Dutch universities

The number of students enrolled for a bachelor's or master's program at Dutch universities increased by 5 percent to a record number of nearly 290 thousand students this academic years, according to preliminary figures by umbrella association VSNU. The final numbers will only be available early next year, NOS reports.

The growth can partly be attributed to larger intake by pre-university education (VWO) and higher professional education (HBO). The number of international students also increased. They now make up about 19 percent of all students. 

Many Dutch municipalities with a university or college have more young female residents than young male residents, Statistics Netherlands reported on Wednesday. The difference is biggest in Utrecht, where there are only 73 men for every 100 women in the age group 20 to 25 years old. 

Leiden counts 74 young men for a 100 young women, Maastricht 76, Nijmegen 77 and Wageningen 79. Also in Amstelveen and Weesp, where many Amsterdam students live, there are more young women than young men.

Dutch universities want to limit the increase of students from abroad, umbrella organization VSNU confirmed to NOS after reports in NRC. 

On Monday the VSNU will send an internationalization agenda to Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven. A spokesperson for the organization would not tell NOS what their plans entail, but did say that the agenda contains many more subjects than just the admission of new students.

The idea that top talent is leaving the Dutch scientific world en masse, is not completely accurate, according to the Royal Dutch academy for science KNAW in a new report. Though measures need to be taken to prevent such an exodus happening in the future, the scientists warn, NU.nl reports.

The Netherlands performed exceptionally well in both the World and Europe University Rankings 2017, according to Times Higher Education. All 13 of the Netherlands' main research intensive universities made the top 100 of the Europe ranking and top 200 in the World ranking. 

The Netherlands outpaced the European average when it came to research reputation, citation impact and research productivity, as well as income measures to academic staff. 

A number of Dutch universities break the law with their decentralized selection of new students, student organizations ISO and LSR claim based on their own research. The selection procedures of the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University and University of Groningen are in violation of the law, according to the organizations, ANP reports.

A record number of 112 thousand foreign students are currently enrolled at Dutch universities and colleges, according to a study by Nuffic - the Dutch organization for the internationalization of education, ANP reports.

By the end fo this year, Dutch universities must employ 100 more female professors than they do now, Minister Jet Bussemaker of Education, Culture and Sciende orered. She is making 5 million euros available over the next 5 years to attract suitable female candidates, the Volkskrant reports.

This is on top of previous agreements on appointing 200 female professors  by 2020. "In the Netherlands it's simply not going fast enough", Bussemaker said. She explained her policy on the field of scientific talent in a letter sent to parliament on Wednesday. 

A record number of about 265 thousand students were registered at Dutch universities this past academic year. That is a 2.5 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to the association of Dutch universities VSNU, ANP reports.

There was a hefty influx of foreign students as well as students transferring from VWO. The number of first year students in university courses increased by 9 percent to 52 thousand this academic year. The number of first-year undergraduate students increased in all sectors of education.

Over 73 thousand prospective students signed up to study at a Dutch university from September, according to figures from universities association VSNU. That is an increase of 11 percent compared to last year

The number of foreign staff working at Dutch universities is increasing all the time, according to the Netherlands Association of Universities (VSNU). One-third of them have a foreign passport, De Volkskrant reports.