Covid-related contract extension rounds for 2022, 2023 and 2024

Research has been impacted heavily by the Covid-19 crisis and ongoing preventive measures. Especially researchers with a temporary appointment have been affected. This has been acknowledged by the Government and a budget has been allocated to finance contract extensions of these researchers in 2022-2024 as part of the ’Nationaal Plan Onderwijs’.

In the three previous rounds, many temporary contracts have been extended or have been placed on the list to be extended. A new, albeit small, round will be organized in which departments can apply for funding to extend the contracts of temporary researchers whose research has been severely affected by COVID-19. These hardship cases are collected by the departments, who have the best overview of which contract extensions are most needed.

Procedure

• Department managers (bedrijfsleiders) are requested to submit a list of the most urgent contract extensions for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 at the latest on 1 May 2022 by using a special form that has been sent to them.
• Thus, supervisors of temporary researchers or research support staff should indicate as soon as possible to the department managers what COVID-related contract extensions are needed in the coming years.
• After a review procedure by the Research Board, the final allocated budget per department will be communicated to the department management before 1 July 2022.

Eligibility

• Researchers and research support staff:
  • with a temporary research appointment whose current contract ends between 1 August 2022 and 1 October 2024.
  • who have experienced significant delay as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
• Department managers collect the researchers affected by the Covid-19 crisis and apply for additional budget to extend their contract.

Extensions & eligible costs

• The budget can be used for costs regarding personnel for extension of temporary researchers for 3-6 months.
• Costs must be implemented between 1/8/2022 and 31/12/2024.
• Contract extension should not result in a claim for a permanent contract. If the extension results in a need for a permanent contract, this arrangement only pays for the extension period.