SURF is a national platform that stimulates internationalization in higher education. `The organization pays sixty thousand euros of the total budget of ninety thousand,' says project supervisor Kommers. `We pay the other thirty thousand euros ourselves.' The project group wants to further develop acculturation - the understanding of the Dutch educational system by international students - with these funds. `Ideally, we would like to do this in the earliest possible stage, in order for students to have the Netherlands as a possible international option on their list.' Teaching pre-master's courses in the bachelor's phase should help with this goal.
`International students often experience trouble with courses like methods and statistics. They could follow that course in their own country as a preparation.' That will happen in the so-called Netherlands Educational Support Offices (NESO). Students can also view lectures on video and look around on a virtual campus. `We like an interactive posture, work groups, projects and a multidisciplinary approach. This is helpful to know if you want to study here for a year.'
The SURF-project also has a signaling function, says Kommers. `The UT is a starting international institution. This part of internationalization hasn't been picked up yet, and it can lead to immediate study delay. Internationalization is not something that happens out of itself. It's a long process and we should begin right now.'
