Wittenborg Online News!

Dutch to close Education Support Office (Neso) in Beijing, China.

Wittenborg Business School continues to welcome students from China, through its representatives in Beijing and Shanghai, whilst Dutch Colleges and Universities are furious at the announced closure of the Netherlands Education Support Office in China and fear an impact on student recruitment in that country. The Neso specifically promotes Dutch higher education in China and is also responsible for managing the controversial “Neso Certificate”, which is required by all Chinese students wishing to study in the Netherlands.

According to Nuffic’s own Transfer Magazine, it seems that the Neso China is closing after a breakdown in negotiations with the Chinese study abroad agency (licensee) it was partnered with. In China all Education promotion activities are strictly controlled by the government through licenses, and good relations with the national and local government are paramount to success.

From June this year all Neso China activities, including the issuing of the Neso Certificate will take place directly from The Hague. Even if a new Neso office is opened, the certificate will be issued from The Hague.

Wittenborg Business School has more direct ties with China than most higher education institutions in the Netherlands and has always maintained a point of view that the ‘’Neso Certificate’’, only required by Chinese students is discriminatory towards Chinese, and should either be abolished or introduced for all foreign students wishing to Study in Holland. Wittenborg Directors however made it clear that they fully support the Neso’s other functions in China and are dismayed to see the Neso close.