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Dutch academia is facing unprecedented budget cuts. At the same time, in 2024 the government proposed legislation (Wet Internationalisering in Balans, WIB)  with the aim of bringing internationalisation into balance. The current government has added the task to reduce the number of international students at Dutch universities. The Young Academy rejected this proposed legislation in earlier statements, defending a world-class academic environment in which nationality diversity is a crucial ingredient. Like The Young Academy, UNL previously opposed the WIB and the accompanying assessment of study programmes taught in a language other than Dutch (Taaltoets Anderstalig Onderwijs, TAO). 

Last month, however, UNL presented a package of self-regulation measures including a proposal to discontinue English-taught psychology programmes in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Tilburg, and Leiden. These plans are ineffective and open the door to harmful political influence in the future.

UNL should not go along with the narrative of internationalisation as a ‘problem’

In recent years, internationalisation has been associated with several problems facing universities and the cities in which they operate. Arguments have been made that higher student numbers put pressure on student housing and universities’ teaching and support staff. Using English as the language of instruction raises questions as to whether university programmes are accessible to Dutch students and in tune with the demands of the Dutch labour market. Some of these points are legitimate. However, the extent to which internationalisation causes or contributes to these problems is often exaggerated, conflated with other issues, or unsupported by facts. This has led, particularly in political discourse, to an atmosphere in which the WIB, as well as the recent self-regulation measures, no longer appear to genuinely address the actual problems but merely serve as an instrument to keep international students out. Academics should join together in resisting this harmful atmosphere and policy.

Anticipatory obedience: The proposed self-regulation makes matters worse

Of the various self-regulation measures proposed by UNL, the largest impact is expected to come from the plan to discontinue English-taught programmes in psychology. This plan does not improve the quality of education or access for Dutch students, since psychology programmes are already available in Dutch. Rather, it limits the freedom of choice for prospective Dutch students who wish to study in an international environment. Politicians have repeatedly ridiculed English-language psychology programmes, alluding to the idea that ‘Dutch people do not talk to their therapist in English’. This framing is misleading, however, because psychology is the study of behaviour and therefore much broader than therapy: many psychology graduates in fact do not end up as therapists but fulfil much-needed roles in HR-management, the adoption of new technologies, or in addressing complex societal issues, to give just a few examples. For these jobs, English-taught programmes are often a logical choice. 

Meanwhile, the damage UNL’s proposal is inflicting is immeasurable. International colleagues at psychology departments feel unwelcome, isolated, and targeted as a scapegoat. Some are considering leaving, which would hurt education and research programmes in the Netherlands, where their contribution is indispensable. This goes against what we, as The Young Academy, stand for: an open, inclusive, and welcoming academic community. What is more, the proposed package of self-regulation measures constitutes a harmful act of anticipatory obedience. Although the intent may have been to retain autonomy, it in fact forgoes this autonomy by legitimising the negative narratives about English-taught programmes as well as the policies it hopes to mitigate. As the current developments in the United States show, this can encourage politicians to attack universities further. We should all acknowledge that the WIB, together with the budget cuts, are a direct attack on the very mission and values of our universities. Instead of partially giving in to these attacks, the whole academic community should resist.    

Scrap the WIB and proposed self-regulation measures while continuing to promote Dutch

The Young Academy reiterates that it rejects the WIB entirely, because it is ineffective and driven by the aim to reduce the number of EU and EEA students. Imposing language restrictions on universities with the main objective to curb EU and EEA student migration is illegal under EU law. There is a genuine case to be made for promoting Dutch as a language of instruction in higher education, for example to retain international students as workers after graduation. We align with the position of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) on this point. To be effective and legal beyond any doubt, the WIB or any proposal for self-regulation would have to pursue these goals genuinely, unambiguously, and coherently. Instead of promoting Dutch by helping international students settle in the Netherlands, however, the WIB and UNL’s proposed package of self-regulation measures would see many students avoiding the Netherlands. The promotion of Dutch should be accompanied by and not replace an open attitude towards academic internationalisation. Our labour market needs graduates who are aware of cultural differences and proficient in both Dutch and English. By promoting the opposite, the WIB and UNL’s self-regulation measures would deny many Dutch students the cultural and social experience of studying in an international environment, while making The Netherlands less attractive for talented internationals 

Preserve internationalisation in the interest of Dutch society

As an innovative country with an open economy, the Netherlands depends heavily on its world-class research and education system. To deliver this public good, Dutch academia, like other crucial sectors, needs access to the most intelligent and creative minds in the world. The WIB, or any self-regulation measure that accommodates parts of its underlying agenda, undermines efforts to meet this need, with the risk of damaging the Dutch economy irreparably. In the interest of our academic system, and Dutch society as a whole, we call upon UNL to join us in resisting the WIB and politicians’ growing interference with decisions that should be taken by universities.