International students and researchers, including PhD candidates, play a vital role in advancing Dutch research and innovation. Restricting access to international talent, as proposed in the Internationalization in Balance Act (WIB), risks compromising the quality, and global relevance of Dutch academia, while marginalizing international PhDs and negatively impacting their well-being and long-term commitment to Dutch society.
The ongoing debate around internationalization has raised valid concerns about student numbers, housing, and the perseverance of the Dutch language. However, placing blame on internationals misses the immense effort and passion they invest in building their lives and careers in the Netherlands, and ignores the significant academic, scientific, and societal contributions they make.
As the national platform representing PhD candidates in the Netherlands, at PNN, we firmly support keeping Dutch academia open, international and accessible, as this is crucial for its continued strength and success. We also emphasize that international researchers and PhDs are not a burden, but essential contributors to the Netherlands’ scientific excellence, enriching our academic landscape with their diverse perspective. We will continue to advocate for an inclusive and internationally connected Dutch academia. You can download the full position paper from our Publications page.

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