Dutch universities have too few foreign and Dutch ethnic minority researchers, students and staff, and the numbers occupying high positions and permanent jobs is even worse.
A recent symposium tackled the issue of minority integration of Dutch universities.
Dutch ethnic minorities and foreign migrants account for 18 percent of the Dutch population, but in scientific positions, minorities are seriously underrepresented. Although no official figures are kept, it’s believed the number is somewhere between 8 and 26 percent of all people working at Dutch universities are foreigners or Dutch ethnic minorities. The actual figure is much closer to 8 percent than 26 percent, according to researchers at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, whose research was carried out under the auspices of Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Last Wednesday NWO hosted a symposium, ‘Colorful Talent in Science’, to find out why there aren’t more ethnic minorities and foreigners doing science in Holland?
Professor Sevil Sariyildiz of the TU%s Faculty of Architecture led a workshop about the obstacles and opportunities for ethnic minority researchers. According to Sariyildiz, ethnic minorities face many obstacles: prejudice, language barriers, Dutch ignorance of foreign cultures and customs, the media’s negative stereotyping of ethnic minorities and migrants. ,,When people meet an ethnic minority or migrant, their first thought is often: “A migrant can’t be good. There must be something wrong,”” says Sariyildiz, who migrated to Holland 19 years ago from Turkey.
E.B. Tuncer, a PhD student who is also from Turkey, says that, ,,in addition to language barriers, there’s the peoples’ attitude, which foreigners must get used to.” Sariyildiz believes that there’s still much prejudice and ignorance out on Holland’s streets regarding foreign cultures and customs, and that many stereotypes are simply wrong like women must walk two steps behind their husbands: “And most Turkish women wear
headscarf’s. Not true. The media spreads these images around. On TV you only see poor Turkish villagers and headscarves and strange clothes. The media should show me instead!”
English
Sariyildiz believes that there are two reasons for the paucity of migrants and Dutch ethnic minorities at Dutch universities:,,Except for TU Delft, Dutch universities aren’t
well known abroad. Besides, people prefer to study in countries where English is the
native language, so they opt for England or the USA.”, The exception, she says, is Indonesian students, whose old colonial ties with Holland bring them here in greater numbers.
Sariyildiz, however, is positive about the actions of the TU’s Board of Directors, which she says does a lot promote foreigners and women at the TU: ,,TU
management is productive. Their attention remains focused on
internalization and how to make the best climate for women and foreigners in Delft.” Tuncer, though, is somewhat irritated by university policy: ,,The procedures foreigners must follow aren’t really clear, especially for PhDs, and, moreover, the foreign people who have research positions in Holland are treated the same as people seeking asylum. I think in the long term this will be a problem for Dutch universities.”
Dutch universities don’t officially register foreigners or Dutch ethnic minorities, which accounts for the inaccurate and unscientific figure of between 8 and 26 percent engaged at Dutch universities. Sariyildiz: “Here’s a role for personnel management. Registration of migrants is necessary, because then companies and institutes are able to take them into account. In Holland, people see migrants as a threat, but they should see migrants as an enrichment.” Sariyildiz compares Holland to the USA, a country of immigrants, and argues that immigrants bring many positives, like innovation, with them: ,,If you close the door to immigrants, then your culture becomes retarded.”
Many foreign and Dutch ethnic minority students and staff aim to return to their countries someday, however. Iva, an informatics student, plans to return to Indonesia, her parent’s native land. ,,Not immediately after I’ve graduated,” she says, ,,but after about fifteen years. Because I want to contribute something to my country. Teaching or anything else with youngsters.” Her friend Saskia also has Indonesian parents: “I’ll do the same. In Holland I feel that I can’t contribute anything anymore to the society. Everything is contributed already.” Saskia definitely doesn’t want to stay in academia. ,,I’ll only live for 80 years, so I’ve got to do something else after I’m done here!” PhD student Tuncer isn’t sure if she wants to stay in Holland: ,,I’d like to become an academic, but where I don’t really care. I’ll go where my future job is.”
