The organisations representing higher and secondary education in The Netherlands will merge to create a single body to champion internationalisation for the country’s entire education system.
Nuffic, the organisation promoting internationalisation in higher education and the European Platform which supports international efforts among teachers and schools in primary and secondary education have combined as the Ministry of Education introduces a new unified approach to internationalising education ambitions.
After cutting funds in 2013, Minister of Education Jet Bussemaker said she aimed to increase collaboration between organisations supporting internationalisation in education. The merger of Nuffic and the European Platform is the first step toward her integration goals.
“This is a highly positive development which will result in improved efficiency levels and, above all, in improved outcomes”
“In my view, this is a highly positive development which will result in improved efficiency levels and, above all, in improved outcomes,” she said in a letter to parliament this month.
“I regard this merger as a significant first step towards the creation of an integrated ‘house of internationalisation’ – a support structure for the internationalisation of the entire education sector.”
The merged body will promote partnerships between the embassy network and the Netherlands Business Support Offices and will implement the Erasmus+ National Agency.
Funding for the Neso network, Nuffic’s international office network, was also cut but remaining offices will focus efforts on activities promoting outbound mobility to select countries including India.
In the letter, Bussemaker did however commit €500,000 of annual funding to the merged body in order to promote outbound mobility and cross border partnerships among VET providers.
Jindra Divis, Director European Platform said in a statement that both organisations as set to become stronger through the merger.
Funding for Nuffic’s international office network, was also cut but remaining offices will focus efforts on activities promoting outbound mobility
“Both organisations were struck in recent years by significant budget cuts, what would have brought the primary processes under pressure in the coming years,” he said. “By going together we are trying to compensate those negative effects.”
As an independent non-profit, Nuffic runs schemes through the Make it in the Netherlands! campaign to promote inbound mobility including a mobile game to learn the Dutch language and the carrerinholland.nl jobs portal.
The merger is set to be complete by the beginning of 2015.
