The main problem is with the German Abitursystem. High school students in Germany select four subjects (out of ten) in which they take their finals: two so-called Leistungskurse, intensive courses (six classes a week for two and a half years) and two regular Abiturkurse. The four courses should represent three disciplines: language, beta and a `soft' science. The fourth topic can be selected freely. The other six courses are taught until the end, but students do not take finals in them. The problem is that for some programs, the UT requires certain topics as Leistungkurs or Abiturkurs.
Matthias Wessling, professor in membrane technology, reported the problem to the board. According to him, the requirements are often too strict, chasing motivated and ambitious beta students away from the UT. `One thing is certain: a German student who wants to apply to our university does not do so because he or she thinks that is an easy way to get an academic degree. We are dealing with ambitious young people. We should be helping them, rather than frustrating them with overly strict admission requirements that do not exist in Germany.'
`The problem is clear now,' Flierman responds. `It should be solved by the end of the month. We realize this will mean extra work for our faculties, but we have no choice. The overall experience is that German students are very good students, hard workers who raise the level for others.' The solution will be decided in the next few weeks together with the deans.
The University of Nijmegen previously relaxed its admission requirements, Flierman explains. `German students with a high school diploma are accepted there. The downside is that you have a higher risk of drop-outs, especially when students do not have the right background.'
The Dutch law offers universities considerable leeway in changing the requirements. Flierman: `But obviously we'll be the ones to suffer the consequences if we relax requirements too much.'
He points out that the Netherlands has signed the European Convention on the Equivalent of Diplomas. `That means that the entrance requirements of your own country are also valid in neighboring countries. That could even mean that we have been rejecting German students illegally.'
Trans. Jeroen Latour
