Maastricht University has been prominently featured in the national debate about the future of internationalisation in Dutch higher education. In 2023, the Dutch Minister of Education suggested limiting the number of international students due to housing shortages and pressure on the education system (NOS, 2023). UM President Rianne Letschert responded, cautioning that requiring all bachelor’s programmes to be taught in Dutch could result in the loss of nearly half of the university’s students. This would have implications for UM’s institutional profile and its economic role in the Limburg region (Observant, 2023).
Protest in The Netherlands (PILP, 2024).
Despite this ongoing discussion, UM maintains its position as the European university of the Netherlands, balancing global ambition with strong regional engagement (Maastricht University, n.d.-i). Internationalisation remains an important aspect of UM’s institutional culture, shaping its educational environment and strategic orientation.