Interview with Nuffic Neso Russia

In our section on StudyQA, foundations and organizations that represent foreign education in Russia talk about their activities. Today we publish an interview with Nuffic Neso Russia (Netherlands Education Support Office) - the official representative of Dutch higher education in Russia. The Russian office of the company, located in Moscow, provides free information on higher education institutions in Holland, scholarships from Dutch universities, as well as all sorts of aspects of life and study in Holland.
JerkeVerschoor (Jerke Verschoor), Director of the Dutch Education Center NufficNesoRussia.

Tell us more about the program you are implementing in Russia andabout the specifics of your work.

There are 11 Neso offices all over the world.All of them belong to the Dutch non-governmental organization Ep-Nuffic, which is responsible for the internationalization of education. The main office is located in The Hague.Neso's Moscow office has been operating since 2009. We are the official representative of all Dutch universities and are engaged in the promotion of educational programs that provide an opportunity to study in Holland in higher education institutions. Promotion of educational programs is the main goal. Along with this, one of our priority tasks is interuniversity cooperation. We have an association of alumni who graduated from Dutch universities, who participated in educational exchange programs or studied at summer schools in the Netherlands - Netherlands Alumni Network Russia (NANR).We are also actively studying the educational market, following the news happening in Russia in the field of higher education. This year we have a new program to promote studies in Russia. We try to attract as many Dutch students as possible to study in Russia.

In which countries are the officesNesolocated?In which of them is your program most in demand?

These are the BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India,China, South Africa, also Indonesia, Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Turkey. Most of the students coming to Holland are, of course, from Germany - this is due to the proximity of the geographic location. The large flow of foreign students from China is due to the fact that China has the largest population in the world and our educational direction is now very popular there. Belgium is in third place. Then Indonesia, since it was once a Dutch colony, and now there are a lot of educational programs, our largest office is also located there. The third largest NESO office is located in Brazil, but the third most popular Dutch programs in India and Russia, although it is possible that the flow of students from India is still slightly higher.

Does NESO cooperate with other organizations that also represent foreign education in Russia?

Our headquarters cooperate in Germany with DAAD, in France with Campus France, in Britain with the British Council. Not often, but we hold meetings with the representatives of these centers here in Moscow.

Are your programs aimed only at working with students or are you also targeting schoolchildren and those who have completed their studies at the university, for example, graduate students?

Our head office in The Hague also runs programs for schoolchildren.If there is a request, we also conduct orientation events in schools. Our direction is focused on high school students who are already preparing to enter a university. But here, in Moscow, our main task is to work with students: bachelors and undergraduates. As for graduate students, there are special programs for them, but there are fewer such programs, because the number of graduate students themselves, as a rule, is less than the number of students.

What universities in Russia do you cooperate with?

I want to say that we are “for” cooperationas many universities across the country as possible. But mainly we work with universities that have a focus on internationalization, i.e.they have various English-language programs. Of course, we work with universities of federal importance: Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University and universities that are included in the rating of the most demanded universities with the support of international programs.

Despite the fact that our office is located in Moscow, we often travel across Russia. We were in St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan.We organize introductory seminars and webinars, participate in educational exhibitions, have recently participated in Tomsk, every year necessarily in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and next year we will go to an exhibition in Yekaterinburg. Students can also come to our Moscow office and receive the necessary advice free of charge.

Does the political situation in the world affect the number of students?

Education is not affected.If we speak from the point of view of the Dutch state, then in the Netherlands there is a clear position that education is not politics. Therefore, we work the same way as we did before, without any restrictions. We promote study in Russia among Dutch students and in every possible way promote mobility and strong cooperation between our countries. Now we can confidently say that interest in Holland has grown, compared, say, with America or England.

How many Dutch students come to Russia?

Dutch students generally do not travel very much in the educational field, especially when compared to Germans, Belgians or French. We are trying to attract the attention of Dutch students to study abroad. Studying in Holland is, in principle, not very expensive. About 15-20 years ago, our students received a lot of support from the state, but as a result, government deductions in this area have decreased, and now Dutch students are notreceive a scholarship. They are given an education loan, which they pay after completing their education. As for education in Russia, the demand is relatively low, because education in English is not sufficiently developed in Russia and there are very few students willing to study Russian. Therefore, short-term programs in English are popular for our students in Russia: winter and summer courses, exchange programs.
Marina Drozd, Marketing Manager Nuffic Neso Russia.

