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Network Policy
Telecommunications Regulartions (Stage 4)
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Netherlands is a member of the European Union and therefore follows the regulations that the Union has put in place. The regulations that they have set out provide an open and competitive environment for telecommunication companies to operate in. The government has also set out an initiative to get internet to all. In order to meet the government's objective of Internet access for all, the use of the Internet is to be stimulated by educating small-sized firms in this area. Schools, libraries and governmental organisations have to provide access to the Internet, and the government has actively promoted Internet use through propaganda campaignsThe EU also forces privatization of telecommunication companies and therefore Netherlands does not have any government operated providers. Competition really heated up in 1998 when many providers installed pan-European fixed lines.
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ICT Trade Policy (Stage 4)
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Netherlands believes in a free and open market. With no significant trade or investment barriers, the Netherlands remains a receptive market for U.S. exports and an important investment partner. The Netherlands is the seventh-largest destination for U.S. exports ($32.3 billion in 2009). There are more than 1,600 U.S. companies with subsidiaries or offices in the Netherlands. The Dutch are strong proponents of free trade and staunch allies of the U.S. in international forums such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
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Network Learning
Schools Access to ICTs (Stage 4)
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The government is responsible for supervising the educational system, as the curriculum and subjects taught in all types of school are laid down by law, as are attainment targets. This enables the government to ensure that qualifications are uniform throughout the country, setting standards as schools at all educational levels have access to computers. Universities offer degrees within the IT field with degrees such as a Bachelor of Information Technology degree in the Netherlands, a degree which requires the use of computers and networks for the learning process.
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Developing the ICT Workforce (Stage 4)
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Within the Netherlands there are a number of technical schools with specialized curricula in
information and communication technologies and computer science. Students of Information Technology in the Netherlands are trained to become an all-round IT-expert in software engineering. and during the course students can specialize in engineering or IT-related business management. With the knowledge and skills collected at universities in the Netherlands, students can work as high-level engineers and managers in the IT sector.
There are a variety of training opportunities relating to information as dutch universities and higher professional education institutions (hogescholen) together offer some 1,402 international study programmes and courses, making the Netherlands an attractive destination for students studying IT.
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Dutch Culture
Wooden Shoes
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