MPs call for end to ‘uncontrolled internationalisation’

International students may be important to the Dutch education system and economy, but the balance has been ‘distorted’ by the shortage of housing, overfull lecture theatres and the amount of additional help they need, Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said on Tuesday 31 January, reports DutchNews.nl.

MPs were debating the need to limit international student numbers, following calls for action from universities in the bigger Dutch cities. Foreign students account for 40% of first years in the current academic year. In particular, MPs are concerned about the shift towards English language teaching and the impact this is having on standards of Dutch.

“We are in favour of targeted internationalisation but not uncontrolled internationalisation,” VVD MP Hatte van der Woude said. Independent MP Pieter Omtzigt said that the Netherlands is educating “the middle class of Bulgaria, Romania and Italy”, and criticised the lack of Dutch skills among lecturers. “Is this what we should be financing?” he said.
Full report on the DutchNews.nl site