Holland released in a communique that the federation intend scrapping off English-taught subjects from its institutions to reduce the visitations of foreigners into the country.
The contemplation has been something somewhat raving. After six months of negotiations, Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid) and two centre-right parties, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) and the New Social Contract, as well as the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging or BBB) have reached an outline coalition agreement.
The communique had it on the 26-page coalition agreement report published on 16 May titled “Hope, Courage and Pride”. The column talks about stopping labor migration by creating/funding entrepreneurial programs in the country. Meanwhile, this one among the tripod options provided.
With the topmost being removing/cutting taxes and the second being investing in farmers and helping houses like easing accommodation expenses. When asked for comment De Vries told University World News: “I agree with the new coalition that we have to improve basic skills [such] as language and calculation.
I agree with the coalition that international students and employees should learn Dutch. We worked on a proposal with [former science] minister [Robert] Dijkgraaf about self-regulation. It led to an agreement. It is easy for a new minister to implement that proposal.”
When asked for comment Hans de Wit, professor emeritus and distinguished fellow at the Boston College Center for International Higher Education in the United States, told University World News: “What shall I say!? On the one hand, the agreements on higher education and on international students did not come as a surprise.
“The only surprise was the €3,000 fee for students graduating late. What is also not a surprise is that the measures are not written in hard stone. On the €3,000 fee, for instance, one of the parties already indicated that there might be exceptions for students who are active in boards and committees and for students with long term illness.”
He noted: “On the reduction of international students, a senator of the farmers party BBB, a professor emeritus in veterinary science at Utrecht University, expressed his warm support for international students and teaching in English, and this party is the biggest in the senate.”
De Wit explained further: “In other words, yes the cuts are severe and not good at all for Dutch research and education, and the dependence on private funding will become more important. AMSL, the chip company in Eindhoven, already has provided TU Eindhoven with millions of euros in research and training funding. But one can doubt if private funding is enough and in particular humanities and social sciences will be in severe danger.
“Chaos and unpredictability are probably the most important words to describe the current agreement, certainly as long as there is not a prime minister and a minister of education, culture and science, who have to work out the details.”