Rethinking Postgraduate Education in Geography: The Case of the Netherlands

Abstract

This paper discusses reforms in postgraduate education in geography in the Netherlands in the context of Europeanization and globalization. Europeanization and globalization have resulted in challenges as well as opportunities for students and universities. In terms of internationalization, Europeanization and the global economic crisis have opposite effects. Although Europeanization has resulted in an increased international orientation of postgraduate students in geography, the global economic crisis and the resulting cuts in the university and students' budgets hamper other aspects of the internationalization of postgraduate education in the Netherlands.

Keywords:

• Postgraduate education
• Netherlands
• internationalization
• Europeanization
• Treaty of Bologna

Notes

¹ See http://studeren.uva.nl/master-urban-studies-en (accessed October 2011).

² For details, see the following web pages. Amsterdam: http://www.studeren.uva.nl/studyinginenglish/english.cfm, Utrecht: http://www.uu.nl/university/masters/nl/susdev/studyprogramme/InternationalDevelopment/Pages/default.aspx, Groningen: http://www.educations.com/Research_Master_in_Regional_Studies_137664.htm, Nijmegen: http://www.ru.nl/nsm/esep/, VU University in Amsterdam: http://www.vu.nl/en/programmes/international-masters/programmes/g-i/geosciences-of-basins-and-lithosphere-msc/specializations/index.asp (all accessed October 2011).