7. Principles for the determination of results

General information

Income and expenses are allocated to the reporting period to which they relate. Income is recognized only to the extent that it has been realized on the balance sheet date. Expenses and risks originating before the end of the reporting year are taken into account if they became known before the adoption of the annual statement of accounts.

Income

Government and other contributions

This category refers to the funding from the national government allocated by the ministry according to the model-based distribution, as well as the target grants awarded.

Tuition and examination fees

This category refers to tuition and examination fees received to the extent that they can be attributed to the reporting year. This includes institutional tuition and examination fees.

Income from work for third parties

This category represents revenue from contract teaching and contract research related to completed projects and revenue from ongoing projects up to the amount of project costs incurred. Any positive results are realized at the time they can be reliably estimated. These results are justified in proportion to the progress of the project (percentage of completion method), where progress is determined based on the eligible project costs incurred in relation to the estimated total eligible project costs. If a reliable estimate is not possible, the result is justified at the close of the project. The item “income from contract research” includes revenues from both projects in progress and grant projects. Grant projects involve an earmarked contribution to operating costs, intended for specifically named activities that are part of the regular business activities of the University. The subsidy to cover the specific operating costs (or some part thereof) is allocated based on the progress of the project, such that any internal contributions are also accounted for in accordance with the progress. Projects in progress exist when the output is intended directly and/or exclusively for the client (customization). In many cases, this refers to research aimed at the needs of a market participant. If total project costs are likely to exceed total project revenues for construction contracts, the expected losses are directly recognized in operations.

Other revenues

This category refers to revenues from all other activities to the extent that they can be attributed to the reporting year.

Expenses

Personnel expenses

This category includes expenses related to remuneration for work performed, including social security charges and pension contributions, as well as other personnel expenses to the extent they relate to the reporting year.

Tilburg University has a pension plan with Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP (ABP Pension Fund Foundation). This pension plan is subject to the provisions of the Dutch Pensions Act, and premiums are paid by the Institution on a mandatory, contractual, or voluntary basis. There is no obligation to make additional contributions in the event of a pension fund deficit other than to pay future premiums. The pension plan is accounted for in this annual statement of accounts as a defined-contribution plan. Premiums are justified as personnel costs when due. Prepaid premiums are recognized as accrued assets if they result in a refund or a reduction in future payments. Premiums not yet paid are recognized as a liability on the balance sheet.

Depreciation and amortization of intangible and tangible fixed assets

Intangible fixed assets and tangible fixed assets are depreciated from the year the asset is placed in use over its estimated future useful life. Land is not depreciated.

If there is a change in the estimate of the economically useful life, future depreciation and amortization are adjusted.

Accommodations expenses and other expenses

This category includes all accommodations expenses and other expenses to the extent that they relate to the reporting year.

Interest income and income expenses

Interest income and interest expenses are recognized on a time-proportional basis, taking into account the effective interest rate of the assets and liabilities involved. The recognition of interest expenses takes into account the justified transaction costs on the loans received.

Taxes

Income tax is calculated on the pre-tax result in the statement of income and expenses, taking into account available, tax-deductible losses from previous financial years and exempt profit components, and after adding non-deductible costs. It also takes into account changes that occur in deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities due to changes in the tax rate to be applied.