Holland: Almost everyone will have less to spend

Almost everyone, with the exception of poor pensioners and single parent families in work, will have less to spend this year, according to calculations by family budget institute Nibud. It was announced at last year’s budget that spending power would be down for most households in 2008. On average, people will have €13 a month less to spend, Nibud said. Disposable cash will fall between 0.25% and 1% despite an average 3.25% increase in wages. The sharp increase in food and petrol prices means many people will feel the fall in spending power directly in their pockets and wage rises will not be enough to counteract inflation, Nibud said. Poorer pensioners and single parent families will benefit from extra government support. Opposition MPs on Tuesday called on ministers to explain the decline in spending power. GroenLinks urged the government to ensure everyone on a low income benefited from government top-ups. The extra money the government will earn from its gas reserves because of high oil prices could be used to pay for more help, GroenLinks said.//DutchNews.nl

Campuses could cut student drop-out rate

Introducing a US-type campus system at Dutch universities would help cut their high drop-out rate, according to a new report by the education council. The current system of spreading student accomodation throughout the city is old-fashioned and does not give students a feeling of belonging to their university, the council said in its report 'A successful start in higher education'. Some 25% of university students and 30% of tertiary college students drop out during their first year. The cabinet wants to halve this percentage by 2014. The report also backs the introduction of what it calls 'university colleges' which are smaller campus-based institutions. Students at these sort of institutions in Utrecht and Middelburg feel more attached to their college and are less likely to drop out, the report says. Education minister Ronald Plasterk described the recommendations as 'interesting'. The minister said he would like to see better help for school leavers when deciding what subjects to study. 'If you make the right choice, you are better motivated to complete your education.'//DutchNews.nl

How friendly are the Dutch?

As a matter of fact, Dutch society has more than its fair share of stereotypes. Catch phrases like `going Dutch', `Dutch courage' and `Dutch treat' were coined centuries ago by the English, when the Dutch were their most despised military and commercial rivals. As years passed, these slang phrases gave rise to certain stereotypes. Whereas the stereotypes, such as the ones mentioned above, are intended to project the Dutch in a bad light and poke fun at them, there are quite a few modern perceptions of the Dutch that are complimenting to their way of life. Perhaps the most common portrayal of the Dutch society is the stereotype that the Dutch are friendly and open-minded. In the perception of many foreigners, the Dutch are amongst the friendliest and the most accommodating people in Europe, and they will readily accept a foreigner into their social circles. This view is accentuated by the fact that a vast majority of the Dutch can and are willing to converse with non-Dutch speaking people in English, the quasi lingua franca of the internet age. The question begs asking; are the Dutch really as friendly and open-minded as they are portrayed to be? Well, according to Vishnu Vardhan Pully, a PhD student at the Biophysical Engineering Group (TNW), the answer is an emphatic yes! He says, `it is obvious that the Dutch are very friendly. They are ever ready to accept a foreigner as one among them.' He adds `Though I come from India, which is a multi-cultural country, I find the Dutch culture to be quite unique.' Salma Hamdi from Tunisia, who is working on her PhD at the Production Technology Group (CTW), echoes Pully's views. She says, `in my opinion, the most prominent aspects of the Dutch culture are friendliness, helpfulness and the outgoing nature of the people, in that order.' But she offers a word of caution: `socialising in Dutch culture is constrained by some rules and is limited to some games. The Dutch tend to socialise over games like darts and bowling, which are not played by everyone. This results in the isolation of a large number of people, especially foreigners. She adds, `Nevertheless, for those foreigners, who are ready and willing to integrate into Dutch culture, living here is much easier, even more so than in their own home country.' Rob Bosman, a straight talking, no-nonsense Dutch PhD student at the Laboratory for Surface Technology and Tribology (CTW) presents a different viewpoint on his country's culture: `yes, the Dutch are friendly and they do accept the presence of other cultures in the Netherlands, but the open-mindedness of a normal Dutch person leaves a lot to be desired. A willingness to show interest in other cultures is something a lot of Dutch people lack.' On the issue of integration of foreigners into Dutch society, Bosman thinks, `within the university, integration is not a problem because everyone speaks at least basic English, and I think integration starts with communication.' For foreigners, Bosman suggest this: `a basic knowledge of the Dutch language is a good start to integrate within the community outside of the university.' It is fair to say that though Hamdi, Pully and Bosman have differing views on the open-mindedness of Dutch people, they are all in agreement that the Dutch are friendly people. That Hamdi and Pully have recommended to some of their friends and relatives to move to the Netherlands to work or study is surely a tribute to the friendliness of the Dutch. On being asked to single out an aspect of Dutch culture that is not his cup of tea, Pully opines, `the candidness of the Dutch can sometimes be too direct for people belonging to other cultures to digest. But most of the time, it really helps to sort out issues quickly.'//University Twente

