Promoting Diversity Policies in Higher Education: Aims of Inclusive Education in the Netherlands

Like other Western European countries, the Netherlands is experiencing notable demographic changes. The native population is not growing, and to sustain economic growth and current welfare levels, the country relies on new immigrants each year. In the 1970s and 1980s, immigrant workers were called ‘guest workers,’ but today their fourth-generation descendants make up a significant part of society. This creates both challenges and opportunities. Educational institutions must find ways to handle linguistic diversity. Monolingual approaches to education and training often do not produce satisfactory results for multilingual student populations. Most students from immigrant backgrounds are typically placed into lower educational tracks, such as vocational programs. Additionally, school dropout rates among students from immigrant backgrounds are higher than those of native Dutch students. As a result, unemployment among immigrants tends to be higher, and the country cannot fully benefit from the diverse talents they offer. This paper discusses these important societal issues in depth.