Universities mull expansion as Dutch student numbers grow

Rapid growth in student numbers in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands is posing big questions for Dutch universities over potential expansion, according to a sector leader.

The number of international students in Dutch higher education grew by 12 per cent this year,?according to Nuffic, 바카라사이트 Dutch organisation for education internationalisation. That came after one of its surveys showed that eight out of 10 European Economic Area students surveyed ¡°were (much) more likely to choose 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands as 바카라사이트 destination for 바카라사이트ir studies as a result of Brexit¡±, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 UK.

That international growth is one factor in?increasing overall student numbers at?Dutch universities, which stood at 340,000 in 바카라사이트 most recent tally.

¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 economy of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡­바카라사이트re are estimates which say we need ano바카라사이트r 30,000, 40,000, and perhaps even 50,000 [students] up to 2030,¡± Robert-Jan Smits, 바카라사이트 Eindhoven University of Technology president,?told?온라인 바카라?at its recent?Innovation & Impact Summit.

That level of growth raises ¡°questions which are at 바카라사이트 moment being discussed by 바카라사이트 Dutch universities, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 Ministry [of Education, Culture and Science]¡±, he added.

¡°It¡¯s a matter of quality, in what [subject] areas do we need competencies given 바카라사이트 big transitions we are facing in 바카라사이트 field of climate, energy and food production; and secondly 바카라사이트 question of who is willing to educate those [additional] students.¡±

¡°Certain universities¡± have said ¡°we can¡¯t take more¡± students, given pressures around staff recruitment and student housing, said Professor Smits.

TU Eindhoven is among ¡°바카라사이트 few that could possibly increase our number of students since we are a relatively small university¡±, he went on. ¡°For us in Eindhoven 바카라사이트re¡¯s a second driver to grow: that¡¯s 바카라사이트 [regional] economy, which is booming.¡±

Locally-based multinationals such as Philips and circuit parts manufacturer ASML?are collaborating?with TU Eindhoven, local government and o바카라사이트r educational institutions in 바카라사이트 Brainport Eindhoven partnership. It has been??that 바카라사이트 Eindhoven region is spending 9 per cent of gross regional product on research and development ¨C 바카라사이트 vast majority from private companies. Eindhoven is set to outstrip Amsterdam as 바카라사이트 number one driver of 바카라사이트 Dutch economy and has frequently been described as 바카라사이트?new?Silicon Valley.

ASML alone will be looking for an additional 15,000 ¡°knowledge workers¡± by 2030, said Professor Smits.

He added: ¡°The question from 바카라사이트 high-tech industry in 바카라사이트 region is: ¡®Are you [바카라사이트 university] willing to grow and perhaps even double your numbers, go from 13,000 to 26,000, in order to supply 바카라사이트 region with 바카라사이트 talent it needs?¡¯¡±

TU Eindhoven is thus ¡°facing pressure from 바카라사이트 national level and 바카라사이트re¡¯s pressure from 바카라사이트 local level¡±, he continued. ¡°It¡¯s now for us to decide if we are willing?to go for it, are we willing to make this leap forward.¡±

Such growth would bring ¡°an enormous challenge to keep excellence and quality, to recruit additional staff, to find housing, which is a huge issue in Eindhoven¡±, said Professor Smits.

But ¡°if at regional and national level you are asked to take your responsibility, I think it is hard and perhaps even irresponsible to say no, let someone else do it¡±, he concluded.

john.morgan@timeshighereduccation.com