Dutch universities deliver high-quality education

In recent years, Dutch universities have devoted a great deal of attention to lecturer quality and the quality of teaching. For example, the number of lecturers with a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) has increased, and universities continue to score positively on lecturer and teaching quality in the National Student Survey. Dutch university education also fares well in international comparisons.

Themes:
The number of lecturers with a UTQ is increasing

Students are satisfied with their education

Our university education system has a good reputation outside the Netherlands

The number of lecturers with a UTQ is increasing

Good lecturers are essential to good education. The universities have collectively developed a teaching qualification for lecturers: the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). The UTQ is evidence that a lecturer has mastered the skills of teaching. To obtain the UTQ, lecturers complete a course that focuses on a range of competencies: designing, delivering and evaluating education; testing and assessment; and supervising students. Over the past few years, the number of lecturers with a UTQ has increased significantly.
 

Students are satisfied with their education

In the National Student Survey, students gave their lecturers an average score of 3.8 and their studies in general an average score of 4.1. This means that, on average, students are satisfied with their lecturers and their education.

Universities also facilitate students who are looking for something a bit more challenging. The number of excellence programmes and honours students has increased significantly in recent years.
 

Our university education system has a good reputation outside the Netherlands

The Netherlands performs extremely well in the Global Competitiveness Index, a well-known index that determines the competitiveness of different countries. In 2017, the Netherlands was in fourth place. The index looks at 12 elements of competitiveness, including higher education. The Netherlands scored well in that category too, placing fourth again. This means that from the perspective of the economy and competitiveness, university education is of a high quality.