Factsheet for measure
NL-2024-20/3802
– measures in Netherlands
Balanced Internationalisation in Higher Education Act
Wet internationalisering in balans
Background information
In response to the rapid increase in international student enrolment and the growing prevalence of English-taught programmes, the Dutch government has proposed the "Wet internationalisering in balans" to amend the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act. The aim is to balance the benefits of internationalisation with the need to maintain the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of higher education, and to strengthen the position of the Dutch language within academia. The legislative proposal was submitted to the House of Representatives on 13 May 2024 and is currently under parliamentary consideration. It has undergone consultation with the Council of State and various educational advisory bodies.
Content of measure
The proposed legislation introduces several measures to manage the internationalisation of higher education. Firstly, it mandates that higher education institutions obtain ministerial approval for programmes where more than one-third of the curriculum is taught in a language other than Dutch. This "toets anderstalig onderwijs" (assessment of non-Dutch language instruction) will evaluate factors such as labour market needs, regional impact, and the availability of Dutch-speaking staff. Secondly, the law allows institutions to set enrolment caps (numerus fixus) for specific tracks within programmes, including separate limits for non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) students, and introduces an emergency cap mechanism (noodfixus) to address sudden surges in enrolment that could compromise educational quality. Additionally, the legislation seeks to enhance Dutch language proficiency among all students and staff, and includes provisions for a "reverse arrangement" in vocational education, allowing international students to graduate with a lower level of Dutch if they demonstrate higher proficiency in another modern language. The law also grants the Minister of Education, Culture and Science the authority to intervene if institutions fail to self-regulate effectively.
Use of measure
As the legislation is still under consideration, it has not yet been implemented. Therefore, there are no current figures on usage or eligibility.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Migrants or refugees
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies
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Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Social partners jointly
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
The Onderwijsraad (Education Council) advised on the necessity of clearer objectives and the potential impact of the measures on the accessibility and quality of higher education. The Efficiency Committee for Higher Education (Commissie Doelmatigheid Hoger Onderwijs, CDHO) assessed the feasibility of implementing the proposed measures, emphasizing the need for clear criteria and proportional procedures. The Regulatory Burden Advisory Board (Adviescollege toetsing regeldruk, ATR) evaluated the regulatory burden, highlighting the importance of well-defined goals and the consideration of less burdensome alternatives.
Views and reactions
The Education Council supports efforts to regulate internationalisation but expressed concerns about the proportionality of language-related measures and the legal enforceability of some criteria. The CDHO concluded that the proposed law is implementable under the condition that its operational details are well defined. The ATR is in agreement with the law’s objectives but stresses that alternative approaches should be considered to avoid excessive regulatory pressure.
Sources
