Study in the Netherlands

By NTIO

Friday, Apr 30, 2004, Page 5

We teach in English!

Certain facts speak for themselves. Altogether, the Dutch higher education institutions offer more than 800 study programmes and courses conducted in English and aimed at an international audience. In 2001, parliament adopted a law that is making it possible for the institutions to replace the traditional, uniquely Dutch system of degrees and titles with the more internationally familiar bachelor'-master's model. Each institution is now working hard to introduce the change as soon as possible. Sooner or later institutions throughout the European Union will be doing the same, but for the present the Netherlands is a frontrunner. But is this the only reason for choosing the Netherlands? No, there are more.

The Netherlands as a country

The Netherlands, also known as Holland, is small only in terms of geography. In terms of population, its more than 16 million inhabitants make it one of the European Union's medium-sized countries. The standard of living is high. Per capita income averages USD 20,000 a year, placing the Netherlands among the world's richest nations. This wealth is based on international services, trade, industry, and high-tech agriculture. As a net exporter of food, it ranks third or fourth in the world. For decades, Rotterdam has been the world's largest port. Schiphol Airport is at the heart of Europe's air travel network. The multinational Philips is originally a Dutch company, and approximately half of both Shell and Unilever are in Dutch hands. Many Asian and American companies choose to locate their European headquarters in the Netherlands.

Why is this country so much bigger than the map would suggest? The main reason is that it occupies a delta where four of Europe's great rivers flow into the North Sea. To survive in this wet environment, the Dutch over a period of more than 1000 years have developed a technology of dykes, sluices and other hydraulic works. But perhaps more importantly, the large rivers have enabled the Netherlands to become the port of Europe-a place where goods and people come together. This has made it a trading nation and 'an international repository of ideas', in the words of a former culture minister.

Cosmopolitan tradition

In the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Netherlands founded its first universities, the entire intelligentsia of Europe had its books printed in the Netherlands because ideas could be expressed here so freely. The current spirit of Dutch higher education rests on this foundation of academic freedom. But the Dutch have always been practical, and freedom must also lead to results. If the Netherlands is to maintain its high standard of living, it must continue to operate at the forefront of science and technology. This calls for large investments. Between 1998 and 2002 the national education budget grew by 30 per cent to an annual 23,111 million euros. The country today has 85 higher education institutions that together enrol approximately 455,000 students. Each year more than 80,000 of these students graduate and join the workforce.

A cosmopolitan atmosphere characterizes Dutch society. Newsstands sell newspapers and magazines from all over the world. The Netherlands imports more books from the United States and Britain than any other non-English-speaking country. Nearly all Dutch people speak English and usually one or more other foreign languages. University libraries build up their huge collections with acquisitions from all over the world. A glance through any of their catalogues tells you that you indeed have access to an international repository of ideas.

Cosmopolitan higher education

Against this cosmopolitan background, it is not surprising that the Netherlands' higher education institutions conduct more than 600 of their study programmes in English for the benefit of international students. No other non-English-speaking country in the world offers such a large and varied range of possibilities. The thick volume called 'Catalogue of International Study Programmes and Courses offered in the Netherlands' represents the entire spectrum of knowledge and skills-from civil engineering to music, and from agricultural sciences to communication studies.

An important feature of Dutch higher education offers another advantage for international students. Students in the Netherlands learn to develop their own views and to apply their own creativity. Practicals, project work, and the writing of papers-usually on a topic of one's own choosing-are important elements in all curricula. Students can choose topics that are relevant to their own countries and their own careers.

Quality of higher education

Dutch higher education is at the high level you would expect, given this background. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science helps ensure this through a system of peer review which enlists independent experts-often from abroad as well as from home-to make periodic assessments of each programme of study. These reports are made public and discussed in the media, making them an effective system of quality control. If the findings are not what they should be, the Minister does not hesitate to intervene.

Modest fees

In relation to what students get, fees are modest. There are two reasons for this. First is the fact that the Netherlands over the last 25 years has chosen to compete in terms of price as well as quality. The 'social partners'-government, trade unions, and employers' associations-have agreed that wage moderation is in everyone's interest. This has kept prices down in general. But fees are also modest because higher education is subsidized by the Dutch government.

All of these factors make the Netherlands a viable option for students who wish to prepare for their futures by acquiring international experience-and especially for those among them who want the best value for money. Such students should look closely at what is on offer in the Netherlands, the gateway to Europe. A first trip to the Netherlands can be made via the Internet. The website www.neso-taipei.org.tw is a portal to all aspects of higher education in the Netherlands. Besides the catalogue of international study programmes, it offers links to all the universities and other institutions, for example.