Universities expect more students, call for better funding

The Dutch university association, Vereniging van Universiteiten (VSNU), expects a 5% rise in students signing up for a bachelor degree in the Netherlands in the coming academic year, reports DutchNews.nl.

Last year student numbers rose nearly 13% and this year’s rise will further increase the financial pressure on universities, VSNU Chairman Pieter Duisenberg said on 7 May. The next government “will have to ensure a structural increase in our basic financing”. The number of students attending one of the Netherlands’ 13 universities has doubled to 327,000 in 20 years, but government funding per student has gone down 25%.

“Without extra investment, there will be consequences for the quality of education, the pressure will increase on staff and the Netherlands’ expertise and innovation will be damaged,” Duisenberg said.
Full report on the DutchNews.nl site