Merger CHN University and Drenthe University

Merger CHN University and Drenthe University is a fact. A new university with a new name: Stenden University. A swallow (sym.) – bird, that embodies the playful Spirit of Air, a harbinger of Spring. Traditionally a good luck amulet. They are a sign of loyalty, pride to both regions and people. A sailor would get a swallow tattoo after sucessfully sailing 5.000 miles. The swallow denotes general good omens and fortune. (Chin. sym.) The first Barn-swallows arrive late March, they have traveled for two months and appr. 8.000 kilometer by then. One could say that the voyage the bird makes symbolizes the life – journeys of you, your parents and ancestors. FLY THE NEST and RETURN! Stenden University. //CHN University

Studychoice.nl: All bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is an increasingly popular study destination for students from around the world who are looking to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The www.studychoice.nl website provides detailed information on English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes available in the Netherlands. Transparency is an important aspect of the education system in the Netherlands, and that’s why the website also allows visitors to compare the quality of the various study programmes. According to the 2007 THES-QS World University Rankings, there are no less than 11 Dutch universities in the top 200 universities in the world. The list, which appears in the November issue of the Times Higher Education Supplement, puts the Netherlands in first place among the countries of mainland Europe. The new www.studychoice.nl website gives details of 700 English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes in the Netherlands. The site is unique because it allows visitors to compare bachelor’s and master’s programmes in terms of quality, study pace, student services, as well as student opinions on things like teaching quality and the cost of room rents. The site also provides information on the population size of cities and on the number of students studying there. Website visitors are able to select the criteria which they find important. This makes it the most complete site with information on higher education in the Netherlands. Backed by research, the data is reliable and objective. All listed study programmes are accredited and all higher education institutions have endorsed the Code of Conduct, the national quality mark for international students. International student numbers on the rise in Holland After the introduction of the bachelor – master system in the Netherlands, more and more international students are finding study in Holland an attractive option. In 2007, there were 49,750 international students in the Netherlands, an increase compared to 2006. The largest groups of international students come from Germany and China. The bachelor – master system makes it easier for students from other countries to find a suitable study programme. Two-thirds of the master’s programmes are now taught in English and therefore attract a lot of interest from outside the Netherlands. The high international standing of Dutch research is also appealing. To make things easier for international students, the immigration procedures they have to follow when coming to the Netherlands were simplified in 2007. Background The www.studychoice.nl website was created under the auspices of the Studiekeuze123 partnership in partnership with Nuffic, the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education.The representative bodies of the higher education institutions (HBO-Raad, VSNU and PAEPON) and the students' organizations (LSVb and ISO) are jointly responsible for the running of www.studychoice.nl. A panel of experts monitors the quality of the information offered. The project is financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and implemented by SURFfoundation (the higher education and research partnership for ICT in the Netherlands).//www.studychoice.nl

