To ease the workload in education, the House of Representatives has proposed accrediting degree programmes once every eight to ten years instead of every six years. Education Minister Letschert is open to the idea, but wants to await the results of a study first.
Currently, the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation checks the quality of degree programmes every six years. A panel of specialists then reviews theses and other paperwork and speaks with students, lecturers and employers. The examination board must also account for its actions during this accreditation process.
A long-standing complaint is that this process takes up a great deal of time in the education sector. The House of Representatives agrees, having spoken out on Thursday in favour of simplifying the accreditation system. Could the inspections not take place less frequently, for example every eight to ten years?
Investigation is already ongoing
Education Minister Rianne Letschert did not dismiss the proposal. Her ministry is already investigating how the quality assurance system can be improved. “Extending the accreditation period could be a possibility,” said Letschert, “but I do want to wait for the results of the investigation first.”
In recent years, there has been much discussion about a new accreditation system. The idea was to leave it more up to the institutions themselves, but that never got off the ground. A year ago, former Education Minister Eppo Bruins scrapped the plan. That is why the question remains open.
HOP, Olmo Linthorst
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