Tell us more about the Moscow office and your employees.​​

There are only 6 employees in our office: the director is from Holland, he speaks excellent Russian. Personally, I am engaged in promotion, PR of education in Holland among Russian students, I am a marketing manager. We also have an education consultant Elena Agafonova, she is directly engaged in advising students, including online counseling. In our office there is a coordinator for work with alumni - Anna Agaltsova, she oversees the association of graduates of Dutch universities; financial coordinator Veronica Hon - she helps us in all financial matters.And Anna Akmaeva, specialist in promoting programs of Russian universities in the Netherlands.

In our office we organize events related to Dutch culture. For example, the celebration of the Dutch national holiday Sintaklaas. Sinterklaas is Saint Nicholas, who comes to Dutch children on a white horse together with his assistants - Black Pits, gives them gifts and sweets. This is a cultural event for students who study Dutch culture and language, for graduates of Dutch universities, in which we all get together, watch Dutch films with subtitles. Sinterklaas comes to us and gives gifts. We also celebrate the King's Day. In general, we do not just work with universities, but also introduce students and everyone to the Dutch culture. By the way, in the design of our office there is an orange color, which is verysignificant color for the Netherlands.

What difficulties do Russian students face when they come to Holland?

Students, as a rule, do not have difficulties with documents, becauseall documentary issues are resolved in advance. Those all the paperwork is done before actually arriving in Holland. If we are talking about those who came to study in the direction of the bachelor's degree, then these are, as a rule, still children who are 17 years old. Of course, there are difficulties in the sense that they are in a new country, without parents and friends .For them, this is a new independent life. They need to equip their life themselves, up to the purchase of furniture for their room. They must resolve all issues of this nature themselves, and this, of course, at first, is not so easy.

Are there coordinators or assistants who can be contacted for help in case of need?

Yes, of course. Holland has student associations that help students from different countries to adapt in the country. There are also international offices and departments in each Dutch university that provide dedicated coordinators. Coordinators constantly work with students, help them settle down and solve everyday problems, right up to ordering a taxi to be met at the airport. They also arrange sightseeing tours around the city, carry out various activities for the socialization of foreign students.In Holland, always before the start of the school year, Introduction Week is held - a specially organized introductory week, during which all foreign students are informed about what they are facing, what subjects and courses they will have, how to solve many life issues, for example, how to open an account withbank, in general, everything down to everyday moments.

Can students coming to study work in Holland?

In the Netherlands, there is such a thing as a year to look for a job,the so-called Search Year, when a student who received a bachelor's or master's degree, i.e. already a graduate of a Dutch university can apply for the Search Year. During this year, he is given the right to live in the country and look for work.

Does this mean that a student will be able to find a job only after graduation?

Yes.A student visa at Dutch universities gives you the right to work, but only 10 hours a week or 2.5 months in summer .But since our citizenship is not the European Union, employers often do not want to take such students, becausethis entails the preparation of additional documents that employers do not want to deal with. It is simply not profitable for them: it is easier to take students from the European Union, of whom there are enough. But our graduates participating in the Search Year are equal in rights with European graduates, and in this case employers no longer need any additional documents. If the student further suits the employer, then the latter is obliged to provide a work visa.

What scholarship programs are there for studying in the Netherlands?

We have several scholarship programs that provide grants.These are grants from Dutch universities that are available to all international students.This is the Holland Scholarship program - a scholarship of the Government of the Netherlands for international students, providing a grant of five thousand euros for international students from outside the European Union, and these are scholarships open to all international students.

This is Orange Tulip Shcolarship - a scholarship from Dutch universities specifically for Russian students.It is also the "Global Education" program - our government scholarship to study in different countries of the world, including twelve universities in Holland, ie.There are several such "grant" programs and there are many opportunities.We do not administer all of these programs, but only Orange Tulip Shcolarship, which opened only last year.We only disseminate information about other programs.Not all students travel through us and clear statistics on wholeft, and who stayed, we do not have.This is all very individual: someone wants to stay in Holland and remains, someone does not succeed, and he returns to Russia, someone did not want to stay, but wanted to return to Russia after training, someone went to Hollandin order to simply improve your skills.

How is the selection of applications for participation in the educational program carried out?

