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The Miraculous Rise ofLiberal Arts & Sciences
in the Netherlands
Unica Conference Budapest
Fried KeesenDirecteur of Education
University College Utrecht
Increasingly complex world
End of an Era?
Complex problems
Complex solutions
Technical problems
Technical
solutions
Major breakthroughs at the interfaces of disciplines
Specialization: solution or problematic artifact?
Artes Liberales: the free mind
Antiquity – middle ages: Homo Universalis (literate and numerate)
Early modern times: replaced by Humboldt University: specialization
LA&S today: full range of academic disciplines
Problems in Dutch Higher Education in the late 20th century
Discussions about the quality of Higher Education:•Mass education•Unification > aimed at average•High attrition rates•Budget constraints•Bologna upcoming
University College Utrecht
Resistance:• Budget• Disbelief in LA&S concept• Competition for students• Competition for teachers
Support:• Personal commitment key
players (notably SCI!)• Invitations• Bologna process• Outside world
University College Utrecht: Different
Big Five: 5 major differences• Liberal Arts & Sciences• Selective• International• Residential• Performance
1. Artes Liberales: timelessA concept, not a content:• Train the mind to think• Curiosity• Respect for facts• New perspectives• Explore and discover• Engage and develop• Broad & deep• Make life interesting• Outreach and responsibility
2. Selection in the Netherlands?Dutch context:• Selective secondary education (4, 5, 6 years)• Open Access to University (diploma based) • Egalitarian Culture
Equal Opportunities <> Equal Talent> Permission for experiment, laws adapted now
3. International• Intercultural exchange • World citizenship• Preparing students for a globalized
world
4. Residential
LA&S concept goes beyond what happens in class
5. Performance
• Absence of selection > 6 is enough mentality
• Best efforts• Continuous feedback• Support• No resits
Selection at UCU
> 850 applicants 225 spots• The Big Four• Letter of motivation • Transcript• Recommendation• Interview• Individual <> Cohort
UCU Succes
(Dutch Quality Newspaper)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2005 excl UCU
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1996
UCU as UU “R&D” facility
Utrecht University Elsevier rankingLessons Learnt:
• Student choices
• Active learning
• Interdisciplinarity
• Promoting excellence, honours
• Reducing atrition
• International Classroom
LA&S Colleges in the Netherlands 2015
All Comprehensive Research Universities except one
One Technical University (LA&S??)
Yearly enrollment now 1250 -1500
Different Debates
Netherlands:• Uniform system:
LA&S = quality
• Liberal Arts & Sciences for top 5% only
• Quality Brand:– Skills & Knowledge– Broad & Deep– International
United States:• Differentiated system:
Institution = quality • LA as one option• Career perspective?• Return on investment?
Present Debate in the NetherlandsDemocracy put to challenge• Secularization• Decline of Ideology driven
Politics• Moral Debates • Responsible Citizenship,
Integrity
New Roles of University in Dutch Society:• End of value-free Science & Education?• The LA&S concept as a role model again?
Thank you!
