Higher Education in Stages
Higher education in the Netherlands could provide students with a better preparation for participation for society than it does at present. By breaking higher education down into different stages and making a clear distinction between the objectives of universities and universities of applied sciences, the system would be better able to meet the varying needs, aptitudes and interests of students, the WRR says in its report Higher education in Stages (Report no. 47, 1995).
Education in two stages
The WRR proposes two stages in higher education. The majority of students would leave higher education after the first stage and gain further experience in professional practice. In the second stage, students would follow a course of between one and three years to train as an academic researcher or for another academic profession. This stage would culminate in a Master’s degree.
Not a blueprint for future education
Rather than providing a blueprint, the WRR identifies five principles for the future of higher education: institutional differentiation and phasing of objectives; academic and professional education; tailored or convergent structure of curricula; intensification of education; functionalisation of powers. These development principles serve as a guide for the numerous minor changes that are needed to improve the quality of higher education.