‘Protect programmes in the region: apply the language of instruction assessment only for new programmes’

The Dutch universities are taking responsibility for balancing internationalisation in higher education. They have agreed to limit the enrolment of international students, target their recruitment more effectively, and offer more courses in Dutch. They are also establishing an intake restriction for the English-taught variant of certain programmes. However, the universities set one clear condition: that existing programmes are excluded from the assessment for the language of instruction. And this is justified.

This assessment is a tool designed to determine whether it is genuinely necessary to offer programmes in English. Our current English-taught programmes prepare students for sectors where the Netherlands excels globally. Many of these students remain to work in our provinces after graduation. Therefore, they are not a burden, but a solution to shortages in the job market and demographic challenges. If we were to ‘assess away’ these programmes, we would be cutting off our own potential by losing innovation capacity and earning power.

During the discussion of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science budget, a majority in the Chamber adopted the Bontenbal amendment, which instructs the minister to fully exempt shrinking and border regions from the Language of Instruction Assessment. This is a justified mandate, but the minister has yet to adopt it. Educational institutions are already feeling the effects: a decline in international enrolment. This makes programmes in the region vulnerable, as do the carefully built regional education ecosystems.

The universities’ proposal to balance internationalisation within the existing programme offerings through self-regulation and to apply the law only to new programmes is a necessary and logical adjustment to the existing legislative proposal. This way, we can maintain well-functioning, regionally anchored programmes and keep international talent available for the job market.

In conclusion, we must be careful not to fight the last war with this law. Especially in a world where strategic autonomy and the prevention of dependency are central, the ‘war on talent’ – including international talent – is crucial. A continent – a country – that lacks raw materials must rely on its innovation capacity. We must not lose the fantastic starting position the Netherlands has in this regard, but rather strengthen it. With these plans, the universities have done their homework; The Hague should seize this opportunity with both hands and quickly amend the proposed Internationalisation in Balance Act. The uncertainty for colleges and universities has already lasted far too long.