Limburg asks for space to keep accepting international students
The province of Limburg, Maastricht University (UM), and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences want to urgently meet with Minister Eppo Bruins of Education and negotiate space for international students to keep studying in the region. The region is very concerned about the government’s plans to reduce the number of international students, Maastricht mayor Wim Hillenaar said in a press release.
“Our international education institutions must remain the socioeconomic motor that they are now, otherwise all the words from The Hague about the importance of regions are worthless,” Hillenaar said.
Bruins recently emphasized in a letter to parliament that international talent is needed in the Netherlands. But at the same time, he insists on reducing the number of international students and limiting English-language courses at higher education institutions.
“However, the Minister also provides space in his letter,” Hillenaar said. “He is aware that attracting international talent is necessary. That is exactly what we want in Limburg: to attract and retain international. But in that case, a suitable education is a basic requirement as far as we are concerned, certainly in a border region.”
A study by UM and Zuid University of Applied Sciences showed that around 4,500 jobs would disappear in the region if all bachelor’s programs had to be taught in Dutch. That would cost the Limburg economy 1 billion euros during this Cabinet period.
“That shows that international education is of vital importance here. Far-reaching measures also affect local entrepreneurs and all Limburgers who have work, directly or indirectly, thanks to UM and Zuyd,” the Maastricht mayor said. “It is in everyone’s interest that clarity is provided on this quickly and that The Hague offers Limburg the opportunities we so desperately need here.”
