In the fall of 2017, the University Colleges Deans’ Network commissioned a joint alumni survey of graduates of the University Colleges as well as other Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in the Netherlands. This survey aimed to discover what students did after completing their bachelor programs, including the graduate programs they attended and their current position on the labor market.…
To the future Minister of Education, University College students, in contrast to what people often think, aren’t necessarily the brightest students in society. UC students also aren’t the jack of all trades, master of none some make us out to be. We are hardworking students that can handle a steep learning curve facilitated by intensive and small scale education. What…
The second week of this semester, my supervisor said something interesting. There was a discussion on which students should be admitted to the honours programme, based on past academic record and achievement in the entrance exams. The discussion was on what makes a good honours student , and my co-worker gave his view: “An honours student is a gifted student,…
Important findings in this survey include the possibility to do additional research on the number of (first year) UC students that drop out, the amount of rent UC students pay compared to regional and national averages, the number of UC students that has a side job compared to regional and national averages, positive and negative effects of ‘the bubble’ and…
By Jonathan Between paper deadline 1, paper deadline 2, that presentation for course 3 you still need to finish and that coffee you still need to make to stay awake, we sometimes tend to forget the privilege we have to be enrolled in a Liberal Arts and Sciences program in continental Europe. Let's take a moment to reflect on the…
By Jonathan All University Colleges of the Netherlands have (again) been labelled as excellent educational programs this year. It is therefore no surprise that their alumni should end up in the most interesting places. One of these, UCU alumnus Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, was interviewed for this article. During high school, Sjoerdsma showed a particular interest in the sciences: he was a…
Voor Nederlands, klik hier. On the November 15, the Keuzegids published their 2017 rankings of the Dutch University Programs. However, according to the UCSRN, the ranking of the Liberal Arts and Sciences/University Colleges programs is terribly flawed. The causes: insufficient research by Keuzegids and a questionable methodology. Questionable results Keuzegids does not only use the croho-registry for the educational programs…
By Hannah Vreeburg With over 8 University Colleges established in the Netherlands within a time span of 18 years, educating more than 4000 students, the interdisciplinary and engaging Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor has certainly established itself in the university community. However, just as studying physics in Groningen is very different from studying physics in Delft, so too studying is…
By Joris van Schie More and more University Colleges are being established in the Netherlands. The recent plans for a University College in Leeuwarden show that this trend is far from over. What is it that moves Dutch universities to start a University College? UCs function as the flagship faculties of their respective universities. It is a great opportunity for…
