Wittenborg Online News!

The Dutch National Student Survey (NSE) collapses after the association of university of applied sciences withdraws with immediate affect.

The Association of University of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen - VH) has announced that it distances itself from all rankings and results from the 2019 NSE. It is unclear if the results will be published.

The VH represents all state funded Universities of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, such as Saxion, Stenden, Fontys and Avans.

'The Dutch National Student Survey (NSE) collapses after the association of university of applied sciences withdraws with immediate affect.'

It seems that the VH has taken the decision based on problems their members have experienced with the technology, but also questions surrounding the privacy security of this year’s online questionnaire. However, according to Science Guide, there are rumours of other reasons that have caused such an immediate and rigorous decision to withdraw.

Earlier this year, the University Utrecht threatened to withdraw from the survey, which is taken on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the company Studiekeuze123.nl.

The National Student Survey in the Netherlands has enormous influence on the decision making of further students, and is used for publications like the Keuzegids (Study Choice Guide), a private organisation that ‘ranks’ universities and programmes.

The Association of Research Universities (VSNU) and Association for Private Universities (NRTO) have both been given a two-week extension for their students to continue filling in the National Student Survey. It is not clear what relationship this decision has with the withdrawal of the state-funded universities of applied sciences (from the survey).

Sources: https://www.scienceguide.nl/2019/03/hogescholen-stoppen-met-nationale-studentenenquete/

WUP 26/3/2019
by James Wittenborg, and Others
©WUAS Press