Maastricht: urgent customised approach required for international students in our border region

The city of Maastricht – together with Universiteit Maastricht (UM), Provincie Limburg and Hogeschool Zuyd – wants to consult with Minister for Education, Eppo Bruins, as a matter of urgency. ‘Our international educational institutions must remain the socio-economic engine they are now, otherwise all the words from [the political capital] Den Haag about the importance of regions are worth nothing,’ said Maastricht burgemeester (mayor) Wim Hillenaar, also on behalf of the mayors in Heerlen, Sittard-Geleen and Venlo.

Hillenaar is responding to the parliamentary letter Minister Bruins sent to the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives) this week in which he insists on reducing the number of international students and strictly adhering to – or returning to – Dutch as the language of instruction. Hillenaar: ‘The Minister also offers room in his letter. He is aware that attracting international talent is necessary. That is exactly what we want in Limburg: to attract and retain internationals. But then an appropriate education is a basic condition as far as we are concerned, especially in a border region.’ 

Vital

Governments, educational institutions and businesses in Limburg have long been lobbying for customised international education. Recent research commissioned by UM and Zuyd shows that if all undergraduate courses at UM and Zuyd have to be in the Dutch language, 4,500 jobs will disappear and the Limburg economy will face a €1 billion drop during this government term. 

Hillenaar: ‘That shows that international education is vital here. Far-reaching measures will therefore also affect, for example, local entrepreneurs and all Limburgers who have jobs, directly or indirectly, thanks to UM and Zuyd.’  Together with the Provincie, UM and Zuyd, the Maastricht city board wants to consult Minister Bruins urgently. ‘We continue to strive, but we also remain positive: we see possibilities in the Minister's letter. It is in everyone's interest that this is clarified quickly, and that Den Haag offers Limburg the opportunities we so desperately need here.’

Gemeente Maastricht press release 16/10/2024