About ESE

Equal Student Exchange (ESE) is a volunteer-based student network which provides free information about student exchange and study overseas opportunities.

Focusing on providing information to students from developing countries, ESE acknowledges the financial and organisational obstacles these students must often come to face. It is the belief of ESE that both universities and students can benefit through international engagement. A more culturally diverse range of international students will contribute to the continued exchange of knowledge, ideas and culture between different universities and countries.

The volunteers of ESE recognize the importance of establishing enduring educational, cultural and professional links through student exchange.

Follow this link for more in-depth information About Us.

Monday 23 September 2013

ESE IN THE NETHERLANDS

Where better to pursue education and enlightenment than the land of Erasmus (the Renaissance humanist), Rembrandt (the eminent painter) and the Havelaar Foundation (social justice movement of Fair Trade)?

That's right... This week ESE takes its readers to the Netherlands. Already established as leaders in quality education and with a wealth of history, art and culture to be experienced, the Dutch certainly have a lot to offer. This month's article is brought to you by an old friend of the Equal Student Exchange (ESE) Community - Rennie Roos, the CEO and Founder of the Indonesia Nederland Youth Society (INYS).     

Wikimedia Commons - Photo attribution: Rainer Ebert

STUDY IN THE NETHERLANDS / HOLLAND
By Rennie Roos

Study in Holland is an initiative of Nuffic to promote and inform students about Dutch higher education worldwide. Study in Holland is the starting point for all international students who are considering Holland as a study destination.

The Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education, Nuffic for short, is funded by the Dutch government. As an independent, non-profit organisation based in The Hague in the Netherlands, Nuffic supports internationalisation in higher education, research and professional education in the Netherlands and abroad, and helps improve access to higher education worldwide.

Together with the representative offices of Nuffic, the Netherlands Education Support offices (Nesos), Nuffic provides you with all sorts of information about studying in Holland. Ranging from information about the Dutch higher education system, to a complete and transparent database with all international study programmes. From a checklist with all the steps you need to take, to extensive information about available scholarships.

You can find information about studying in Holland on their website, but also through social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Or meet them during one of the pre-departure meetings, information events or education fairs. There is always an information source near you!

Why study in the Netherlands?
Life in Holland is not expensive compared with English-speaking countries, and tuition fees are relatively low. With the renowned quality of education and the comparatively low cost of living, studying in Holland will give you true value for money.

  • In many areas of expertise, including Water Management, Art & Design and Sustainable Energy, Dutch education is among the world leaders in the field.
  • In 2012 there were twelve Dutch universities in the top 200 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The rankings also put the Dutch higher education system in third place in a measurement referred to as the ‘best value higher education systems in the world’.
  • Although a small country in size, Holland has a big international presence. It is the 21st largest economy in the world. Some of the world’s big multinationals, including Philips, Heineken, KLM, Shell, ING Bank and Unilever, are Dutch. In addition, companies such as Sony, Sara Lee and Microsoft all have their European headquarters in Holland.
  • Your degree from a Dutch higher education institution and experience of living in Holland will be highly valued. You can improve your career prospects, either in your home country or elsewhere, for a comparatively small cost.
  • Compared to other western European locations, the cost of living in Holland is relatively low (source: xpatulator.com). As a student you can get discounts in many bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas. You can get around town easily on a bicycle. This is not only typically Dutch but also a cheap means of transportation. And if you want to see a bit more of the country, it is easy to travel to another city or even another European country by train.
  • The Dutch teaching style is interactive and student-centred. It focuses on teamwork, which makes it easy to meet other international students. Studying in Holland means developing an open mind and increasing your international orientation. A large part of all study programmes is dedicated to writing papers and working in groups to analyse and solve specific problems. You will also get a chance to get practical work experience through internships or do experiments in laboratories, depending on the field of study.
  • Holland has received international praise for its teaching style, which centres on students working together as a team and on self-study and self-discipline. The teacher will act as a facilitator and guide in the learning process.
  • Interaction in class is highly appreciated. You are expected to think about the knowledge that is presented to you and develop and express your own opinion. You are free to ask questions and be critical of what lecturers or fellow students say. Use your own creativity to apply your newly-gained knowledge.
  • The Dutch teaching method is founded on respect for each individual’s opinions and convictions. This mindset is not limited to education institutions, it is a national characteristic. It is the foundation for Holland’s diverse and plural society.

Wikimedia Commons John Morgan 

Financing your studies

Dutch higher education is subsidised and tuition fees are relatively low. There are many sources of funding available to you for studying in Holland.

Tuition fees 

Annual tuition fees for a degree programme or course at a Dutch higher education institution start at approximately €1,700 for EU students. The costs of programmes and courses for non-EU students are generally higher. The average tuition fee for them for bachelor’s programmes lies between €6,000 and €12,000, whereas the costs for a master’s programme lie between €8,000 and €20,000.
Exchange programmes 
Before you start searching for scholarships check if your institution has an exchange programme with a Dutch institution. This is the easiest and cheapest way to study in Holland. As an exchange student from an EU country, you may be eligible to receive student financial support from your home country while you’re studying in Holland. Some countries give their students financial support when they enrol in regular degree programmes abroad, either directly (in the form of a monthly grant or loan) or indirectly, through tax benefits for your parents.Contact the international office of your university to check which options are available to you.

Grantfinder

Our online search engine Grantfinder gives you a complete overview of all scholarships available for studying in Holland.

Scholarships administered by Nuffic

Grantfinder also contains a number of scholarship programmes that are administered by Nuffic.

