While the Dutch House of Representatives is pushing to limit the influx of international students to the Netherlands, universities around the Dutch border are concerned.
Though Dutch universities had previously put the recruitment of international students on hold, Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf still believes that the Netherlands is “at [its] maximum” when it comes to international students, writes NU.nl. 😥
In February, he will come up with a proposal to definitively address the situation.
I was supposed to start uni in the netherlands in september but now the government is thinking about not recruiting international students??? pic.twitter.com/9EdZEZefxB
— Venus🦋 (@hotterthanjudas) December 24, 2022
Worries in Zeeland and Limburg
In areas like Zeeland and Limburg, universities don’t appreciate the idea of limiting the number of students from abroad.
They are eager to recruit students from abroad, not only to create a diverse learning environment, and a healthy labour market, but also to counteract the ageing population.
READ MORE | 7 handy things to know before starting your university hunt in the Netherlands
Multiple institutions from the south of the Netherlands have now openly expressed their concern about Dijkgraaf’s plans. “The region needs the international students,” a spokesperson for the University of Twente tells RTL Nieuws.
No ‘one size fits all’ solution
After 115,000 new international students had come to the Netherlands in 2021 alone, MinisterDijkgraaf is thinking of a long-term measure to reduce this ever-growing number.
While he is open to making exceptions in areas with a labour shortage, for example, he wants to ensure that this does not happen too much.
READ MORE | More and more internationals are coming to the NL (and Dutch unis aren’t happy)
But universities affected by Dijkgraaf’s incoming proposal are putting their foot down: they say ‘nee’ to limiting the number of international students. 🚫
There is no ‘one size fits all,’ the spokesperson for the University of Twente claims. Instead, it would be good “if universities could decide for themselves how to adjust to student influx.”
What do you think of the plans to limit the influx of international students to the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments.