Dutch gov't must invest more in AI courses: Cyber Security Council

The Cyber Security Council, an advisory body to the Dutch government, is calling on the Ministry of Education to push more money into artificial intelligence and related courses, so that universities don't have to limit the number of students they take in. The Council calls a student limit an undesirable and worrisome development, NOS reports.

Earlier this month it was revealed that five of the six universities that offer AI courses can't cope with the number of students applying to those courses. Some universities saw the number of applications double compared to the current academic year. The same applies to related courses like data science and business analytics.

"We really need that knowledge, that is a precondition for having a secure digital economy, Ineke Dezentjé Hamming of the Council said to NOS. "There is a huge shortage of educated young people in these directions, and the universities are closing the doors. That can of course not be so."

The Council is therefore calling on Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven to make emergency funding available to the universities, so that they can increase their capacity and admit all potential students for the relevant courses in September next year. The Council also advises the Minister to put together a multidisciplinary team to actively support the universities in finding qualified personnel and the necessary resources.

According to the Cyber Security Council, due to the strong growth in the digital economy, the demand for qualified personnel is already high and will only keep growing.