 Indonesia Nederland Youth Society
Photo attribution: inys.org

The Indonesia Nederland Youth Society (INYS) is a youth-led organization which aims to better connect young Dutch and Indonesians to each other and to Indonesia-related opportunities. We are registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK: 58523472) as a Non-Profit Organization (Stichting).

The INYS shares the same vision as the “Indonesia Nederland Society” and is supported by the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our primary goal is to focus on how to improve the relationship between Indonesia and The Netherlands. We aim to better connect young Dutch and Indonesians to each other and to Indonesia-related opportunities.

With the Indonesia Nederland Youth Society (INYS) we improve the relationship between our two countries by connecting the youth to each other and to Indonesia-related opportunities. We create a platform where students and alumni of Dutch universities can mingle with Indonesian scholars and corporations that focus on Indonesia. By assisting young Dutch and Indonesian students to develop their network and getting them in touch with the professionals in their fields, we create a society that will seriously benefit the relationship between our two nations.

With the introduction of the Indonesia Nederland Youth Society we improve the relationship between Indonesia and The Netherlands on many different levels and assist young Dutch and Indonesians in their development and in their future. The youth is the future; The young Dutch and Indonesians of today are the ones who have to keep our relationship running in the future, which is why we have established the Indonesia Nederland Youth Society. After all: “The young Dutch and Indonesians of today, are the leaders of tomorrow”.

For more information - follow the INYS on social media: 
If you are interested in searching for other scholarships, study opportunities and student experiences in other countries, don’t forget to join and follow our ESE blog.
You can also find more information on our facebook community page. We hope that the information here can benefit students from developing countries.  
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Post-coverage: ASEAN-Australia Youth Summit (AAYS2013)





Post-coverage: The 2nd ASEAN-Australia Youth Summit (AAYS2013)
The second ASEAN-Australia Youth Summit hosted on the 24th of August in Melbourne built upon the success of the first Summit which saw the establishment of the ASEAN Student Council of Australia (ASCA) as well as the launching of the ASEAN-Australia Agenda (AAA). Through the AAYS initiative, student councils representing Indonesia (PPIA Victoria), Malaysia (MASCA Victoria), Singapore (SOV) and Thailand (TSV) and Vietnam (MOVSA) as well as student representatives from Australia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar worked together towards the goals of raising awareness of ASEAN in Australia. More than 100 student delegates present at the AAYS worked towards building a community to enhance the foundation of cooperation between Southeast Asian representative bodies in Victoria and more widely throughout Australia.

In 2013 the Summit hosted a number of prominent figures including ASEAN and other government representatives, as well as speakers from the NGO sector, the private sphere and academia who supported the ASEAN-Australia Agenda. This included Australia’s first resident Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Simon Merrifield as well as H.E. Bagas Hapsoro the Former Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN.Addressing more than 120 students at the Summit, Ambassador Hapsoro said that while the aim of strengthening community of ASEAN and Australian students is commendable, this will not be an easy task.

“ASEAN is at a critical juncture in transforming from an association to a community. In tying together more than 604 million people and build a common cause of community building…”

In working towards this difficult mission of establishing this sense of community in Australia and ASEAN, Ambassador Hapsoro encouraged students to make greater use of knowledge gathered in Australia to contribute back to their home countries. “Youth are the most powerful resource for the future.”

These hopes were echoed in the words of Felicia Chua, Chairperson of the ASEAN Student’s Council of Australia “The Summit aims to provide an empowering platform for delegates to contribute positively to societies both in ASEAN and Australia”.

Indeed, this year’s Summit was more participatory and engaging than ever before. AAYS2013 invited international and local students, researchers, innovators and youth leaders to discuss two key themes (i) Economics, Trade and Business Links between ASEAN-Australia which includes issues such as financial regulation and integration, foreign direct investment and brain drain/gain and (ii) Regional Human Security Challenges that incorporates transnational crime, population movements and food security as some of the subjects examined by the delegates. The day itself involved thought-provoking presentations, engaging round-table discussions as well as fascinating cultural performances.
Perhaps most importantly, the Summit presented the opportunity for ASEAN and Australian students to come together and listen to each other’s vision for the future of our shared region. As a result, the objective of strengthening people-to-people links between ASEAN and Australia was central, both within the process and the outcome of the AAYS. The concrete outcome of the discussions will include an AAYS Working Paper which details the findings of the Summit. The event also served as a platform for students and a young social entrepreneurship community in Melbourne to raise their voice and channel their ideas to a wider audience.


Ambassador Merrifield wished the ASEAN-Student’s Council of Australia “the best for the future in building strong people to people links and regional partnerships.”

There are now a number of new opportunities which have just opened up. Youth/students hoping to build upon the ASEAN-Australia relationship are encouraged to send their expressions of interest to aaysprogrammes@gmail.com
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"Equal Student Exchange" (ESE) - non-profit/grassroots community, is a student network made up of students who want to help make international student exchange a more equal process. We hope to do this by assisting students from developing countries gain access to information and opportunities about studying/vocational experience overseas. Our audience is primarily students who want to study/travel overseas. The information we provide may include advice about: *International Universities, *Costs and fees (travel/living/study), *Procedures for obtaining Visas, *Possible support through scholarships and grants, *General tourism information, *Other study overseas opportunities Programs and conferences overseas. *international conferences Benefits and Opportunities: This is an opportunity to bring local and international students together, make new friends and give students from developing countries the same opportunities that are enjoyed by students from advanced developed countries. The group also encourages international students to contribute back to the university and community which is hosting them.