The Responsiveness of Dutch Higher Education to a Multicultural Environment

Abstract

In the Netherlands, institutions of higher education are increasingly operating in a multicultural environment. Several activities have been initiated in order to serve ethnic minority students. It appears that multiculturalism is not limited to students, but encompasses different levels of the institution: students, academic and support staff, curricula, and overall institutional organization and management. This article presents an overview of these activities. An account is given of the approaches employed and the experience gained so far. Also, the role of the National Expert Centre for Ethnic Minorities in Higher Education #opECHO#cp, founded in 1995, will be discussed. Its objective is to enhance the access of ethnic minority students, their study progress, and their transition to the labour market.