Higher Education Scam Smears UniversitiesIf you always thought the higher educational system is a matter of docile gentlemen and law-respecting men of learning, think again.
The Dutch higher education system, it appears, has the word ‘fraud’ written all over it.
Exchange students are what it is all about. Over the last three years, almost half of the 48 Dutch colleges for higher education have pocketed government allowances for students that weren’t really there, since they were abroad. The institutions also received money for full-time students that were in fact only part-time course students. The total sums involved are estimated as high as 50 million euro. The high schools have already promised to pay the allowances back to the last penny.
Now, a so-called ‘self-cleansing investigation’ conducted by the Dutch Ministry of Education learns that not only the colleges, but also two universities have committed fraud. Which of the twelve Dutch universities have cheated is still unclear, as well as the amount of money involved. But according to government sources there would ‘only’ be 250.000 euro involved.
If that’s the end to the story, no one knows. The makers of the government report don’t seem to think so: ,,It isn’t plausible that every institution has provided correct and full information. Based on the available material, no reliable judgment can be made about the size of the improper use of allowances.”
Higher Education Scam Smears Universities
If you always thought the higher educational system is a matter of docile gentlemen and law-respecting men of learning, think again. The Dutch higher education system, it appears, has the word ‘fraud’ written all over it.
Exchange students are what it is all about. Over the last three years, almost half of the 48 Dutch colleges for higher education have pocketed government allowances for students that weren’t really there, since they were abroad. The institutions also received money for full-time students that were in fact only part-time course students. The total sums involved are estimated as high as 50 million euro. The high schools have already promised to pay the allowances back to the last penny.
Now, a so-called ‘self-cleansing investigation’ conducted by the Dutch Ministry of Education learns that not only the colleges, but also two universities have committed fraud. Which of the twelve Dutch universities have cheated is still unclear, as well as the amount of money involved. But according to government sources there would ‘only’ be 250.000 euro involved.
If that’s the end to the story, no one knows. The makers of the government report don’t seem to think so: ,,It isn’t plausible that every institution has provided correct and full information. Based on the available material, no reliable judgment can be made about the size of the improper use of allowances.”
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