Complexity in cooperation

La Rochelle 10-11 May 2012

Marie-Hélène de Vrij-Bourigan

Content

• NHL University• European Studies• Cooperation

– local– national– international

• Evaluation– local– national– international

• 10,000 students / 1,000 personnel• university of applied sciences

– Healthcare and Welfare– Technologies – Communication– Business and Management Studies

• professional education programs • bachelor’s degree

NHL responsible for: strategic plan, education concept, and standards

NHL University

• NHL University• European Studies• Cooperation

– local– national– international

• Evaluation– local– national– international

Content

European Studies (1)Objective:•The ES course offers a broad study programme which is focused on Europe and covers areas such as communication, economics, management, politics and law.•It prepares students for positions in internationally operating companies and organisations either in their home countries or abroad.

European Studies (2)

• NHL University• European Studies• Cooperation

– local– national– international

• Evaluation– local– national– international

Content

Local / department

Cooperation at department level in order to:

•Harmonize competences among departments•Offer a simple and recognizable system to students and lecturers. •Check the quality of exams and assessments (Examination board)•Efficiency

Through:•Examination board (evaluation)

Local / education

Cooperation at education level:

•Programme•Education•Assessment

Through:•Degree course meetings•Degree course committee•External advice board•Evaluation by NVAO

National

Cooperation at national level in order to:•Determine competences and professional profile•Determine the name of the course•Determine the type of Bachelor’s degree•Exchange knowledge•Exchange material

Through:•National meetings (Maastricht en Den Haag)•Evaluation by NVAO

International

Cooperation at international level in order to:•Establish partnerships in France, Germany, Spain, Britain etc…•Exchange knowledge •Exchange lecturers and students•Organise international projects •Offer minors•Facilitate study abroadThrough….?:•No consultative committee at international level (only local)•No evaluation at international level (only local)

International

• NHL University• European Studies• Cooperation

– local– national– international

• Evaluation– local– national– international

Content

Local cooperation

pros• The Examination

board determines clear (legal) boundaries

• The Examination committee checks assessment and assessment criteria in order to safeguard quality.

cons• Inexperienced

examination boards: everything has to be built from scratch

• Room for improvement within Examination and Assessment

National cooperation

pros• Clear agreements• Same education

profile• Same type of bachelor• Same competence

profile• Same accreditation

criteria• Efficiency

cons• Less scope for

differentiation• Cooperation versus

competition

International cooperation

pros• Knowledge exchange

through student and teacher exchange

• Shared international projects

• Shared minors

cons• Dutch ‘competence-

based’ education unknown in other countries

• Learning agreements not clear / uniform enough

• Assessment and quality safeguards not uniformly dealt with.

• Cooperation at international level has to be organised within a national and local agreement framework. This makes cooperation more complex.

• More cooperation at accreditation level is needed:– In the Netherlands: NVAO– In France: ACA, ECA, ENQA, …– In …After a common bachelor’s degree and a common

master’s degree we have to take a next step: a common accreditation

conclusions / recommendations