Maastricht University is officially bilingual, which means that all staff should be able to get by in both Dutch and English. The required level of proficiency depends on their role, ranging from intermediate B1 in both English and Dutch to advanced C1 for staff with teaching responsibilities. Courses are available to help everyone brush up on their language skills. For example, international students can take an introductory course in Social Dutch, while their Dutch peers can attend a workshop on academic writing in Dutch.
The policy was adopted in 2018, but implementation was delayed by the December 2019 cyber-attack and the Covid pandemic. It has been extended several times, most recently in October 2024 due to uncertainty surrounding government decisions on the Internationalisation in Balance Act (WIB) and related language regulations.
Seven years on
Seven years on, many staff members who need language training still haven’t taken a course. This became apparent during a meeting of the University Council’s Strategy Committee in early November. The Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University Library and the Maastricht University Office have completed implementation, and the Student Services Centre is close to completing it.
Contrary to earlier reports, at Science and Engineering (which has a considerable amount of international staff) “quite a lot of employees are already taking Dutch lessons,” board secretary of FSE, Rob Kock, said on Wednesday, 26 November. He does not know the exact number, because the administration is not in order due to staffing issues. He suspects that the lack of clear figures led to confusion in the communication with the University Council.
The implementation process has yet to start at SBE, FPN and FHML. SBE has twice requested postponement, first due to uncertainty about government budget cuts and later because of the development of its strategic plan.
Surprised
Janosch Prinz, an academic staff representative on the University Council, was surprised to hear that not all faculties have a plan in place. UM President Rianne Letschert responded that FHML is working on one, including a deadline for when the policy must be implemented.
Not losing jobs
“What happens if a staff member doesn’t meet the requirements?” asked Donna Yates, another academic staff representative. Could they be dismissed? Staff reportedly fear losing their jobs. Letschert was quick to put these concerns to rest: “They will not be dismissed.”
UM is currently working on a new language policy, which is expected to be finalised by the end of 2026 and come into effect in January 2027.