Economics programme will continue to be taught in English after all

Late last year, the Economics programme at Utrecht University was taken by surprise by the announcement that it would have to switch its language of instruction from English to Dutch from 2029 onwards. Until then, they had assumed that a Dutch-taught track would be added to the English-taught option. 

The Executive Board had to admit that it had made a major miscalculation. Under considerable political pressure, UU had agreed with other universities that it would reduce the number of international students. Contrary to what had been hoped, these agreements left UU no other choice but to scrap the English-taught Economics track. The economists were very unhappy about this unforeseen administrative blunder.

Two months later, the situation has suddenly changed. Following the coalition agreement between the political parties D66, VVD and CDA, the Executive Board has concluded that the decision can be reversed. The three parties appear to be much less critical of the internationalisation of Dutch higher education. They say they want to "maintain the current range of programmes taught in other languages".

The Association of Dutch Universities (UNL) also says in a press release that the English-taught programmes in Psychology, Business Administration and Economics that were to be affected by earlier agreements will no longer be cancelled.

Utrecht University President Hans Brug is pleased that the new cabinet attaches great importance to attracting and retaining international talent, but he also knows that the situation surrounding the UU Economics programme is not ideal.

On the university's website, Brug says: "We realise that the past month has been particularly uncertain for our colleagues and students in the English-taught Bachelor's programme in Economics & Business Economics. [...] My colleagues on the Executive Board and I are very pleased that the programme will not have to disappear after all. I hope that our colleagues at the Faculty of Law, Economics & Governance also feel relieved, but I also understand that this does not take away the impact caused by the unrest of the past month and a half."

Niels Bosma, Head of the Utrecht University School of Economics (USE), is delighted with the news. “I'm pleased that the English track will be retained and that politicians once again recognise the value of international students, also for Dutch students. This approach is in line with our programme.”

Bosma acknowledges that the economists found the administrative process "very unpleasant." According to him, this does not immediately restore their confidence in the UU administration. "But, today, we are just considering the result, which is good."

It is not entirely clear what the coalition agreement will mean for the Dutch-taught track that the UU economists wanted to offer alongside the English track from 2027/2028 onwards. Bosma estimates that those plans will go ahead. "We have been preparing for this since April. Looking at the entire text of the coalition agreement, it seems logical at this point to continue with those plans."

The Executive Board will meet with the Economics programme next week.