It’s a remarkable anniversary celebration. Twenty-five years after European ministers of education of 29 countries (among which the Netherlands) signed the Bologna Declaration to stimulate international mobility, the Dutch government is giving international students the cold shoulder.
With the ‘Balanced Internationalisation Bill’ (read: cutting down on English-taught programmes, increasing the tuition of international students from outside the EU and putting a cap on the amount of international students that can enrol) the new cabinet claims to want to take pressure off the housing market, preserve the Dutch language and save money in the process. Right-wing political rhetoric that won’t actually be implemented? Maybe. But for the international students living it, it’s enough reason to worry about their future.
VU stopped recruiting
Most of the measures in the Balanced Internationalisation Bill are new, but back in 2023, VU stopped large-scale international recruitment, following a request from the Ministry of Education to start ‘solving the challenges around international intake’, as head of the executive board Margrethe Jonkman called it. This year, the amount of incoming international bachelor’s students at VU plummeted by 23,5 percent.
It’s the second year in a row that less international students come in, and the international population is close to dropping below the 20 percent Jonkman says is needed to ensure the benefits of internationalisation. In response, Jonkman called for action on her LinkedIn page and on VU’s website, urging politicians to keep giving universities the means to continue education where there’s room for different perspectives. Did VU overplay its cards stopping recruitment of internationals?
“I’m not sure it’s just the lack of recruiting that can be blamed for this drop”, Jonkman says. “It’s a combination of things: these policies from the government create a certain image that might discourage internationals from coming in. The plans are very black-and-white. They’re throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
Housing crisis
What, according to Jonkman, were those challenges around international intake they were hoping to diminish? “The idea was spreading that too many classes were in English, there were worries about the job market and a housing shortage.” And indeed, back in 2021, 230 of VU’s international students were homeless during their study programme. They slept on people’s couches, in a shared room on a campsite close to VU or in a hostel. It’s something politicians eagerly take as an argument. It’s not hard to get people fired up over a housing crisis.
Artificial Intelligence student Andrei Osoianu (20) wonders about the government’s sincerity in this matter. “As an international student I pay 1000 euros for a studio in Diemen Zuid, while others were 800 euros, for which Dutch students also get subsidies of 300 euros. So more than anything, the government is earning money off of the internationals and the housing crisis.”
Sceptical towards foreigners
In an Instagram poll last month, Ad Valvas asked international students how they perceived the plans of the new cabinet. Of the 170 people that answered, 71 percent said they were worried about what was to come. One of them is twenty-two-year-old Literature and Society student Til Weber from Germany who came here three years ago.
“I think this is about more than just some new policies. It reflects a growing mindset in society that’s sceptical towards foreigners and international influence. They seem to want to preserve Dutch culture – which I absolutely understand. But internationals can appreciate Dutch culture as well”, Weber says.
When he came here, he started learning the Dutch language and dove into the country’s history and that of former Dutch colony Surinam. Another international student, Political Science and International Law student Piotr Jaworski (21) started writing for the faculty’s magazine, and master’s student European and International Law Valeriia Volkova (29) mostly hangs out with Dutch people.
Increase staying chances
They contradict an often-heard stereotype about internationals – mostly expats: they’re just here to pick fruits, hang out with their international community and then leave. But on campus, it’s noticeable that it’s often the international students that show up to otherwise poorly attended events, that speak up for the quality of education and research in participation councils, that play sports on the campus square.
The cabinet seems to know it’s not a group to want to fully keep out, stating they hope to increase the chance of international students staying after their programme. That is, those in a field where the Netherlands have a shortage, like in tech. “I’m blessed”, Artificial Intelligence student Osoianu jokingly says. “But it does feel a bit hypocritical to ask someone to educate themselves here on their own cost, and then want them to stay for the Dutch economy’s benefit. Also: how can you expect people to want to stay in a country where they don’t feel welcomed by the government’s policies?”
Swearing
When the international students we spoke to decided to come here, there was a different cabinet, none of the upcoming measures were in place. Some came especially to the Netherlands to escape their own country’s repressive policies.
Jaworski: “It’s painful coming from Poland and finding here what I left behind in my country: nationalist rhetoric and policies that limit diversity and inclusion.” Volkova: “When I lived in Russia I thought: I definitely want to live in Europe, they’re so much more liberal with great values. Now I’m more realistic, I understand it can change just like that.” As a queer person, Weber hoped a Western European country would be the place where he could most be himself. “But then the Vrijmoedige Studentenpartij celebrated the Progress Pride Flag being stolen. It’s very demotivating. I’m reaching the mindset where I think: if they don’t want me here, I’ll just leave.”
‘I’m finding here what I left behind in my own country: nationalist rhetoric and policies that limit diversity and inclusion’
Where to is uncertain though, “especially with the growth of right-wing parties across all of Europe”, Volkova says. She was a bit afraid communicating with Dutch people at first, having read about the stereotypes of them not being very open, but she does feel supported at VU and by her fellow students. “They’re quite welcoming, I mostly hang out with Dutch people.” A result of internationalisation? Dutch students being used to having people around with different backgrounds?
While most of his interactions were “wholesome”, outside of VU, at Osoianu’s former job, people would sometimes get upset with him – to the point of swearing – if he couldn’t reply to them in Dutch. Jaworski also notices that over the last few years, it has become more and more common that people refuse to speak English to him.
More empathetic
But besides their exchange experience not being what they expected, the international students also fear the effects of diminishing internationalisation on education and research. Jaworski: “Knowledge and science is international. It’s very difficult to limit it to only Dutch language courses. Global problems need global perspectives to solve them. Stripping Dutch students of that perspective would have a terrible impact on the quality of education.” And as Volkova puts it: “Trying to solve the problems of the world together not only often gives a better solution, it makes us more empathetic.”
Jonkman shares these worries, and explains to be in contact with political parties, other universities and businesses to emphasize the importance of internationalisation. But is talking enough? Universities also have a level of autonomy. Can’t VU put its foot down and refuse at least certain measures? “For now, we’re focusing on good conversations. Unfortunately, we have to follow the law and get a certain budget to carry out the ministry’s plans. It will be a question of finding wiggle room within those confinements. But we’re going to fight. Don’t worry.”