New Saxion.edu website wins award

Saxion Universities is the first Dutch recipient of a “Noteworthy Award” for the new saxion.edu website. The Award comes after the launch of a completely redesigned website on 9 November 2007. Each month the design gallery EduStyle.net invites users to choose two educational institutions that showcase excellent web design. “We are very pleased with the international recognition we got from EduStyle.net’s users”, says Director Chris van den Borne from Saxion Universities of Applied Sciences. “We are working in a very internationally oriented field where we compete with universities from the USA, United Kingdom and Australia. When redesigning our website we chose an approach fitting the style and tone-of-voice of our colleagues around the globe. By winning this award, it looks like we chose right in that.” The new Saxion website was designed and developed by Eight Media. Saxion’s International Office handled oversight of the project. The goal of redesigning the website was to build a better user-experience rather than pushing our content. We decided to approach all elements from a user-centred point of view. One of the most important steps in this process was an actual user test taken by several end-users. Results from this test were taken into account as regards the graphic design. Saxion Universities in the Netherlands is a very internationally-focused University of Applied Sciences. Every year about 2,000 international students from over 50 different countries study at Saxion. Our total student population is about 20,000. Saxion offer over 30 different international pathways. The new website is our main source of information. In addition to communicating via our website we use other ways to get in contact with prospective students: we travel around the world visiting international education fairs and use ‘traditional’ media like brochures to inform about our courses.

Holland: Culture Shock

In the Netherlands you may be confronted with many new and unknown experiences. And it may not always be easy to keep an open mind. It may, in fact, be a real shock! We will provide you with a little more information on customs and etiquette. If you want to read more about this subject, take a look in '99 tips for dealing with the Dutch' (by Kaldenbach, 1999). The weather The Dutch spend a lot of time talking about the weather. Many conversations begin with: 'Nice weather, isn't it? Or: It just won't clear up, will it?' If you want to strike up a conversation with a stranger, talk about the weather: you can't go wrong. Many people complain about the weather, but most Dutch wouldn't want to live in another climate. Hello and good-bye Dutch people meeting each other for the first time do not usually wait to be introduced. They hold out their hand to shake, make eye contact, say their name, and listen for the name of the other person. Traditionally, the person who is older has higher status extends their hand first, but the younger or lower status person says their names first. If for some reason a lower status person extends their hand first, they will first ask permission to introduce themselves. In a growing number of situations, however, people behave as equals, so that names are often spoken simultaneously and no one hears them clearly. Punctuality Dutch people often keep track of the exact time. And, in general, they are punctual. If you are late, this irritates them very much. The Dutch equate not being on time with not being trustworthy, they can't count on you. A person who is late for a job interview will not be hired. Tip: always be on time. In the Netherlands, it is better to be ten minutes early than five minutes late. Coffee Coffee is an essential part of Dutch life. When the Dutch invite you to their homes, they often promptly serve you a cup of coffee or tea. Is this a hint that you should not stay too long? Quite the contrary: In the Netherlands, a steaming 'kopje koffie' is a hearty welcome. Dropping by unannounced The Dutch almost never visit each other without making an 'appointment' first. This includes close friends. Even a mother will phone her daughter to find out when it's convenient to come by. People almost never drop by unannounced. Getting straight to the point When the Dutch have to discuss a difficult topic, their usual approach is to plunge right into it. They hardly even take the time to sit and relax. They do not gradually work up to the difficult subject, but come straight to the point. To you this probably makes a blunt and tactless impression.//CHN university

"Assign students talent coaches"

