Flanders to invest 116 million euros in graduate courses at colleges
Flanders will invest an additional 116 million euros in graduate courses at colleges over the next four years, Education minister Zuhal Demir told Radio 1 on Friday. In return, colleges will have to make their programmes more efficient.
Two-year, practice-oriented graduate courses at Flemish colleges are seeing strong growth. But due to the influx of students, colleges have sounded the alarm about the funding of these programmes. That is why the Flemish government is investing 116 million euros over the next four years, Demir announced on Friday.
In return, Demir expects colleges to streamline their course offerings. "Today we sometimes pay twice for the same small training programme at a stone's throw from each other," the minister told Radio 1. "Those who demand an effort from taxpayers should also make an effort themselves."
Currently, there are 32 graduate courses in 212 locations across Flanders, and 75 undergraduate courses in 365 locations. Demir wants to reduce those numbers to a maximum of 175 locations for graduate courses and 335 for professional bachelors. This should generate efficiency gains of at least 29 million euros, which will be reinvested in education.
Over the next four years, the Flemish government will invest a total of 116 million euros in graduate programmes. Next year, the amount will be 15.5 million euros, rising to 33.5 million euros per year between 2027 and 2029.
There will also be targeted investments: 4 million euros a year for dentistry courses at VUB and 2 million euros a year for medicine at UHasselt. Dutch language support for students with a different home language will receive 2.5 million euros annually, increasing to 5 million from 2028.
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish Education minister Zuhal Demir. © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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