Once again, I repeat that we administer and supervise only one educational program - Orange Tulip Scholarship.For the rest, we are just spreading information.In the Orange Tulip Scholarship plan, it works like this: students send applications for this program to us.Before submitting an application, they need to collect a package of documents and begin the admission procedure to a Dutch university.As soon as the student received confirmation from the university, then he goes to our website, downloads the questionnaire, fills it out and sends it to us.All applications fall into one common database, and then they are sent to Dutch universities.The decision on who will receive the grant and who will go to study in Holland is made only by employees of Dutch universities.

What are the criteria by which Dutch universities select candidates for a grant?

Requirements vary from program to program.But if we are talking about Orange Tulip Shcolarship, then this is a standard package of documents - an IELTS or TOEFL certificate, for an IELTS master's program, as a rule, from 6.5, TOEFL from 88, a motivation letter to the university, letters of recommendation from teachers, a certified and translated copydiploma of previous education with grades, resume.The student sends all this directly to the university.It is important to understand that the requirements for the Orange Tulip Shcolarship program may vary from university to university.And in general, each university puts forward its own requirements for scholarship holders.All information on this issue is available on our website.

Do the requirements for a student depend on the direction of his specialty?

Of course they do.For example, if this is a university that requires in-depth knowledge of mathematics, statistics, then they will ask for the appropriate certificates.For certain programs, even work experience is required.

What determines the full or partial coverage of training programs?

From the university.The university itself decides how to allocate funding.The Orange Tulip Scholarship program can cover part or all of the tuition fees, which also depends on the university.The university also independently decides on the payment of insurance or accommodation for the student.

Where do students live when they come to study in Holland?

In most cases, these are dormitories at Dutch universities.But it also happens that the university does not have a hostel.In this case, they help in finding housing.As a rule, they cooperate with real estate agencies that are looking for suitable sites for international students: houses, apartments.This was the case in my case.I myself studied at the Hague University of Applied Sciences on an exchange program for six months.This university does not have its own dormitory, and I was provided with an apartment in a house where only students of this university lived.In fact, this is the same hostel.Those students who receive the Orange Tulip Scholarship will live with international students.Foreign students are not lodged with local students.

Do personal achievements influence scholarships?

Some universities organize skype interviews in order to determine the potential of the student and to understand whether he is suitable for studying or not.If a student during his studies took part in educational competitions or conferences, received awards or decals, published articles, of course, this should be indicated in his resume as part of the package of documents.But a student who does not have such awards can also qualify forreceiving a grant, because everything ultimately depends on the decision of the university itself.

The Orange Tulip Scholarship is valid for Master's and some undergraduate areas only.At this stage, the program does not work for PhD.In general, postgraduate studies, i.e.PhD, in Holland it works differently than in Russia, and the procedure for submitting documents is different.Participants in PhD programs are equated in status with university employees, they carry out their internal work there, they can teach, but not necessarily.If a person graduated from a specialty or a bachelor's degree here, then he can enter the magistracy, but he will not be accepted for a PhD.If he graduated from the master's program again with us, then he can again enter the master's program, improve theoretical or practical skills in his field.

Have you ever had a case when students refused to receive a grant?

Students tended to refuse if they received a larger scholarship while simultaneously applying to different universities for different scholarship programs.Of course, they opted for a high cost recovery program, i.e.a larger scholarship.One student applied for three scholarships at once: a university scholarship, a Holland Scholarship and an Orange Tulip Scholarship.She was given all three scholarships, in the end she refused from Orange Tulip, because it was more profitable for her to accept the two previous scholarships, and besides, there was an opportunity to combine two grants.There were also personal motives associated with the lack of their own funds.

Anna Akmaeva, specialist in promoting Russian universities in the Netherlands.

I am promoting Russian universities in Holland, and my function is new, it has existed for only 8 months.This direction was implemented due to the fact that Dutch students travel little outside the European Union in educational terms, the government of the Netherlands decided to improve mobility in this way.students.My task is to draw the attention of Dutch students to Russia.

What explains the fact that Dutch students have little interest in traveling to Russia?

Firstly, it is more convenient for them to travel in Europe.Secondly, in order to go to Russia, you need a visa, which entails certain difficulties ... I also observe that Russian universities do little to disseminate information about themselves.Even if there is something, how can foreign students find out about it, if nothing is told?There are also certain prejudices about Russia ... My favorite story is about how I talked to a Dutch student.He studies Russian himself, loves Russia very much.He said: “When my mother found out that I was going to study in Russia, she said to me:“ Son, please, be sure to take warm clothes with you and maybe you need more food?There is no food there either.I was very surprised by this and realized that in Holland there are few ideas about what Russia is, and if there are any, it all boils down to the fact that everything is bad in Russia.And, of course, these are standard stereotypes about balalaika, bear and vodka.Russian students also have their own stereotypes about Holland.

