Being so close to the borders of both Belgium and Germany gives Maastricht University a truly international character – and this is one of our best marketing tools. Maastricht is the most international university in the Netherlands and, without scientific proof, I dare say that our institute is the most international part of the university. Yet, just as we study other countries for any number of reasons, our fellows or students may also choose to study Dutch society, not least because the statis...

The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has selected the project ‘Leading to Success: SMART Choices and SMART Tools’, submitted by project leader Dr. Mindel van de Laar, for funding in a competitive selection process to encourage open and online education. We obtained the SURF subsidy to support the development of two open online services. These packages will be piloted with our Master in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP) students, and then be offered continuously to MPP stu...

The Dutch government’s refusal to allow Turkish ministers to visit Rotterdam and address the large number of Dutch-Turkish citizens on how to vote in the Turkish constitutional referendum of April 16 was a game-changer in the Dutch elections....

Master's student Nassim Abba recently completed an internship at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We asked him and his internship supervisor Ms. Nicole Maes how the Master's programme in Public Policy and Human Development prepares students to take up positions as interns, trainees and eventually policy offices at the Ministry....

In early September 2015, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation together with the State Secretary for Security & Justice sent a letter to their House of Representatives about the European asylum system. The letter, says Dr. Katie Kuschminder, proposes a new policy based around three points: 1) That asylum seekers should be processed by UNHCR within their region; 2) That asylum seekers who reach the Netherlands can be sent back to a ‘region of safety’; 3) That some...

Migration has been at the top of the political agenda all year. Yet the focus has too often been on curbing the flow of migrants, either with more aid or border controls. In this context, and drawing lessons from both East Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Katie Kuschminder was asked to present to the Dutch Government on migration issues and trends, particularly in Africa. See her summary, recommendations and video below. On 1 October 2015 I was invited by the Africa Group to give a talk...

The ‘refugee crisis’ has only troubled faces. The war and destruction in Syria and Iraq make people put their destinies in backpacks. They leave all their belongings behind and hope for a new future in a faraway country mostly only known from the illusions created by TV and movies. Imagine what would force you to take such a step. When would you pack? The other face is that of the new neighbours in the receiving country – mostly in low-cost housing and with modest or low incomes – who wake up in...

The Dutch development aid budget has fallen dramatically in recent years. In 2013 the Dutch Government stopped respecting the 0.7% norm, pushing through large budget cuts on development aid cooperation. The allocation of development aid is also more and more scrutinised, and one of the more controversial expenses is the first-year shelter of asylum seekers. According to OECD guidelines, shelter expenses can be paid from development aid budgets, but some countries choose otherwise. The Dutch used...