Concerns Raised Over Indonesian Students' Learning and Work Trajectory in the Netherlands
A report by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service highlights issues with the program involving Indonesian nursing students.
The Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) has released a report indicating that the learning and work trajectory for Indonesian students at Avans+ University of Applied Sciences in Breda is not functioning as intended.
The IND claims that the university has shown laxity in admission requirements and has violated the privacy of the nursing students involved.
This confidential report, written in June 2024, has been obtained by local media outlets and outlines several shortcomings within the program.
Avans+ and the mediation agency Yomema, based in Waalwijk, had aimed to bring approximately 1,200 students from Indonesia to the Netherlands annually.
These students were employed as nurses in healthcare facilities located in Drenthe and Flevoland while pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing.
The first cohort of 64 Indonesian nursing students arrived in the Netherlands in 2021, all having previously completed nursing education at either vocational or higher vocational levels in Indonesia.
Concerns regarding the treatment of these Indonesian students surfaced last year when it became evident that they were working excessively long hours and receiving inadequate guidance.
This prompted an investigation by the Dutch Labour Inspectorate, which is still ongoing.
According to the IND report, Yomema initially intended to recruit nurses directly from Indonesia, who would then be employed as workers.
However, when that project did not materialize, a partnership with Avans+ was formed to develop the learning trajectory.
The report criticizes Avans+ for providing an incomplete or inaccurate representation of the project's execution before and during the program.
It also states that the university has violated several laws, including privacy regulations and the Working Hours Act.
Notably, the report reveals that two students from Yomema were told they should not become pregnant while in the Netherlands.
One of these students sought clarification from Avans+ upon arrival, to which a representative allegedly responded that it was better not to become pregnant.
Interviews with students have led the investigator to conclude that the experience was more akin to employment than internship, providing limited opportunities for learning.
Two students, who did not successfully complete their internships but passed their coursework, were terminated from the trajectory.
The report states that they were wrongly compelled to end their studies.
A spokesperson for Avans+ has stated that the institution cannot comment on specific allegations mentioned in the report, asserting disagreement with certain conclusions and characterizing some allegations as outdated, citing adjustments made in response to concerns.
The university maintains that the program was initiated properly and claims to have been transparent throughout the process.
However, it acknowledges that the program may have commenced too quickly and stresses the importance of finding a satisfactory resolution for the current students involved, as communicated to the IND.
The IND claims that the university has shown laxity in admission requirements and has violated the privacy of the nursing students involved.
This confidential report, written in June 2024, has been obtained by local media outlets and outlines several shortcomings within the program.
Avans+ and the mediation agency Yomema, based in Waalwijk, had aimed to bring approximately 1,200 students from Indonesia to the Netherlands annually.
These students were employed as nurses in healthcare facilities located in Drenthe and Flevoland while pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing.
The first cohort of 64 Indonesian nursing students arrived in the Netherlands in 2021, all having previously completed nursing education at either vocational or higher vocational levels in Indonesia.
Concerns regarding the treatment of these Indonesian students surfaced last year when it became evident that they were working excessively long hours and receiving inadequate guidance.
This prompted an investigation by the Dutch Labour Inspectorate, which is still ongoing.
According to the IND report, Yomema initially intended to recruit nurses directly from Indonesia, who would then be employed as workers.
However, when that project did not materialize, a partnership with Avans+ was formed to develop the learning trajectory.
The report criticizes Avans+ for providing an incomplete or inaccurate representation of the project's execution before and during the program.
It also states that the university has violated several laws, including privacy regulations and the Working Hours Act.
Notably, the report reveals that two students from Yomema were told they should not become pregnant while in the Netherlands.
One of these students sought clarification from Avans+ upon arrival, to which a representative allegedly responded that it was better not to become pregnant.
Interviews with students have led the investigator to conclude that the experience was more akin to employment than internship, providing limited opportunities for learning.
Two students, who did not successfully complete their internships but passed their coursework, were terminated from the trajectory.
The report states that they were wrongly compelled to end their studies.
A spokesperson for Avans+ has stated that the institution cannot comment on specific allegations mentioned in the report, asserting disagreement with certain conclusions and characterizing some allegations as outdated, citing adjustments made in response to concerns.
The university maintains that the program was initiated properly and claims to have been transparent throughout the process.
However, it acknowledges that the program may have commenced too quickly and stresses the importance of finding a satisfactory resolution for the current students involved, as communicated to the IND.