What?

More likely not stereotypes, but representations ... These are, of course, tulips, bicycles, mills, cheese.They say about the Dutch that they are very practical and pragmatic, they like to plan everything.They believe that quality must match the price and vice versa.

How many Dutch students come to study in Russia?

There are two points here.Firstly, there are two types of programs: full cycle programs - 4 years of bachelor's and 2 years of master's degree, the number of participants in such programs is negligible, literally from two to five people a year.This is mainly due to personal moments, if,for example, someone has parents here.And secondly, there are programs for the summer and winter periods, the so-called schools at universities based on the study of the Russian language and culture, and exchange programs.Now there are about 25 students in Moscow, of whom I know.As a rule, people who come here are those who study Russian or study international relations and Russian studies, i.e.those with a direct immediate interest.After completing their studies, they come to Russia again and again in search of work.And yet, for the majority, the question arises of what to do with a Russian diploma.Therefore, we focus more on short-term courses.

Do most of the students come to Moscow?

Yes, the majority is in Moscow, in St. Petersburg.There are also those who are interested in the Russian outback, but, of course, this also depends on the university scholarship and the direction of the specialty.I had a friend from Holland who lived in Moscow, but constantly wanted to go to the village, because he believed that only there you can see real Russia.

Do many Dutch students stay in Moscow?

No, not much, but I can say with complete confidence that many want.However, due to the current economic situation, in order to obtain a work permit and collect all the necessary documents, this is very problematic for the Dutch.

What difficulties does the Dutch mentality face in Russia?

Based on my personal observations, I can say that the Dutch are quite democratic.They are patient, for example, with the living conditions in our hostels.They complain a little about the bureaucracy, about disorganization, because they themselves are always accustomed to order.And, of course, they do not always understand one thing, which is very common with us: the fact that you have a right does not always mean that you can have this right.take advantage.

Elena Agafonova, educational consultant.

Today's students now have many more opportunities to study abroad.When I was a student, it was very difficult to implement due to the lack of information.I studied for six months in Germany on an exchange from St. Petersburg State University.In Holland, I was on a short-term summer course in 2014.This gave me a certain idea of ​​studying abroad.

What do students take with them to study in Holland?Have there been any funny incidents in your practice?

Last year, the husband and wife, who together won the Orange Tulip Scholarship, did not just go with all the necessary things, they went to the place with their car, with their dog.We got to the Netherlands by car, and everything was fine with them.

Is it difficult for a Russian student to adapt to life in Holland?

In my practice, there was nothing super complicated ... But I can say that people in Holland plan their lives more clearly than in Russia.This is purely a matter of culture and mentality.

Where is it more expensive to live: in Moscow or in Amsterdam?

Quality of life must be taken into account.This is different from our ecology and food, life logistics in general.What is expensive here in Moscow can be the norm in relation to, again, quality.

How open are Dutch people?

Making friends with Europeans is more difficult than with Russians.But it is, of course, possible to strike up communication at a neutral and friendly level.

What stereotypes have you personally encountered regarding Russia?

They are very surprised thatwe have summer, sometimes up to +35 degrees, and you can swim.They are surprised that Russia is only a three-hour flight from Amsterdam.For many, it even seems that it is far away.In general, Russia is quite an exotic country for them.

Share fun stories about students.

Our students are on Instagram.Today I read there a post about the fact that one girl has never ridden a bicycle in her life, and now she cannot imagine her life without a bicycle.In Holland, bicycles are very popular, the entire infrastructure has been developed, there are many bike paths, everyone rides a bike everywhere, the main thing is to have a good lock.Here in Russia it is more perceived as a separate event, as entertainment.

What can you say about Dutch food?

There are a lot of all kinds of restaurants in Holland.Everyone is very fond of herring, croquettes and, of course, waffles.Waffles in Holland are very tasty, they are not found anywhere else!

What souvenirs can I bring from Holland?

Of course, these are shoes with national painting ... When I visit Holland, I always bring tulip bulbs to my mother.Tulips are the pride of Holland!

StudyQA correspondent Toriya Lova.
Photo by Veronika Shevchuk.