Minister: internationalisation does not conflict with Dutch interests

Universities and universities of applied sciences may once again actively recruit international students. “There is no contradiction between internationalisation and Dutch interests”, minister Letschert said in response to questions from the PVV.

Where the previous cabinet still wanted to cut the number of international students, the new coalition is taking a different course. Educational institutions will once again be given the freedom to recruit talent from abroad. The cabinet plans to make 154 million euros available for the so-called ‘talent strategy’.

A substantial part of the funding is intended to attract international talent in sectors where the Netherlands faces shortages. However, this must remain in balance, ‘so that the benefits of internationalisation are preserved without leading to undesirable effects on accessibility or capacity’.

Education minister Rianne Letschert wrote this in response to parliamentary questions from the PVV. She had previously outlined her approach in a policy letter.

Free to decide

Universities of applied sciences and research universities must themselves be able “to assess per programme and per region where international students add value and where limits are needed”, for example through an intake restriction. More international students in one sector will in future mean fewer in another.

“There is no contradiction between internationalisation and Dutch interests”, Letschert emphasised. “It can contribute to the quality of education, strengthening the international position of the Netherlands and a strong economy.”

Displaced?

The PVV claims that Dutch students are being ‘displaced’ by international students. According to Letschert, this is not true. Higher education in the Netherlands is generally highly accessible, she said. Even when programmes apply an intake restriction, most students ultimately still manage to gain admission. Only five percent of all higher education students ‘cannot start a programme that was their first choice’.

However, the cabinet does want to maintain control over internationalisation. Administrative agreements must be made ‘in the short term’. Universities had previously already promised to admit no more than 16,766 international bachelor’s students annually. The agreements will also cover ‘Dutch language proficiency, improving retention rates and housing’.

Turning off the funding tap

It remains unclear how the minister will enforce her policy now that the national ‘language assessment’ for English-taught bachelor’s programmes has been scrapped. The only means of pressure she still has is to turn off the funding tap. Institutions would then receive funding up to a certain number of students, and no more.