Number of UvA employees taking Dutch language courses rises
The Dutch language course at the UvA is becoming increasingly popular. Last September, the Institute for Dutch Language Education (INTT) even had to cancel course participants. With the announced Internationalization in Balance Act (IBA), the demand will only further increase.
This summer, the number of UvA employees taking a Dutch language course increased. From July to October 2024, 133 modules were taken, compared to 103 modules in the same period the year before. The figures do not tell how many people were involved, but since one person can take several modules, that number will be lower.
“That may not seem like much in absolute numbers when you look at the thousands of employees at the UvA, but it is still an increase of thirty per cent compared to last year,” explains Esther Scheeren, business director of the Institute for Dutch Language Education (INTT). “And it is only September, we have just started.”
According to Scheeren, the increase is a result of the language policy at the UvA. “Where the UvA used to welcome internationals with the message: you can go anywhere with English so don’t worry, it is now more often: you are very welcome and to get along well in Dutch society it is highly recommended to learn the Dutch language. That’s really a different approach.”
Shortage
Last year, INTT also saw a slight increase in demand for the Dutch language course; this year, the institute was already unable to fully meet demand. Scheeren: “In September, we did not manage to start two more groups, simply because we do not have the manpower.” A lack of teaching spaces is also a problem in the expansion.
Incidentally, the fact that the pressure on INTT is increasing is not only due to UvA employees, which is only 11 to 12 per cent of the total number of course participants. Students and participants from outside the UvA are also more interested in the Dutch language course.
Heat
However, the requirements to master Dutch for employees are likely to be tightened soon with the arrival of the IBA. Some employees already changed their minds to take a Dutch language course this summer because they felt the hot breath of the IBA breathing down their necks, course participants tells Scheeren.
The IBA will only increase the pressure on INTT, Scheeren suspects. “If the IBA comes through, on the one hand there will be fewer international students. But the students that do come will be all the more encouraged by the UvA to learn Dutch. So we are in the process of recruiting additional staff and committing more freelancers to us to cope with the growth.”
