The British Council and Nuffic are pleased to announce the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that reinforces the long-standing partnership between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands in international education and research.
The agreement marks a renewed commitment to strengthening strategic institutional relationships between UK and Dutch education providers, with a focus on deeper cooperation in areas such as global competencies, research partnerships, capacity building, mobility and shared responses to international challenges. The collaboration will deepen cooperation between higher education institutions, research organisations and sector bodies, supporting them to build sustainable partnerships and respond jointly to global challenges.
A key feature of the MOU is the establishment of a UK–Netherlands Strategic Advisory Board, bringing together senior leaders from higher education, research and policy communities in both countries. The Board will provide high-level guidance to strengthen bilateral cooperation, identify barriers and enablers to partnership formation.
The Strategic Advisory Board will also advise on opportunities for shared engagement in programmes such as Horizon Europe, review trends in international collaboration, and help shape a future-focused strategic direction for UK–Netherlands cooperation.
Alongside the Advisory Board, joint activities under the MOU will include expert roundtables, institutional matchmaking, thematic events, and initiatives designed to strengthen the capacity of educators and leaders to embed internationalisation within their curricula and organisational strategies.
At the signing ceremony, Jennifer Cosgrave, British Council Country Director for the Netherlands said:
We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with Nuffic through this agreement. By focusing on strategic partnerships, we can support institutions in developing sustainable and high-impact international relationships that can navigate even the most turbulent of times. These connections are essential for building mutual understanding and preparing young people in both countries to navigate a rapidly changing world.
Commenting on the agreement, Annelies van Eenennaam, Manager Cluster Knowledge and Advice at Nuffic said:
The British Council has been a highly valued partner of Nuffic for many years. We are delighted that this agreement will enable us to further strengthen this excellent partnership in the Netherlands. Now that the UK and the EU are once again taking 2 joint steps towards further educational cooperation, it feels logical to encourage Dutch and British higher education institutions with their excellent quality to work even more closely together. Through the projects in this agreement, we are contributing to the establishment of more strategic partnerships and inclusive internationalisation opportunities for our students and institutions.