The Deltaplan is a combination of initiatives to remove the shortages of science and technology graduates. The cabinet is convinced that without extra policy the interest in science and technology education will be reduced further. An important element in the Deltaplan is attracting and keeping knowledge workers from abroad. These are now hindered considerably by the slow and expensive visa procedure. Under the direction of the Justice ministry an interdepartmental committee is working on the introduction of one window, procedure and document for knowledge workers, their partners and children.
The VSNU would like such a window to be open to science students too. Moreover, they should be eligible for a grant. The cabinet would like to see results from the committee in April 2004 at the latest, and says to work towards lowering the visa costs for knowledge workers.
Expansion of the regional networks between universities and higher education in the region is also a hot item in the plan. Better co-operation should lead to more pupils choosing a science or technology study.
For a number of concrete Deltaplan measures the government makes 6 million euro available in 2004. For the following years an amount has been put aside that rises to maximally 60 million euro from 2007.
HOP, Onno van Buuren
transl. DvA
