Universities will offer more courses in Dutch, but internationalization law must change

Psychology programs in the Randstad must all be taught in Dutch, various English-language programs in economics will have a student limit (numerus fixus), and universities will do more to improve Dutch language proficiency among international students and staff. With these concrete measures, universities want to give Dutch a “stronger role” and limit the influx of international students. However, they set a condition on politicians: the bill on internationalization must be amended.

The universities want to scrap the Test for Other-Language Education (TAO) for existing programs. This test means that programs may only be taught entirely in a language other than Dutch if a special committee and the Minister of Education give permission for this.

According to these rules, universities and universities of applied sciences must explain for each program why the use of English or another language is necessary. This could be because the institution is located in the border region, for example, or because there is a major shortage in the labor market in the program’s sector. Also, if a course is offered at only one location, or if the course “has an inextricably international character,” this permission can be granted.

The umbrella organization Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) calls the method that Education Minister Eppo Bruins wants “far too rigorous.” Chairman Caspar van den Berg warns that this “places a heavy administrative burden on universities without contributing to the quality or accessibility of education.” The universities are willing to accept the TAO for new courses.

The universities say that they themselves can work “faster, better, and more targeted.” They also state that the mere announcement of the mandatory test has had negative consequences. It created a lot of uncertainty, which means that the Netherlands is “already missing out on international talent that we desperately need.”