VOX ON TOUR Internationalization seems to be all the buzz these days. More and more faculties are launching complete English bachelor’s programs. But how is the level of English at Radboud University? Peji Kanani, a third year International Business Administration student from London, talks about his experiences. ‘Nijmegen is like a teddy bear.’

Peji Kanani came to the Netherlands three years ago from London, and is one of the first International Business Administration (IBA) students. He thinks that the level of English is quite okay overall, but it varies a lot. ‘Some of the Dutch teachers have odd pronunciations, but you get used to that. Their English is quite good, but their proficiency could be better.’ Kanani usually checks the background of the teachers before he picks his courses. ‘If they’ve had an education in the UK or in America, my expectations of their level of English increases.’ Some of the lecturers do make errors from time to time. ‘But I’m not here to correct their English, I just want to learn something.’

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The Londoner thinks that the university should decide what it wants regarding internationalization. ‘You can either have a Dutch university with some good English courses, or you can have a truly international university that is known for its courses in English.’ He thinks that Radboud University is more like a Dutch university right now. ‘If you take a look at the university’s Facebook page, all the posts are in Dutch. Most English web pages are just summaries of their Dutch counterparts, and a lot of the Soeterbeeck lectures are in Dutch as well.’

Kanani thinks that the university needs to improve in those areas. ‘Information is key, international students want to have access to the same material as Dutch students. You shouldn’t alienate them.’ The same goes for international staff. ‘I think that it would be great if every student would get at least ten percent of his classes from a native speaker or other international lecturers.’

Integration
However, Kanani acknowledges that internationalization should come from both ways. ‘Most short-term international students don’t really try to integrate, they stay in their own bubble for the time they’re here. Only the bachelor’s students make an effort: they’re staying here for a longer period of time, so they have the time to develop both an international and a Dutch social circle.’

Language plays a key role in integration: it’s easier to integrate if you speak Dutch, and social interaction leads to even better Dutch. The student thinks that the university could play a role in this as well: ‘German students get a Dutch language course, something like that should be offered to the rest as well. If you already know a little bit of Dutch before you come here, it’s easier to learn more once you get here.’

Kanani has some ideas why Nijmegen is appealing to international students. ‘Dutch universities are renowned for their focus on research, and you get great education for a reasonable price.’ He thinks that Nijmegen is not as intimidating as a big city like Rotterdam. ‘Nijmegen is very safe and gezellig, it’s like a big teddy bear you can hug.’ Of course, student life plays a big role as well: ‘It’s great that students make up for thirty percent of the population.’ / Timo Nijssen