Universities: restrictions on foreign students harm the economy

It could cost the Netherlands several billion euros if universities in the Randstad are allowed to admit far fewer foreign students. That is the view of five universities in the run-up to the elections.

What would happen if three-quarters of international bachelor’s students stayed away from the universities of Rotterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, and Amsterdam? And if those students also stayed away from master’s programs and did not come to work here?

Five ‘Randstad’ universities had this calculated by economic research agency SEO. According to SEO, it would cost the Dutch economy roughly four to five billion euros, out of a total of more than one trillion.

Elections

The elections are on Wednesday, October 29. Eight political parties say in their election programs that they want more Dutch-language courses in higher education. This would mean fewer international students coming here.

This is not a new sentiment. The universities commissioned the study from SEO some time ago, when they feared the proposed Internationalization in Balance bill: many English-language programs might have to switch to Dutch. But in May, the feared “language test” for existing bachelor’s programs was removed from the bill.

Speculative scenario

The universities themselves asked SEO to calculate a 75 percent decline for bachelor’s programs and a 10 to 30 percent decline for master’s programs. This scenario is therefore speculative: it is not based on announced measures.

In recent years, the growth in foreign enrollment has already declined. The figures for this year are not yet known. (HOP/OL)