{"id":160061,"date":"2023-10-19T15:07:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T13:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=160061"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:01","slug":"minister-sticks-to-screening-of-foreign-researchers-and-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/10\/19\/minister-sticks-to-screening-of-foreign-researchers-and-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Minister sticks to screening of foreign researchers and students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite criticism from academics, Minister Dijkgraaf is pressing ahead with his plan. He will present a bill as soon as possible \u2013 but a little later than planned \u2013 that will enable the national screening of students and researchers from abroad.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFemke Legu\u00e9<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Universities are increasingly aware of the risk of espionage and foreign influence, according to a review the minister sent to the House of Representatives last Monday. All universities are looking to increase knowledge security and are appointing dedicated officers to monitor this.<\/p>\n

But when exactly does a student or researcher from outside the EU constitute a threat to national security? To be able to answer this question, universities argue that they need a clear framework. Otherwise, there is a risk of discrimination and stigmatisation. \u201cUniversities cannot and do not want to reject promising applicants or valued colleagues based solely on where they come from\u201d, they write in a letter<\/a> to the minister.<\/p>\n

Concerns about Chinese influence<\/h2>

Although the minister is sympathetic to this point, he has yet to address it. Nor has he responded to the objections<\/a> raised by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) to the systematic screening of foreign academics and students. They argue that this would unduly impede international cooperation and violate academic freedom.<\/p>\n

But he is listening to the criticism. He is taking a little more time to find the \u2018right balance\u2019 and draft a good bill, he says in his letter. Issues at hand include the definition of \u2018high-risk fields\u2019 and \u2018sensitive technologies\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\t

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