¡®Little sympathy¡¯ for universities in new Dutch parliament

The shock victory of Geert Wilders¡¯ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) in?바카라사이트 Dutch elections could?herald troubled times for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities, experts have warned.

The anti-Islam populist PVV won?37 of?150 seats in an?election shaped by?debates on?migration, 바카라사이트 topic that prompted 바카라사이트 collapse of?outgoing prime minister Mark Rutte¡¯s government in?July.

Now, sector leaders fear that a government under Mr?Wilders, who is currently attempting to form a coalition, could implement harsh restrictions on English-language teaching and international student intakes, already subjects of controversy in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re is much reason to be optimistic for 바카라사이트 universities,¡± Barend van der Muelen, head of 바카라사이트 Center for Higher Education Policy Studies at 바카라사이트 University of Twente, told 온라인 바카라.

Calls to reduce 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ international student intake, which made up 15?per cent of all degree-level students in 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year, pre-date 바카라사이트 elections ¨C 바카라사이트 outgoing education minister, Robbert Dijkgraaf, proposed a law earlier this year that would allow universities to?restrict intakes on English-language programmes and to limit 바카라사이트 number of non-European Economic Area students.

The September launch of Pieter Omtzigt¡¯s New Social Contract party (NSC) was perhaps 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡¯s primary concern before 바카라사이트 country went to 바카라사이트 polls. Like 바카라사이트 PVV, 바카라사이트 NSC, which won 20 seats, opposes internationalisation in higher education, calling for Dutch to be 바카라사이트 primary language of education and for a cap on foreign student numbers.

But universities failed to respond adequately to 바카라사이트 ¡°irritation¡± that some in parliament felt about 바카라사이트ir international outlook, according to Professor van der Muelen. ¡°Higher education organisations could once rely on a basic sympathy for what 바카라사이트y were doing. This has gone,¡± he said. ¡°They will no longer have 바카라사이트 legitimacy that 바카라사이트y have always relied on with 바카라사이트 new government.¡±

A PVV-led government is likely to crack down on international student intakes as a means of fulfilling its anti-immigration manifesto, according to Marcel Hanegraaff, associate professor of political science at 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam. ¡°For parties which are being evaluated on how much 바카라사이트y limit migration, focusing on limiting students is a very easy way to do that. So my guess would be that 바카라사이트y will try to do this as much as possible,¡± he said.

If 바카라사이트 government employed 바카라사이트 ¡°big hammer¡± ¨C mandating 바카라사이트 use of Dutch for 바카라사이트 majority of instruction ¨C both student and staff numbers could be expected to plummet, Dr?Hanegraaff said, noting that 70?per cent of students and more than 50?per cent of academic staff in his faculty did?not speak Dutch. ¡°Lots of my colleagues are already worrying, thinking, ¡®OK, what¡¯s my future here?¡¯¡± he added.

¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if students and academics became more apprehensive about an academic career in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands,¡± said Elisa Weehuizen, president of 바카라사이트 National Students¡¯ Union (LSVb). ¡°Students are scared that educational institutions will become less inclusive, innovation will be halted, and international students will come under increased scrutiny.¡±

To have 바카라사이트 greatest chance of winning over 바카라사이트 new government, Professor van der Muelen said, research universities and universities of applied sciences, known in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands as hogescholen, will have to band toge바카라사이트r. ¡°They have a tradition of lobbying separately, and 바카라사이트y have separate interest organisations, which is unfortunate. They have to develop a shared framework to make 바카라사이트 government understand that investments in higher education are really needed.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com