18 - Netherlands - Organisational variations, alternative structures
Advanced courses
HBO institutions provide a number of advanced courses, most of which have now been upgraded to
master’s degree programmes. They include art courses, courses in architecture and teacher training
courses (special education and grade 1 qualification in general subjects). They are
governed by the Higher Education and Research Act (WHW). The former follow on from initial courses
in the arts and involve a study load of up to 120 ECTS credits. The latter follow on from building and
architecture courses and involve a study load of 240 ECTS credits.
Postgraduate vocational courses are offered by both universities and HBO institutions. Examinations
following on from postgraduate vocational courses are not regulated by the Higher Education and
Research Act. Courses of this kind are not funded by government and there is no state financial
assistance for students. Although government start-up subsidies were available in the past, in principle
the costs of such courses are borne by the students or their employers. Following the introduction of
the bachelor-master system, these advanced courses will eventually be discontinued by royal decree.
Bachelor-master system
The introduction of the bachelor-master system allows institutions to offer post-initial courses leading to master’s degrees, as long as these courses are accredited. There is no statutory
provision dealing specifically with such courses.
Training for researchers and design engineers
After completing their degree, graduates can apply for posts as research assistants (AIOs), research
students (OIO) or grant-funded PhD students. AIOs and OIOs are appointed on a temporary basis by
universities and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) respectively to conduct
academic research and receive training with a view to becoming fully-fledged researchers or design
engineers. Both AIOs and OIOS are public servants and as such have certain rights (redundancy pay,
holiday allowances, pension rights) and obligations (terms of contract). PhD students receive a fouryear
grant. The four-year research training concludes with the presentation of a thesis, prepared with
the help of one or more supervisors. The design engineer training provided by the three universities of
technology concludes with the production of a technological design.
Research schools
Research schools are centres for high quality research in one particular field or in a multidisciplinary
context. They offer talented research assistants (AIOs) research posts including an intensive four-year
course at the end of which they will be capable of carrying out independent research. AIOs are
expected to obtain a doctorate at the end of their training. The research schools are national and
international centres of excellence and provide a guaranteed level of supervision and tuition. They are
responsible for their own budgets and carry out regular evaluations. There are 139 officially recognised
research schools in the Netherlands (2007).
Top research schools
The concept of top research schools was introduced to give extra impetus to top-level academic
research in the Netherlands. The institutions bearing this title must meet stringent quality criteria and
are eligible for extra funding. They are selected by the general board of the Netherlands Organisation
for Scientific Research (NWO), on the basis of the recommendations of an independent committee. Six
institutions were designated by the Minister as top research schools in 1998. The performance of these
institutions was evaluated at the end of 2003. Based on this evaluation, it was decided to continue
extra funding until 2008.
Open University of the Netherlands
The Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL) is a state establishment offering distance learning
courses at university level for people aged 18 and over. The tasks of the OUNL, as stated in the Higher
Education and Research Act (WHW), are to provide initial courses at university level in the form of
distance education and contribute to innovation in higher education.
The OUNL was founded in 1984 to provide higher education courses for persons who were unable for
various reasons to obtain a higher education qualification in the past (second chance education). Its
headquarters is in Heerlen. There are also 18 study centres and 2 support centres in the Netherlands
and 6 study centres in Flanders, which provide information, guidance and advice for students in
relation to their studies. Although the OUNL is independent, it maintains contacts with other institutions
of higher education.
The main objective of the OU is to make higher education accessible to adults who want a second
chance. Its "openness" manifests itself in the following four ways:
absence of any admission requirements relating to prior education;
freedom as to place and time of study;
freedom as to pace of study;
freedom as to choice of courses: students can combine modules to make up their own
programme of study.
In 1995 it became clear that the OUNL was serving a large group of students who did not belong to the
original target group of adults wanting a "second chance" but were graduates wishing to expand or
update their knowledge in the context of lifelong learning. In 1997 the Higher Education and
Research Act was amended to make explicit reference to the University’s innovative function. The Act
now states that the OUNL has a twofold task: to provide higher distance education and to contribute to
innovation in higher education. As part of its innovative role, the University works alongside 12 other
Dutch and Flemish higher education institutions within the Consortium for Innovation in Higher
Education. This cooperation has resulted in a wide range of projects.
Developments in the field of telelearning (also known as electronic learning or e-learning), ICT
applications within higher education as a whole and the falling proportion of "second-chance" students
led to the creation in 2001 of the Digital University (DU), a consortium of universities and HBO
institutions. The aim of the consortium was mainly to develop teaching material for initial courses at the
participating institutions. The DU was dissolved as of 1 January 2007, when its activities were taken
over by SURF, the organisation for collaborative ICT innovation in higher education.
Ruud de Moor Centre
For a number of years, the Open University has provided support for schools and teaching staff in
relation to on-the-job learning. Its expertise activities are based at the Ruud de Moor Centre, which
was named after the Open University’s founder.
Organisation
Teaching is organised in the form of separate modules, each of which is deemed to require
approximately 120 hours of study. Students may combine various modules to compile their own
programme of study. There are over 200 courses to choose from, covering numerous disciplines; most
courses comprise one or two modules. It is also possible to complete a full degree programme. These
degree programmes comprise 56 modules (70 for information technology) and give graduates the right
to use the same academic title as a regular university graduate. The OUNL does not offer
postgraduate courses.
Teaching is mainly by correspondence, course materials being sent to the student’s home. Other
media are also used, such as information and communication technology. If they have questions,
students can contact one of the 18 study centres.
The Open University of the Netherlands is not subject to any set criteria as to minimum student
numbers.
Given that OUNL students put together their own study programmes and determine their own pace of
study, there are no official course years as such.
Curriculum
Central government lays down only a statutory framework within which the OUNL must operate (in the
Higher Education and Research Act). The content of teaching is not prescribed. The Open University
of the Netherlands offers degree programmes in eleven subject areas: culture, financial management
and economics, information technology, marketing and communication, environment and health,
education, organisational management and logistics, government/public management, human
resources management, psychology and law.
Certificates and diplomas
Students who pass their examinations are awarded a certificate certificaatwhich can then be "traded
in" if they subsequently decide to follow a full OUNL programme. A full university degree diploma can
be obtained by completing one of the eight degree programmes.
Academic titles
The Open University of the Netherlands has the right to award students completing a degree
programme legally recognised titles such as "drs.", "mr." and "ir." It is also possible to obtain a
doctorate by studying at the Open University ("dr."). Since the introduction of the bachelor-master
system, graduates can also opt to use the titles "Bachelor" (B) or "Master" (M)
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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