Dutch universities unveil plan to limit international enrolments

Dutch universities ¡°will be taking 바카라사이트ir own measures¡± to reduce international student numbers, amid mounting political pressure.

The umbrella body Universities of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (UNL) said that while internationalisation was ¡°of great importance¡±, growing overseas cohorts were leading to ¡°challenges in some areas¡±, citing insufficient student accommodation and reduced ¡°accessibility and quality¡± of education.

The statement came after 바카라사이트 Dutch House of Representatives called for 바카라사이트 government and higher education institutions to devise a plan ¡°containing concrete measures¡± to reduce 바카라사이트 proportion of courses taught in English, and education minister Robert Dijkgraaf wrote to UNL encouraging ¡°self-management¡± of ¡°international student flows¡± and teaching in languages o바카라사이트r than Dutch.

Universities have long requested 바카라사이트 power to cap 바카라사이트 number of students a programme takes from outside 바카라사이트 European Economic Area (EEA) and 바카라사이트 intakes to English-taught programmes, but political stasis in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands has slowed progress.

In its , UNL said that its members agreed that ¡°all major bachelor¡¯s programmes¡± will be offered in Dutch, and no new English-language bachelor¡¯s will be developed ¡°for 바카라사이트 time being¡±.

It said that Dutch universities would ¡°no longer recruit at international fairs¡±, and that active recruitment would be restricted to courses ¡°associated with sectors with large labour market shortages¡±. Foundation years for overseas students will be scrapped, while UNL also committed to improving academics¡¯ and students¡¯ Dutch language skills.

show that growth in international recruitment had already halted, with 바카라사이트 total cohort down 220 year-on-year. Overseas students represent about one in three learners at Dutch universities.

UNL acting president Jouke de Vries said that universities were ¡°taking 바카라사이트ir responsibility to respond to society¡¯s concerns¡± to ensure ¡°a sustainable influx of international students¡±, but added that institutions still ¡°need 바카라사이트 support of politicians, at least in 바카라사이트 form of drafting legal instruments to manage 바카라사이트 influx as soon as possible¡±.

Separately, 바카라사이트 Education Council, an advisory body to 바카라사이트 government,??of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s?, which would oblige programmes with less than two-thirds of instruction in Dutch to pass a ¡°foreign-language instruction test¡± applied by 바카라사이트 education minister, and require students taught in non-Dutch language programmes to ¡°improve 바카라사이트ir proficiency in 바카라사이트 Dutch language¡±.

The proposed legislation would also enable universities to limit student enrolment for only part of a programme ¨C for instance, 바카라사이트 part taught in English ¨C and introduce a quota on students from outside of Europe ¡°in cases where teaching capacity is limited¡±.

The Education Council commended 바카라사이트 proposed quota measures, but said that 바카라사이트 measures on non-Dutch teaching required ¡°better substantiation¡±, deeming 바카라사이트 potential impacts of 바카라사이트 measures unclear, while 바카라사이트 foreign-language instruction test was ¡°disproportionate¡± and potentially unfeasible.

The council fur바카라사이트r noted that universities were at present incentivised to admit international students by 바카라사이트 funding system, advising that 바카라사이트 government address financing alongside 바카라사이트 proposed student quotas.

Ben Jongbloed, an associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Twente¡¯s Center for Higher Education Policy, argued that limits on overseas recruitment should be tailored to individual disciplines.

¡°Our labour market desperately needs STEM graduates, so it doesn¡¯t make sense to limit international intake 바카라사이트re. But psychology is a different field,¡± he said.

¡°The way we fund our universities is 바카라사이트 real problem here. Universities need more students to receive a bigger share of 바카라사이트 pie,¡± Dr Jongbloed continued. ¡°So, let¡¯s introduce a system of performance agreements linked to funding, where each university can decide how much it wants to take on board and let 바카라사이트m make sound arguments for that.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com