MSc students haven’t got a clue about Delft student life. That’s the general conclusion drawn from a recent MSc student’s survey, conducted by Page 4.
Most MSc students hardly interact with their Dutch colleagues. Page 4 finds out why.
Only twenty percent of Msc. students recognised Sanctus Virgilius or Virgiel as the name of a Delft student fraternity. And seven percent knew the Delftsch Studenten Corps (DSC). Yet these are the largest student societies in Delft. Moreover, the Koornbeurs, Alev and Lilliput, renowned eateries among Dutch TU students, didn’t ring many MSc bells.
Is familiarity with student societies and snack bars important knowledge for international students? It is, if they want to meet their Dutch colleagues. It’s no surprise, then, that nearly two thirds of the surveyed students confessed that they hardly had any contact with Dutch students. Most of them regret this: ,,I expected to study together with Dutch students. I’d really like to get to know them better,” says one Msc student.
In September 1999, the TU executive board’s memorandum, ‘Internationalisation policy of the TU Delft’, declared that a considerable number of foreign students were required if TU Delft was to become truly international. The memorandum stated: ,,A fast integration of international guests will advance performances.”
Language
In the subsequent two years, the TU has managed to increase its number of international students. One tenth of all undergraduates is foreign, and more than eighty MSc students enrolled this year. The number of exchange students has also increased. Obviously, international students are becoming hard to avoid. But how goes the interaction process?
Although all Dutch students speak English, language appears to be the problem. According to the survey, the best-informed MSc student was a South African who didn’t participate in any introduction program but who did speak Dutch. It seems justified that several MSc students requested a Dutch language course as part of the introduction.
Internationalisation policy co-worker Marietta Spiekerman also detects the language influence: ,,With the introduction of the Bachelor/Master (Bama) structure in 2002, everyone must take English-language MSc courses, so Dutch and international students will mingle eventually,” she predicts.
Opportunity
Until then, interaction will be scarce. Who’s to blame? ,,Most of my fellow international students are grouped as well. You can’t only blame Dutch students for refusing to socialise. I think we, as international students, must become stronger initiators,” a MSc student declares. Spiekerman: ,,The MSc students are very tightlyknit. They socialise a lot with each other. Regular Dutch students and MSc students are on different tracks. That’s a missed opportunity. By integrating with international students, Dutch students can make contacts with and get impressions of other countries. Many of the countries that students are planning to visit are represented right here,” Spiekerman declares.
Must we simply wait for Bama to accelerate integration, or is there also hope for current MSc students? In the final four weeks before the Summer holiday, Page 4 will investigate the possibilities for improving integration.
MSc students haven’t got a clue about Delft student life. That’s the general conclusion drawn from a recent MSc student’s survey, conducted by Page 4. Most MSc students hardly interact with their Dutch colleagues. Page 4 finds out why.
Only twenty percent of Msc. students recognised Sanctus Virgilius or Virgiel as the name of a Delft student fraternity. And seven percent knew the Delftsch Studenten Corps (DSC). Yet these are the largest student societies in Delft. Moreover, the Koornbeurs, Alev and Lilliput, renowned eateries among Dutch TU students, didn’t ring many MSc bells.
Is familiarity with student societies and snack bars important knowledge for international students? It is, if they want to meet their Dutch colleagues. It’s no surprise, then, that nearly two thirds of the surveyed students confessed that they hardly had any contact with Dutch students. Most of them regret this: ,,I expected to study together with Dutch students. I’d really like to get to know them better,” says one Msc student.
In September 1999, the TU executive board’s memorandum, ‘Internationalisation policy of the TU Delft’, declared that a considerable number of foreign students were required if TU Delft was to become truly international. The memorandum stated: ,,A fast integration of international guests will advance performances.”
Language
In the subsequent two years, the TU has managed to increase its number of international students. One tenth of all undergraduates is foreign, and more than eighty MSc students enrolled this year. The number of exchange students has also increased. Obviously, international students are becoming hard to avoid. But how goes the interaction process?
Although all Dutch students speak English, language appears to be the problem. According to the survey, the best-informed MSc student was a South African who didn’t participate in any introduction program but who did speak Dutch. It seems justified that several MSc students requested a Dutch language course as part of the introduction.
Internationalisation policy co-worker Marietta Spiekerman also detects the language influence: ,,With the introduction of the Bachelor/Master (Bama) structure in 2002, everyone must take English-language MSc courses, so Dutch and international students will mingle eventually,” she predicts.
Opportunity
Until then, interaction will be scarce. Who’s to blame? ,,Most of my fellow international students are grouped as well. You can’t only blame Dutch students for refusing to socialise. I think we, as international students, must become stronger initiators,” a MSc student declares. Spiekerman: ,,The MSc students are very tightlyknit. They socialise a lot with each other. Regular Dutch students and MSc students are on different tracks. That’s a missed opportunity. By integrating with international students, Dutch students can make contacts with and get impressions of other countries. Many of the countries that students are planning to visit are represented right here,” Spiekerman declares.
Must we simply wait for Bama to accelerate integration, or is there also hope for current MSc students? In the final four weeks before the Summer holiday, Page 4 will investigate the possibilities for improving integration.
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