This will probably come as no surprise to you, but I'm no fan of MDT. I'd even go as far as to say that the general concept appalls me. The reasons given for introducing MDT reek of envy: ‘give something back to society’ implies that the average student is a couch potato who never lifts a finger to do anything. It's a ‘that'll teach them’ kind of gesture. In his time as CDA party leader, Buma often used words like ‘troublemakers’ and ‘stone-throwers’ - referring to students.

This view of the disengaged student is nonsense. Perfect counterexamples are provided by the dozens of student teams that are mushrooming in innovation Space and Momentum; all the well-run sports associations and the cultural associations that are causing Luna to burst at the seams. Every university tries to incorporate civic relevance in its curriculum (with greater or lesser success).

The above-mentioned curricular and extracurricular activities, content-rich and valuable, contrast sharply, in my opinion, with the MDT projects that have been identified. Perhaps from his mayoral seat in Leeuwarden, Buma thinks it is wonderful that students ‘learn to vlog or cook or master life-saving swimming’, but this pales into insignificance compared to, say, working with circular energy technologies.

Given this, I find it strange that someone ever believed that students would feel enthusiastic about something like MDT. It is a largely insignificant addition to all their existing commitments, completed in exchange for a certificate or small remuneration (in actual fact a firm handshake and a pat on the back). 

I would like to close with a word about generational differences. The introduction of MDT, regardless of whether or not it is compulsory, seems to me a symptom of the growing gulf between the older and younger Netherlands. There's a climate of mutual incomprehension, caused by emergent economic stress and changing values, among other things. I would therefore like to ask all policymakers in the Netherlands to actually talk to their target group before putting their plans into practice.

It would prevent paternalistic nonsense being rammed down young people's throats.