Dutch universities have too few foreign and Dutch ethnic minority researchers, students and staff, and the numbers occupying high positions and permanent jobs is even worse. A recent symposium tackled the issue of minority integration of Dutch universities.
Dutch ethnic minorities and foreign migrants account for 18 percent of the Dutch population, but in scientific positions, minorities are seriously underrepresented. Although no official figures are kept, it’s believed the number is somewhere between 8 and 26 percent of all people working at Dutch universities are foreigners or Dutch ethnic minorities. The actual figure is much closer to 8 percent than 26 percent, according to researchers at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, whose research was carried out under the auspices of Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Last Wednesday NWO hosted a symposium, ‘Colorful Talent in Science’, to find out why there aren’t more ethnic minorities and foreigners doing science in Holland?
Professor Sevil Sariyildiz of the TU%s Faculty of Architecture led a workshop about the obstacles and opportunities for ethnic minority researchers. According to Sariyildiz, ethnic minorities face many obstacles: prejudice, language barriers, Dutch ignorance of foreign cultures and customs, the media’s negative stereotyping of ethnic minorities and migrants. ,,When people meet an ethnic minority or migrant, their first thought is often: “A migrant can’t be good. There must be something wrong,”” says Sariyildiz, who migrated to Holland 19 years ago from Turkey.
E.B. Tuncer, a PhD student who is also from Turkey, says that, ,,in addition to language barriers, there’s the peoples’ attitude, which foreigners must get used to.” Sariyildiz believes that there’s still much prejudice and ignorance out on Holland’s streets regarding foreign cultures and customs, and that many stereotypes are simply wrong like women must walk two steps behind their husbands: “And most Turkish women wear
headscarf’s. Not true. The media spreads these images around. On TV you only see poor Turkish villagers and headscarves and strange clothes. The media should show me instead!”
English
Sariyildiz believes that there are two reasons for the paucity of migrants and Dutch ethnic minorities at Dutch universities:,,Except for TU Delft, Dutch universities aren’t
well known abroad. Besides, people prefer to study in countries where English is the
native language, so they opt for England or the USA.”, The exception, she says, is Indonesian students, whose old colonial ties with Holland bring them here in greater numbers.
Sariyildiz, however, is positive about the actions of the TU’s Board of Directors, which she says does a lot promote foreigners and women at the TU: ,,TU
management is productive. Their attention remains focused on
internalization and how to make the best climate for women and foreigners in Delft.” Tuncer, though, is somewhat irritated by university policy: ,,The procedures foreigners must follow aren’t really clear, especially for PhDs, and, moreover, the foreign people who have research positions in Holland are treated the same as people seeking asylum. I think in the long term this will be a problem for Dutch universities.”
Dutch universities don’t officially register foreigners or Dutch ethnic minorities, which accounts for the inaccurate and unscientific figure of between 8 and 26 percent engaged at Dutch universities. Sariyildiz: “Here’s a role for personnel management. Registration of migrants is necessary, because then companies and institutes are able to take them into account. In Holland, people see migrants as a threat, but they should see migrants as an enrichment.” Sariyildiz compares Holland to the USA, a country of immigrants, and argues that immigrants bring many positives, like innovation, with them: ,,If you close the door to immigrants, then your culture becomes retarded.”
Many foreign and Dutch ethnic minority students and staff aim to return to their countries someday, however. Iva, an informatics student, plans to return to Indonesia, her parent’s native land. ,,Not immediately after I’ve graduated,” she says, ,,but after about fifteen years. Because I want to contribute something to my country. Teaching or anything else with youngsters.” Her friend Saskia also has Indonesian parents: “I’ll do the same. In Holland I feel that I can’t contribute anything anymore to the society. Everything is contributed already.” Saskia definitely doesn’t want to stay in academia. ,,I’ll only live for 80 years, so I’ve got to do something else after I’m done here!” PhD student Tuncer isn’t sure if she wants to stay in Holland: ,,I’d like to become an academic, but where I don’t really care. I’ll go where my future job is.”
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