Industry adds to criticism of HE cuts and language mandate

In recent weeks, 39 companies across the Netherlands, including startups and industry giants, have voiced their concerns about looming government budget cuts to higher education and research and proposals for more stringent Dutch language requirements for higher education.

In an open letter to the government, the business and industry leaders warn that austerity measures amounting to over €1 billion (US$1.08 billion) could jeopardise the country’s position as a global innovation hub.

The open letter was initiated by employers’ federation the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) and Universities of the Netherlands (UNL).

“Education and research are the backbone of an innovative and competitive economy,” the letter states, with CEOs from companies like Adyen, ASML, and Lely Industries expressing grave concerns that the cuts will erode the Netherlands’ economic foundation.

They argue that scaling back investment in education and innovation is “cutting into the future earning capacity” of the country, particularly as it strives to stay among the world’s top five competitive economies.

The letter also points to a recent dip in the Netherlands’ innovation ranking, where it has slipped from second to seventh place on the WIPO index in five years.

Dutch language requirements

Additional concerns exist around the potential introduction of higher Dutch language requirements for teaching and research, which could send an unwelcoming message to international students and scholars. University World News recently reported on fears that such policies might lead international talent to look elsewhere.

At Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), which continues to attract increasing numbers of international students – this year’s intake hit a record 3,280, a 6% increase over last year – there are concerns that in addition to negative impacts on the university, the proposed language mandates could hurt companies that rely on these universities for highly skilled graduates and research partnerships.

Nazar Rozkvas, a Ukrainian-born control engineer at Lightyear and a TU/e graduate, said one of the key benefits of studying in the Netherlands is the prevalence of English.

“The Dutch are excellent English speakers, and TU/e offered me a smooth integration experience,” he said. This international appeal has long attracted talent to the region, underpinning the growing influence in European tech in Brainport, the metropolitan area in Eindhoven.

The timing of the proposed budget cuts coincides with the launch of Project Beethoven, a government initiative aimed at bolstering the semiconductor industry in Eindhoven and beyond.

Project Beethoven commits €2.51 billion towards infrastructure, research, and training, with TU/e expected to receive €275 million of the allocated funds to train more semiconductor engineers.

The plan is to nearly double the university’s research staff in this area by 2030, positioning the Netherlands as a leading force in the global semiconductor market.

However, Eindhoven University board chairman Robert-Jan Smits warned in an article in Eindhoven News that even this investment may be insufficient to offset the adverse impact of budget cuts. “These cuts put a brake on science and innovation in the Netherlands and, thus, on our country’s future earning capacity,” Smits said.

Corporate and regional responses

Industry leaders have echoed these sentiments. Ingo Uytdehaage, co-CEO of fintech company Adyen, emphasised in his endorsement of the open letter that maintaining the Netherlands’ technological edge depends on sustained investment in education and research.

“If the Netherlands wants to maintain its position as a leading tech hub, we must continue to invest in high quality education and research,” Uytdehaage said.

Lely Industries CEO André van Troost expressed a similar view, noting that Lely’s success relies on the knowledge and talent cultivated at Dutch universities. “Drastic cuts in education and research ultimately affect us all,” he said.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, mayor of Eindhoven, recently celebrated TU/e’s location in Brainport, where large companies frequently partner with the university and make significant research investments.

He emphasised that Brainport’s thriving ecosystem hinges on nurturing international talent and partnerships, saying: “Thank God TU/e is located in Brainport. This region depends on talent, and companies like ASML and NXP greatly benefit from a local pipeline of highly educated graduates.”

Rethinking higher education’s role

The debate around funding and language requirements has opened up broader questions about the role of higher education in the Netherlands.

Independent higher education strategist Peter van der Hijden suggested that universities should deepen ties with local economies and actively demonstrate how international talent benefits communities beyond academia.

In comments to University World News he pointed to Maastricht University as a model, noting how the institution replaced coal mines as a cornerstone of the local economy by attracting a mix of international students and research funding, creating lasting value for the community.

With rising student numbers and surging demand for tech talent, TU/e is a clear success story of how targeted investments in education can bolster regional economic strength.

Yet, as Smits warns: “The Hague’s austerity plans for higher education and science pose a threat to this progress”.

Smits told University World News it was good to see the private sector in the Netherlands publicly criticising the plans of the new government to cut the science and education budget. "Up to now it was mainly the academic sector that was vocal in criticising these cuts," he said.

He added that even if Eindhoven University of Technology benefits from Project Beethoven, the new legislation will “regulate and restrict the inflow of foreign students ... The measures of the new government will cause great damage to the reputation of the Netherlands as a country that is open to foreign talent”.

He said while the TU/e was blessed by its location in the heart of the “impressive innovation ecosystem” represented by the Brainport Eindhoven region, which would allow the university to “weather the storm of the disastrous policy of the new Dutch government in the field of science and education”, the university would still have to tighten its belt.

Mounting opposition

In an opinion piece in U-Today, the University of Twente newspaper, on 28 October 2024, Stefano Stramigioli, professor of advanced robotics, said he would continue to teach in English despite the government’s rules and described the situation as a “sad moment in Dutch political history”.

He said: “a visionless, populist government is beginning to implement its racist agenda by insisting that universities teach in Dutch, aiming to exclude others from the most fundamental right of intellectual development: education. Is there any content-driven reason for this? Perhaps for medical studies or education strongly tied to Dutch language and culture, but for technical sciences, absolutely not”.

He added: “Should we, as critical academics, simply implement an action imposed without thought by a populist government that goes against the academic principles of reason, democratic education, and ethical responsibility? I do not think so. That is why I will certainly not follow any imposed rule requiring me to teach technical subjects in Dutch, and I will continue teaching in English at all costs.”

The migration frame

Professor Emeritus Herman van der Wusten, based in the University of Amsterdam’s Department of Human Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, told University World News that concerns about migration and the “felt need for control” over it was a “major ideological anchor” under the current cabinet.

“In the case of Eindhoven-Beethoven, there is certainly a migration aspect, but so far it has not been framed as such in politics. As there is an influx of generally highly educated migration and an important company that should be maintained, this is considered a beneficial situation even if migration is certainly a potential problematic item.

“That is in fact exactly why we need Beethoven in order to keep it musically out of the migration frame,” he said.