Together, they play a great part in promoting and representing the Dutch universities abroad. The institutes form a network of scientific centres with regards to education and research. Students and co-workers gather in a variety of different ways international experience; for example: by taking part in lectures and conducting research ‘in the field’. The presence of these institutes can also be a stimulant for students or researchers from the country, in which the institute is located, to go to The Netherlands as a student or scientific worker.