A motion (in Dutch) by the Dutch political parties NSC, VVD and BBB passed Tuesday afternoon urging the Cabinet to rapidly reduce the number of English-language courses in higher education.
Within eight weeks, all Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences must let the Minister of Education know how they will ‘firmly’ reduce the number of English-language programs. This is demanded by the House of Representatives.
Those eight weeks are meant for Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf to work with institutions to create a plan, taking into account ‘the labor market, student housing and region’.
The petitioners write in their motion that 78 percent of all master’s programs and 30 percent of all bachelor’s programs are taught entirely in English. That is roughly in line with the figures on university programs. At universities of applied sciences, eight percent of bachelors are in English. (HOP, Bas Belleman)
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