Recently, it became known about an interesting trend in the educational system of the Netherlands: 30% of students drop out of university in their first year. Imagine, one in three first-year students who have been enthusiastically adjusting to campus life suddenly decide that this is not at all what they expected! Why does this happen?
Disappointment in the specialty: false expectations and reality
One of the main reasons for expulsions is disappointment in the chosen specialty. How is it that graduates who seemed to know exactly what they wanted suddenly change their plans? Perhaps the problem lies in the gap between the ideas about learning and its reality?
Difficulties for International Students: Getting Used to the New System
It is especially difficult for international students: they come for new experience and knowledge, but they are faced with a system where no one provides ready-made solutions. Education in the Netherlands is based on teaching you to think, not to memorize – it sounds adequate, but for many it turns into endless stress.
In universities of applied sciences, the percentage of expulsions is even higher compared to research universities, although such universities prepare specialists for specific professions, for some reason it is here that the largest number of students are expelled. This is becoming a problem as important areas such as health and education are affected. If, for example, a student decides to refuse to study to become a teacher or a doctor, then the country is missing another potential specialist.
Offered solutions: tightening of selection and "test period"
The government proposes several ways to reduce the level of deductions.
- Tighten the selection process for programs where the percentage of expelled students is especially high: this way you can cut off in advance those who can quickly become disappointed in the specialty,
- Introduce a kind of "test period" for students to understand if the chosen program is right for them.
