Bruins may continue with Internationalisation in Balance legislation

As new elections approach, the Dutch House of Representatives sometimes puts plans and bills on hold, but not the Internationalisation in Balance bill, parties have agreed.

The influx of international students and the increasing use of English in higher education have been contentious political topics for some time. The previous Minister of Education, Robbert Dijkgraaf (D66), laid the groundwork for a legislative proposal titled Internationalisation in Balance. The current minister, Eppo Bruins (NSC), has since taken over the reins.

Language Test

And he is allowed to continue with it, the House of Representatives agreed on Thursday during a meeting of the education committee. The plans are not deemed sensitive enough to be declared ‘controversial’. This means that the caretaker minister can continue working on them until the elections, and possibly even until a new cabinet takes office.

The most contentious part of the proposal has already been removed: the language test for non-Dutch-taught programmes. The other elements of the bill face little opposition. For example, under the new law, degree programmes will be allowed to introduce a numerus fixus (enrolment cap) for English-taught tracks, while keeping Dutch-taught tracks open.

This would mean Dutch students wouldn’t have to compete with international applicants. Programmes will also gain access to an emergency brake: if there is a sudden surge in applications from students outside Europe, they will be able to close enrolment. (HOP, BB/OL)