The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has withdrawn the international recognition of Avans+. This means that foreign students can no longer receive a stay permit to study at Avans training. Earlier, the IND already came up with a destructive report on the university, because a project with Indonesian nurses would not be good. Avans+ is considering legal steps after the decision of the IND.
International students from the Nursing course have until 1 December to adjust their purpose of staying, the reason why they are in the Netherlands. Previously, students were able to state that they are following a training at the Hogeschool Avans+ to get a residence permit. This is no longer possible due to the decision of the IND.
Avans responds critically to the decision of the IND, “The motivation for the decision is very limited, hardly anything is left of the initial reproaches. Avans+ is very limited.” The school is currently investigating whether she will take legal action against the decision.
Indonesian nurses
The Hogeschool was previously discredited after the IND came out with a destructive report on a work-learning project with Indonesian nurses. Together with mediation agency Yomema from Waalwijk, the school wanted to get 1,200 nurses from the Asian country to the Netherlands annually. After two years, reports from RTV Drenthe and EenVandaag showed that some of those nurses felt exploited.
According to the report, the nurses would have received an incorrect picture of what the project meant, they would work more than allowed and the level of education was not in order.
For example, the students had to work as fully -fledged nurses and therefore had working weeks of six days. That is more than permitted by law.
In addition, students were deployed as a worker during internship days, “we have to take responsibility during work, but on the internship days I also have responsibility and I cannot make the learning objectives and assignments because it is too busy,” a student said to the researcher of the report.
Do not get pregnant
Furthermore, Avans asked the students for personal data, such as a birth certificate, unmarried declaration and other documents that are contrary to the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG). Employees of the educational institution would also have told the students that it is better not to get pregnant.
After the publications, Avans pulled the plug from the project. A large proportion of the nurses stopped the work-learning trajectory early.
Court case
In December, fifteen nurses and the Hogeschool reached a settlement in court. The students received a reimbursement of 100,000 euros together. “We are satisfied with the result,” nurses Eva Augustin responded at the time. “The mental damage remains, but we think we have received justice.”
There are now 70 Indonesian students at the Hogeschool. According to Avans, these students can complete their education, despite the withdrawal of recognition. “We will continue to support these students in applying for a new visa, they deserve a chance to complete the training if they want it themselves,” the school explains.