The proposals – outlined in a letter despatched from schooling minister Eppo Bruins to the Home of Representatives on October 15 – set out plans to extend the proportion of Dutch-taugh levels, scale back worldwide scholar numbers and enhance the keep price of those who do research within the Netherlands.
“The Invoice known as Balanced Internationalisation, however this authorities is bluntly chopping away at universities and universities of utilized sciences, additionally chopping €293 million from the price range for the consumption of worldwide college students,” mentioned Caspar van den Berg, Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) president.
Representing 14 universities throughout the Netherlands, van den Berg mentioned that the establishments had been “very involved” in regards to the plans, which danger the Netherlands shedding its main place as a information economic system in addition to decimating universities’ funds.
Beneath the Invoice, no less than two thirds of bachelor’s levels should be taught in Dutch, with exemptions for universities in border areas or areas with shrinking populations, sectors with labour market shortages, programs which might be solely supplied in a single location, and “inherently worldwide applications”.
A bachelor’s diploma course can solely be taught fully in one other language after approval from the schooling minister following a International Language Training Take a look at (TAO), states the Invoice.
The federal government has mentioned that establishments will retain autonomy over scholar recruitment however that they’re “anticipated to take acceptable measures, beginning with restricted enrolment in non-Dutch pathways” as of the 2025/26 tutorial yr.
This tutorial yr, Dutch analysis universities supplied 52% of bachelor applications in Dutch, 30% in English, and 18% in mixed Dutch and English levels, in line with Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in schooling.
From September 2025, Dutch universities – for the primary time – will be capable of cap the variety of college students on an English-language observe of a level supplied in each Dutch and English, as per laws already handed by Parliament.
Beforehand, it was solely potential for universities to limit the variety of English-taught applications fairly than scholar numbers.
The applications that can apply the brand new English observe cap will probably be identified on the finish of the yr, and the Internationalisation Invoice is because of be selected in 2025, in line with Nuffic.
“We predict it’s good that Dutch schooling institutes may have the choice to raised management the – generally fluctuating – inflow of worldwide college students, if wanted.
“Prior to now, some bachelor applications had too few research locations and lecturers to accommodate all college students… This put the standard of schooling below strain,” a Nuffic spokesperson instructed The PIE Information.
Nonetheless, they warned in opposition to an excessive amount of authorities intervention and the necessity for establishments to retain worldwide expertise, notably in areas with shrinking populations.
Each the proposed Invoice and the brand new cap are meant to revive Dutch because the norm and reverse the diminishing use of Dutch because the language of instruction, underscored by price range cuts of €293m.
UNL has mentioned that the Invoice quantities to “an austerity train” that can trigger the compelled closure of diploma applications and have main penalties for Dutch tutorial analysis.
“This strategy will impoverish schooling, deprive us of essential scientific expertise and likewise scare away worldwide college students, whom we desperately want in our nation,” mentioned Ruben Puylaert, UNL spokesperson.
This strategy will impoverish schooling, deprive us of essential scientific expertise and scare away worldwide college students
Ruben Puylaert, UNL
As laid out by Bruins, the federal government needs to enhance the Dutch-language proficiency of worldwide college students and enhance the keep price of those that do research within the Netherlands.
Roughly 1 / 4 of all worldwide college students stay within the Netherlands 5 yr after graduating, however the keep price of European (EEA) college students who pay the identical tuition charge as Dutch college students is nineteen%, with language proficiency a serious barrier to working and collaborating in society.
“We nonetheless want to draw gifted worldwide college students… However we wish to entice the suitable worldwide college students. And in the event that they turn into proficient in Dutch, they’re extra prone to keep and work within the Netherlands,” mentioned Bruins.
As seen in different research locations together with Australia and Canada, the necessity to alleviate scholar housing shortages is one other acknowledged goal of the laws.
Nonetheless, UNL has questioned “whether or not this restriction on worldwide consumption is legally possible, given European treaties on the free motion of individuals”, and is asking for a recent assessment of the Invoice by the Council of State.
Earlier this yr, Universities within the Netherlands proposed their very own focused plans to manage the consumption of worldwide college students and enhance the function of the Dutch language whereas preserving the nation’s information economic system.
The brand new four-party coalition authorities, with Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV as the most important get together, has taken a extra lively stance in curbing internationalisation.
