English has been the preferred language of scientists for many years now, regardless of their nationality. Though most of the Bachelor's programmes at the UT are taught in Dutch, there are plans to teach some in English starting from next year.
EUROPEAN STUDIES
Bert de Vroom is Director of European Studies, the first UT programme to be taught in English. De Vroom points out that English was the logical choice for 'his programme': "Basically, European Studies is about European Public Administration. With internationally-focused students like ours, English isn't really a problem. And if it is, we run extra-curricular language courses."
Most of the students come from Germany, not the Netherlands. De Vroom explains: "We participate in all sorts of international collaborations. We are working closely with the University of Munster on a double degree programme which allows students to take some of their subjects in Munster and some at the UT."
De Vroom doesn't mind that many students enrol for a Master's programme abroad after completing their Bachelor's degree: "On the contrary, I encourage them. It does wonders for their international development. Anyway, it works both ways, because we try to persuade students from other countries to take a Master's at the UT."
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Jaap Flokstra, Director of Studies of Advanced Technology, explains that his programme will switch to English next year: "Obviously, nothing will change for the students who are already taking the programme in Dutch. But, starting from next year, Advanced Technology students will be taught in English."
Flokstra believes that English-taught Bachelor's programmes have a lot to offer. The students learn to speak good English and they are awarded a proficiency certificate at the end: "What's more, an English-taught Bachelor's programme is an excellent preparation for a Master's programme at a university abroad. It gives the students a far wider range of options."
Flokstra does not believe that the programme will be more difficult with English as the working language: "Students who opt for a broad-based Bachelor's degree in Advanced Technology tend to be very internationally-minded anyway. English is not usually a problem. But we do already provide coaching for students who need it."
Flokstra is targeting students from the Netherlands and Germany for the next academic year, but eventually, he plans to go 'deeper' into Europe: "We want to create an international environment."
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
Last year marked the start of the Creative Technology programme. Tom Schooltink says that the decision to teach this programme in English was a pragmatic one: "Most of the terminology and jargon is in English anyway, so an English-taught programme was the obvious choice. At present we still use quite a lot of Dutch because our students come from the Netherlands, but as soon as we get students who don't speak Dutch, we will of course switch immediately to English."
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
An English equivalent of the Bedrijfskunde programme is also on the cards. Students who take a Bachelor's in International Business Administration (IBA) will be taught in English. The content of the English track will be largely the same as the content of the Dutch track, but with a few important extra elements, says Director of Studies Petra de Weerd-Nederhof. It will be more international: "For example, Holger Schiele, the professor who is developing the programme, is a Dutch-speaking German."
English will be the language of communication in the programme: "Graduates will be able to speak English at a professional level and will even be awarded a Cambridge Certificate in Business English."
The programme also focuses strongly on the practical aspects. Students get more opportunities to specialize and can therefore flow more easily into the job market. At the moment a network of Dutch and German businesses is being built with an international focus. Students can apply to these businesses for internships, research and visits. The students in the Dutch track will also benefit.
Despite the international focus of the IBA programme, De Weerd-Nederhof says that it is definitely not intended for foreign students alone: "We want to form an international environment, but with plenty of space for Dutch students. We want to see a good mix of ambitious students from the Netherlands, Germany and the rest of the world, from places as far afield as Eastern Europe and the Far East."
