Tutorships, intake interviews and projects like ‘initiate-participate-complete’ (beginnen-meedoen-afronden) are just a few of the initiatives that the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is taking to improve study success.

The Long-Term Agreement made between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) in April 2008 charts a course aimed more than ever at orientation, transfer and academic success rates and excellence.

In line with the recommendations of the University Study Success Task Force, the Executive Board’s Plan of Action lays down specific measures that the UvA must take in order to achieve the targets defined in the Long-Term Agreement.

The UvA’s University Education Committee created the Study Success working group in 2008 for the purpose of:

• Making an analysis of study success at the UvA;
• Advising the Executive Board regarding the approach used for realising improvements based on the Long-Term Agreement.

The working group thoroughly analysed the available data on grades and also used literature studies, congress attendance and interviews with university employees and students in its analysis. Their conclusions, together with 20 recommendations for evidence-based measures were compiled in a report issued by the Study Success Task Force (April 2009) This report can be viewed in Dutch at the link below.

Study Success Task Force report

While study success has been on the agenda of the university’s study programmes, the task force observed that the UvA can still introduce measures to achieve its objectives. For these to be effective, it is important that the measures are part of a comprehensive package and that their implementation strategically coordinated. It is essential that these measures are applied to various aspects of the curriculum. The report can be viewed at the link below (in Dutch).

The Study Success Task Force recommendations were intended in part for study programmes and in part for the Executive Board. This was because centralised regulations were needed for some of the measures. An Action Plan was drafted in September 2009.

Action Plan

The Executive Board adopted all 20 recommendations in the Action Plan. The Board agreed that the first step is to apply these measures to curriculum-related aspects. The Action Plan was finalised in December 2009. The Study Success Task Force was asked to actively support the process of implementing the 20 recommendations. The Action Plan can be viewed (in Dutch) at the link below.

A standardised structure for semesters and modules: important for study success

A standardised structure for semesters and modules is primarily important for course exchanges between different programmes. Students who wish to take a minor or an elective with another programme, or transfer to another programme will experience minimal delays in their studies. With courses starting and ending at the same time for all study programmes, students will not have to ‘wait’ for weeks before a course or study programme starts.

A standard structure for modules is also important for the number on credits obtained by a student. If a student takes an elective for five EC and courses in the student’s study programme are six EC, it is possible that a student has 59 EC at the end of the year and consequently has to follow an extra course to obtain 60 EC. Standardised modules will prevent this from happening.

Transfer and academic success rates

The Study Success working group has concentrated primarily on transfer and academic success rates, with a further focus on promoting excellence:

• Amsterdam University College (AUC) opened its doors in September 2009;
• the UvA works in close cooperation with VU University Amsterdam to provide a range of honours programmes, monitored by a University Honours Committee;
• the UvA and VU University Amsterdam have established a joint Excellence Platform.

Study Success at other universities

Since the Long-term Agreement has been adopted by all universities, it is a key item in their agendas. While there is some overlap in the activities and measures of various universities, there are also many differences. The Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) is currently mapping out how different universities are approaching study success.