Flemish government rejects majority of foreign-language degree programmes
The Flemish government has issued a negative assessment for most foreign-language bachelor's and master's programmes submitted for approval. Of the 24 applications, only four received the green light.
Universities and colleges in Flanders can only offer foreign-language bachelor's or master's programmes if an equivalent Dutch-language programme exists. If not, institutions must seek an exemption from the Higher Education Commission.
Additionally, a decree limits foreign-language programmes to a maximum of 9 per cent at bachelor level and 35 per cent at master's level. "The Flemish government wants to ensure that Dutch remains a language of science and does not weaken as a language in itself," the official decision reads.
Exemption removed
Although the new regional government has agreed to remove the exemption option in its coalition agreement, many institutions still submitted applications. The majority were rejected. None of the 11 master's programmes proposed by KU Leuven and Ghent University, including KU Leuven’s master of science in Statistics and Data Science and UGent's master of science in Engineering Physics, received approval.
"Offering a Dutch-language initial master's programme is important in the context of the democratisation of higher education"
In its ruling, the government reaffirmed Dutch as a key scientific language, while also calling student multilingualism "an absolute asset". However, it stressed the importance of allowing Dutch-speaking students to complete their studies in Dutch.
"Offering a Dutch-language initial master's programme, even in highly specialised fields, is important in the context of the democratisation of higher education, given the emancipatory power of language," said Education minister Zuhal Demir.
The government further warned against creating "a gap between an academic elite and the general population".
Added value
Of the 13 bachelor's programme applications, nine were rejected, and four were approved. PXL University College received approval for its bachelor of Applied Computer Science, while Karel de Grote University College was granted permission to offer a foreign-language bachelor of Nursing. Several rejections cited a failure to "demonstrate the added value of the foreign-language programme for the student".
Demir defended the policy, saying: "Dutch as the language of instruction is crucial for safeguarding the quality of our education and the learning performance of our students. This is repeatedly shown by international research."
In the case of nursing, Demir highlighted the urgent need for healthcare workers but imposed a language requirement. Students may only start their fourth year – an internship year – after obtaining a B2 language certificate that proves their knowledge of Dutch. They will learn Dutch during their training.
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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