A think tank comprised of university students and academics presents recommendations for improvements in education. Every school student should be assigned a coach to ensure that the student discovers his or her talents. This can help children make a better decision for further study or profession. That is one of the recommendations presented by the National Think-Tank in Amsterdam on Wednesday. The organisation is comprised of more than 20 selected university students and doctoral candidates who researched the major problems in education over the past few months. The university students and academics also recommended that teachers' work loads be lightened by entrusting some activities to university students, recent graduates, or field experts. This would also allow these "personal teachers' assistants" to become familiar with job opportunities in education. "Success at school" is the title of the report from the group, which investigated the quality of education, high drop out rates, students' choices for further study, the teacher shortage, and the poor tailoring of education to the labour market. The social costs of these problems add up to EUR 13 billion per year, the Think-Tank had already calculated. The teacher shortage is a vicious circle, according to the Think-Tank. The shortage creates heavier workloads for teachers currently at school, this compromises the quality of education. Too little attention to quality will lead to poor performance by students and that will in turn have a negative affect on the reputation of education and discourage young people from a career in education.//Expatica News + ANP 2007

HAN university: MSc E-Learning, Multimedia and Consultancy

Companies, schools, public authorities and other institutions, from museums to hospitals, increasingly make use of e-learning and multimedia strategies for communication, information, education, training and recruitment. You could be the specialist helping your company or school to realise these projects. With the MSc in E-learning Multimedia and Consultancy you will receive an academic degree and you will have:

• Knowledge in the field of e-learning: open learning environments, supported by multimedia. The possibilities, the implementation, the factors of success.
• Insight into the available applications and development models.
• The research skills needed for selecting, developing and evaluating applications and products.
• Practical skills in managing multi-disciplinary projects through project studies.
• A broad knowledge of international collaboration.

The Master´s course has been designed by an international consortium of universities. In the Netherlands the course is offered through Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, Faculty of Education. Collaboration has been set up with the Information and Communication Academy ICA in Arnhem. Enrolment/application For whom? The course has been designed for higher education graduates who (would like to) work in companies or schools, in the public sector or in other organisations ranging from hospital to museum and who wish to become a specialist and expert in e-learning and the use of ICT in communication and consultancy, public relations, education, training en recruitment Entry Requirements A relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (WO/ HBO) or An equivalent foreign qualification 3-5 years work experience, at least hbo standard Verifiably good command of English Basic PC skills Two formal references An interview will take place to assess whether candidates meet the entry requirements. Costs European students The costs for students who will start in the academic year 2007-2008 will total 10800 Euro. The costs per module are: Open and Flexible Learning Environments 1200 Euro Digital Media Applications 1200 Euro Communication, Consultancy and Change: 1200 Euro Research Methodologies 1.800 Euro Project Studies: 1.800 Euro Dissertation: 3.600 Euro Non-European students The costs for students who will start in the academic year 2007-2008 will total 18900 Euro. The costs per module are: Open and Flexible Learning Environments 2100 Euro Digital Media Applications 2100 Euro Communication, Consultancy and Change: 2100 Euro Research Methodologies 3150 Euro Project Studies: 3150 Euro Dissertation: 6300 Euro There are limited extra costs for literature. //HAN university

About Saxion University

Saxion Universities are located in the East of the Netherlands on three campuses, in the characteristic cities of Deventer, Enschede and Apeldoorn and have a student population of approximately 20,000 of which 2,000 are international students, taking both Bachelors and Masters programmes in 22 different pathways. International programmes are taught in English and comprise both business and technical studies. A Dutch Bachelors or Masters degree is recognised throughout the world and will enable graduates to seek employment in their home country, or many other countries across the globe. The Eastern part of the Netherlands and the adjoining German borderlands are developing into an area with tremendous growth potential, constructed on a powerful knowledge economy and regional self-confidence. In this development zone, between the cities of the Western part of the Netherlands and Berlin, Saxion Universities of Applied Sciences have forged strong ties with German partner institutions, with which they have intensive cooperation, as well as maintaining their partnerships on a global scale with institutions around the world in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Good examples of these links are shown in the regular staff contacts and student exchanges with Universities such as Beijing Jiatong University in China and Ferris State University in the USA. The Universities were formed from two traditional Dutch "Polytechnics" recently and have a history of more then 100 years. The cities of Enschede, Deventer and Apeldoorn are no more than 65 km apart and have a good intercity rail connection.//Saxion University