University to focus on study success, thematic research and valorisation

Leiden University aims to take measures in the coming years to improve the study success of its students and to offer tailored education - linked to a strong research profile where valorisation plays a key role. The University will present these plans to the University Council and to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Outline agreement

The new measures will be incorporated into the University's Strategic Agenda that will be presented to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science on 1 May. This was agreed between the universities and Halbe Zijlstra, Secretary of State for Education, in the so-called outline agreement with the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU).

Responsibiilty towards students

Now that government funding for students is no longer linked to the length of the study, Leiden University intends to take responsibility for devising measures to help students graduate within the prescribed term. This means that the University will concentrate on providing more intensive supervision for students within the existing Leiden study system.

More intensive supervision

Discussions will be held with prospective students in Leiden relating to their choice of study, before they are enrolled. More intensive supervision will also be given to students during the first and second years of their programme. The University will guarantee sufficient contact hours during the study, personal supervision focusing on the student's study plan and regular feedback about study progress. Lecturers in their turn will have to be professionally qualified for the teaching task with which they are charged.

BSA for two years

In return, the University requires that students complete the first two years of their programme on time in order to reduce the likelihood of their falling behind and dropping out. The Executive Board at Leiden University wants to raise the BSA standard to 50 points for both the first and second years of the study. Leiden is also considering introducing a selection system for students entering bachelor's and master's programmes. The proposed changes will become effective in the 2013-2014 academic year at the earliest, and are dependent on changes to the law made by Zijlstra.  

'Entirely normal'

Vice-Rector Simone Buitendijk: 'It is entirely normal to expect students to complete their studies in the time allocated. And we know it's possible. The Netherlands is lagging behind other countries where the rate of study is much higher. What we are now seeing is that after getting the 40 points needed in the first year, students put less effort into their studies in the second year: the pressure is off. We want to help them make the right choices in the first year and then to see that they continue to make good progress in the second year.  We expect more students to graduate in the time allocated.'  

More individually-tailored programmes

The University also intends to improve the present range of programmes offered and is looking at the possibility of broadening programmes and offering joint first-year programmes. There are also plans to provide excellence programmes for highly talented students. President of the Executive Board Paul van der Heijden: 'Students are not all the same, so we intend to provide more individually-tailored programmes.'

Strong profile themes

Leiden University has selected six profile themes within which the existing 11 research profile areas fall. These themes are key to the recruitment of academic staff, to co-operation with third parties and to investment decisions. Each faculty has to have a valorisation strategy to strengthen the impact of its research. 
Van der Heijden: The Secretary of State is calling on universities to make clear choices so that they can become more complementary, rather than overlapping or competing with one another. We have been working towards this for some time. In return we will receive funding from the Secretary of State to make improvements in teaching, research and valorisation.'

Leiden University will present its package of proposals to Halbe Zijlstra, Secretary of State for Education, on 1 May.

(31 januari 2012)