University Council and Executive Board agree quality agreements
Following a period of intensive discussion, the University Council (UR) approved the University Quality Standards Plan on 10 December. The UR endorses the content of the plan in broad terms and is pleased with the extra efforts made by the University.
Before the Christmas break the Executive Board (CvB) will draw up a set of guidelines guaranteeing the role of employee and student participation in handling the quality agreements in the future. These guidelines will confirm those issues on which the different participation councils will be involved in this challenging propgramme.
What are the quality agreements?
The coalition statement stipulates that the advance funding for higher education that will become available as a result of the introduction of the loan system will be invested in the quality of higher education. The Minister has asked universities to draw up a plan for the 2019-2024 period describing how they intend to achieve these aims and exactly what quality agreements they will make with the Minister.
The key themes of these quality agreements are:
- More intensive and small-scale teaching
- Differentiation in education, including talent development within and outside the study programme
- More and better supervision of students
- Further professionalisation of teachers
- Study success, including progression to further studies, accessibility and equal opportunities
The plan had to be drawn up in close discussion with the University teaching community, the participation bodies and, where relevant, also with external stakeholders. The UR was initially critical of the process of participation, but additional efforts on behalf of the Executive Board were successful in clearing the air.
The Supervisory Board has also endorsed the plan.