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Dawis Dahlan
Special to The Nation

    The Netherlands has long been known for its prolific artists like Rembrandt and van Gogh, as well as for its tulips and cafes tolerant of cannabis smoking.
    What’s relatively less known is Dutch higher education, and it’s now accessible to Thais, thanks to a string of Dutch fellowships being offered by the Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok.
    The embassy is encouraging qualified people to apply for the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP).  
    Despite 400 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Holland, the land of tulips has yet to figure prominently here when it come to studying abroad. Most Thais look to the United States, Britain and Australia.
    But the Dutch government is attempting to higher education there as accessible as possible to students and mid-career professionals from Thailand and other countries.
Geared towards mid-career professionals in the private and public sector, the NFP annually attracts 50 to 60 applications, half of which are successful.
    A demand-driven fellowship programme to bolster capacity within organisations, the NFP is now open to candidates in 57 developing countries, including Thailand. NFP-funded training seeks candidates who are interested in the institutional development of organisations.
    To be eligible for a scholarship, a candidate must be affiliated with an educational institution, planning agency, government ministry, community-based organisation or private enterprise, among other organisations.
    Selected candidates can pursue courses at the certificate, post-graduate or doctoral level. In Holland, most courses are taught in English, not Dutch, while tuition fees and the cost of living are relatively lower than in more common destinations.
    The Netherlands is a multicultural country that enjoys freedom of speech and thought, and students are encouraged to share their ideas and opinions. The Dutch people are generally warm, even if they don’t appear to be at first.
    Students may find that everyday life in the Netherlands is much easier than in some non-English-speaking countries. Holland’s cultural diversity has made it a place where knowledge, ideas and cultures from all over the world come together.
Then there’s edu-tainment.  
    When many people think of studying abroad, they may see it as an opportunity to have fun while experiencing different ways of life. In the Netherlands, there are many places to learn and be entertained.
    In my many visits as a fellowship officer, I’ve learned of interesting experiences from Thai students. Some shared their views at a recent meeting at the Thai embassy in the Hague.
    With the bicycle being Holland’s favourite mode of transport, students, lecturers and professors prefer pedalling to and from their universities or homes.
Take a leisurely stroll along the streets and you’re guaranteed fresh air and, unlike in Thailand, drivers of cars automatically stop at pedestrian crossings.
    Then there are the museums, galleries, parks and other cultural attractions, and let’s not forget: Holland is famous for educational programmes in design, architecture and water management.
    The Netherlands may be a small country, but for many Thai students, it’s a country of great opportunities.

Dawis Dahlan is a fellowship officer for the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes at the Dutch Embassy.

 BOX I

The Dutch alumni network

    Most Thai students and former students in Holland are either members of the Thai students Association in the Netherlands (TSAN) or Netherlands Alumni Association Thailand (NAAT).
    Established in 2004 to mark the two countries’ four centuries of diplomatic relations, the TSAN is a good source for information about life as a student in Holland, and about extracurricular activities favoured by students there. For more info, visit www.ThaiStudents.nl.
    After returning home, all Thai students will become Dutch alumni. The Netherlands Embassy encourages them to become members of the Netherlands Alumni Association Thailand because it’s a great benefit to everyone.
    The alumni in Thailand facilitate an international network of Dutch alumni. If they don’t know where to start once they’re back home, the NAAT is a platform to share experiences that can help them on their career path. More about the NAAT can be found at www.NAAT.or.th.

 
 
BOX II
Get the details

    For more information about the Netherlands Fellowship programmes, contact Dawis Dahlan at pornchalitda.dahlan@minbuza.nl or (02) 309 5231. To learn more about education in Holland, visit Nuffic Neso Thailand on the third floor of the M Thai Building at All Seasons Place on Wireless Road, or call (02) 252 6088, e-mail info@nesothailand.org or visit www.NesoThailand.org.