Government programme: cabinet pushes through Internationalisation in Balance Act

The Schoof cabinet, which took office two months ago, has worked out the Framework Coalition Agreement of the coalition parties PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB into a Government Programme presented today (in Dutch). Some money is shifted around, but broadly speaking, the austerity target for higher education remains in place. The cabinet puts it this way: “We are investing - even if not on the same scale as before - in a strong, accessible and future-proof system of further education and science.”

Binding study advice

In the policy plans, a number of issues that had largely been leaked over the past few weeks. To begin with, the binding study advice. This will not be relaxed and selection at the gate “remains undiminished”. The government wants universities to raise their profile and cooperate more, both nationally and internationally. “The Sector plans are an effective means to this end. Therefore, we will continue the investments in the Sector plans.” This involves around 200 million. That leaves a cut. “We will fill that, by discontinuing the start-up grants.”

English

As expected, the cabinet wants to curb higher education’s ‘Englishification’, albeit with targeted exceptions for certain study programmes ‘in strategic deficit sectors’ in the STEM sector. In doing so, the government says it is particularly mindful of regional circumstances and needs. The Internationalisation in Balance Act of previous minister Dijkgraaf (D66), is thus continued by his successor Bruins (NSC), but still has to pass the Senate. Some months ago the UvA Board characterized this act as crazy.

With this new law, the cabinet aims to keep Dutch as a language of instruction in higher education and better control the influx of international students. “In addition, several instruments for numerus fixus will be introduced that will allow institutions to target student flows more effectively and differentiate between EEA and non-EEA students.” There will also be measures on grants and study financing for non-EEA students. In preparation for the 2026 budget, the cabinet is entering into administrative agreements that should lead “to a lower international intake”.

To keep degree programmes accessible and future-proof, the cabinet wants to move towards forms of capacity-based funding for colleges and universities. What these will be is not clear. The government does say it expects “more peace” in the funding of higher education by adding “quality funding to the fixed base” from 1 January 2025. This already is a long-standing policy intention.

Social loan system

From 2027, a total of €1.4 billion will be made available for an extra allowance for students studying under the social loan system. That money comes on top of the one-off concession of up to €1,580 that will be paid per student from 2025 onwards as soon as they graduate and the €2020 concession that replaces the study advance voucher, for students who started studying between academic year 2015|16 and 2018|19 (as soon as they graduate).