made provides added value for the funded legal duty;

  • Structural overcapacity in the funded duty that is used for private purposes is temporary in nature;

  • The investment is proportionate;

  • The investment must not lead to unfair competition;

  • A positive result on private activities in which public money has been invested leads to an increase in public equity;

  • The investments are accounted for in the management report.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science postponed this last requirement until the 2023 reporting year, which means that theme 2 of the clarity memorandum still applies to reporting on 2022.

The university has an overview of its private activities and has appropriate procedures to manage them.

Other

  • Radboud University did not outsource any registered study programmes to other organisations in 2022.

  • Radboud University did not use any public funds to carry out private activities in 2022. No educational public-private partnerships were concluded. The private activities are partly incorporated under Radboud University Holding B.V., a full subsidiary. The activities of Radboud University Holding B.V. are partly the result of the statutory valorisation obligation. The university does not want to enter into new participating interests and shareholdings, and wants to reduce the existing ones, partly to limit the associated risks. The university uses other methods for valorisation, such as patents/patent rights and start-up loans in the context of the KERN regulation. The holding company also includes an internal secondment agency for students. The starting principle is that no facilities or activities based purely on commercial considerations will be realised.

  • Radboud University only grants exemptions at the request of the individual student. Exemptions are granted by the Examining Board. The grounds on which exemptions can be granted are laid out in the Education and Examination Regulations. Exemptions are registered in the student file.

  • Radboud University only enrols foreign students if they fully comply with the relevant legislation and regulations.

  • Radboud University does not take part in the PhD education experiment, the demand financing experiment, or the learning outcomes experiment.

  • There are no art education or customised programmes.

  • Enrolment procedures are in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Radboud University does not spend any government funding on offsetting in any way the tuition fees that students have paid. If a third party pays the tuition fees on behalf of a student, that is explicitly stated in the authorisation issued by the student.

  • Students who only follow part of a study programme are registered as contract students in accordance with the Contractcursisten aanschuifonderwijs (contract courses in advanced education) scheme that applies at Radboud University. Their data is not shared with DUO.

  • The students themselves register and enrol for one or more study programmes in Studielink, without any intervention from Radboud University. Radboud University does not enrol students for study programmes other than those for which they have registered.

  • Teacher training modules. In the 2022–2023 academic year, 12 students enrolled in these modules at Radboud University, three more than in the 2021–2022 academic year.