Over a hundred international alumni gathered last week for the official launch of the so-called 4TU.Alumni Netherlands Community. The initiative is a collaboration between TU/e, TU Delft, University of Twente, and Wageningen University & Research (collectively known as 4TU). Their goal: ‘to offer a supportive community to international alumni and future graduates and emphasize their value in the Netherlands,” according to the organizers.

Rising stayrate

According to the most recent Nuffic report (in Dutch), there is a growing trend of international alumni choosing to stay in the Netherlands – this trend is referred to as the stay rate. This year’s report reveals that 25.3 percent of international alumni still live in the Netherlands five years after graduation. The report also shows that of the “more recent” alumni – those who graduated in 2023 – 56.6 percent were still living in the Netherlands a year later. Both rates represent an increase compared to previous years. Of the alumni who choose to stay in the Netherlands, 80 percent have jobs, often in well-paid positions.

Two groups

There were two distinct groups present at the launch event of the 4TU.Alumni Netherlands Community, says Edith Snelders, team leader for alumni relations at TU/e. “On the one hand, we had the slightly older alumni who are already fully settled in the Netherlands, with steady jobs here and often families as well. On the other hand, we saw many younger alumni who are still figuring things out.”

According to Snelders, several alumni expressed their desire to stay in the Netherlands but are still struggling to find the right job. “This puts them under pressure, because if alumni don’t find a job here within a certain period after graduation, they have to leave the Netherlands.”

Helping hand

And that is exactly one of the areas where the 4TU.Alumni Netherlands Community hopes to lend a helping hand. “By connecting international alumni from all across the Netherlands through this community, people can help each other with their own experiences and networks,” says Snelders. “We also found a number of alumni who managed to settle here successfully themselves and have expressed a willingness to actively help the next generation do the same.”

“Because as a university, we want to attract more and more international students, for example through Project Beethoven. But then we also have to make sure that this group can successfully settle in after their studies and that they’re both eager to and able to stay in the Netherlands.”

According to Snelders, the event was intended as a pilot, but it was so successful that they plan to continue with it. “We received so many positive responses that we hope to organize it again next year.”