Throughout the entire final week of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello, conservatory students performed music just outside Bozar in Brussels. Their action 'Requiem for Culture' is a protest against the sharp increase in tuition fees for students from outside the European Union.
Standing with international students
Just before each final evening, music students from the conservatory perform outdoors near Bozar. "This is a major show of solidarity with our students from outside the European Union. Due to budget cuts by the Flemish Community, their tuition fees have doubled," says Lulu Aertgeerts, director of the Brussels Conservatory. Seventy percent of the conservatory's students come from abroad, ten percent from outside the EU, mainly from Asia. "Diversity is our greatest strength. International students inspire each other, forge lifelong friendships, build networks. Some major international careers are launched right here," according to Aertgeerts.
Changing the rules mid-game
Tuition fees have been raised from €9,000 to €17,500 for non-Europeans—a doubling! This measure was implemented immediately, even for students already enrolled. Could this be considered a breach of contract? "It feels like changing the rules mid-game," Aertgeerts says. Meanwhile, the Erasmus University College Brussels, which houses the conservatory, is stepping up and the increase would amount to around €11,000. Like the Royal Conservatory Brussels, other higher education institutions are affected, and non-European students must pay more. "RITCS, LUCA School of Arts, VUB, and the Antwerp fashion academy—they're being hit very hard," says Aertgeerts.
Rolling back the measure isn't in the cards anytime soon. Through the King Baudouin Foundation, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support students in financial hardship.
