Moreover, The Young Academy sees language as an inadequate and inefficient instrument to control the inflow of international students in higher education. We do emphasise that careful consideration regarding the teaching language is important in the light of the quality of education and the inclusiveness and accessibility of the higher education system.

On 14 July 2023, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science introduced the Internationalisation in Balance (Wet internationalisering in balans) bill. This legislative proposal is aimed at addressing the significant increase in the number of international students in higher education in recent years. The Ministry reports that this increase has imposed an excessive workload on educators, potentially compromising the quality of education, and has further exacerbated housing shortages.

Read the statement for our response to this bill.