Minister of Education: Degree programmes should substantiate their selection procedures for studies

Eppo Bruins, the Minister of Education, wants to make it mandatory for universities and universities of applied sciences to explain their selection procedures for degree programmes. They often do not do this at the moment, while selection criteria can affect equal opportunities.

In a letter to the House of Representatives (in Dutch), Bruins says that it is obvious that institutions should substantiate and regularly check for possible bias in their student selection procedures. ‘However, in practice, substantiating the criteria and tools used are often missing.’ The substantiation that he wants to see must be made publicly available for everyone so that the representation bodies at institutions can give advice and students can see the selection criteria.

A report (in Dutch) in 2023 by the Inspectorate of Education shows that academic institutions are not always clear about how they select students. At the time, the Inspectorate concluded that ‘Everyone drafts their own procedures without agreeing on what honest and effective selection entails’. This is a problem as the Inspectorate believes that selection procedures could lead to certain groups of students being disadvantaged.

Some degree programmes at TU Delft also uphold selection criteria for admission. The bachelor programmes at Aerospace Engineering, Architecture and the Built Environment, Computer Science and Engineering, Clinical Technology and Nanobiology have a numerus fixus with a selection procedure.

Drawing lots

Up to 2000, degree programmes could only draw lots. The drawing lots system was abolished in 2017 as it was deemed unfair. After that could they select new students on the grounds of criteria that they thought about themselves. Apart from grades, factors like motivation or personality could also be considered.

But in practice, selection does not seem to be that fair either. Because of this, drawing lots is making a slow comeback. Degree programmes, if they so wish, may start drawing lots again for the 2025-2026 academic year. In his letter, Bruins states that 26 degree programmes are doing so.

HOP, BB/Delta, ID