Dutch universities have a record number of students this academic year. There are 328,000 of them, 8 percent more than in the 2019-2020 academic year, according to provisional registration figures from the Association of Universities (VSNU).
The growth spurt is mainly the result of the corona crisis. Because of the disappearance of the central final exams more students a VWO diploma. Probably less graduates also opted for a gap year, because the travel options are considerably limited.
Binding study advice
In addition, universities have been more lenient when it comes to binding study advice due to the corona crisis. Normally 7 percent of students drop out in the first year, now it was 5.4 percent.
“The coming year should reveal the consequences of postponing the binding study advice”, says VSNU chairman Pieter Duisenberg. “It is quite possible that the dropout rate will increase next year because students are still stuck in their studies.”
Another factor is that fewer students were able to obtain their diploma than expected, for example because certain subjects could not be completed. Those students have registered again to do so.
The arrival of foreign students from the European Union has not suffered from the crisis. The number of students from outside the EU did drop.
Greater pressure on employees
The number of students has been on the rise for years. Compared to twenty years ago, this has doubled.
“The growth spurt increases the pressure on universities and their employees,” says Duisenberg. “This strengthens our plea for structural investments in scientific education.”
–
