New definitions of dropout rates, success rates, student-teacher ratio, qualifications of the teaching staff and education intensity

NVAO has reformulated the definitions of dropout rates, success rates, student-teacher ratio, qualifications of the teaching staff and education intensity (contact hours) that will be adopted with effect from 1 May 2012 for the accreditation of higher education programmes in the Netherlands. The definitions for these indicators in the current assessment frameworks were not sufficiently univocal, which means that the data supplied was insufficiently comparable.

In formulating these definitions, wherever possible NVAO aimed to tie in with the indicators recently established in the outline agreements between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (HBO-raad) and the Dutch Council for Training and Education (NRTO). In some instances, the level of the individual programmes has been a leading factor in the definitions of these indicators. In addition, NVAO has formulated definitions regarding dropout rates and success rates of master’s programmes in line with the indicators in place for bachelor’s programmes.

Indicator

Definition

Contact hours

The average weekly number of clock hours of programmed face-to-face instruction for each year of the programme.

Dropout rate

(bachelor´s programmes)

a. The proportion of the total number of full-time bachelor’s students (first-year students in higher education) no longer enrolled in the programme after one year, if possible for the last six cohorts for which full surveys are available.

b. The proportion of full-time bachelor’s students enrolling in the programme again after the first year of study (re-entrants) and dropping out as yet during the official length of the programme, if possible for the last three cohorts for which full surveys are available.

Dropout rate

(master´s programmes)

a. The proportion of the total number of full-time master’s students no longer enrolled in the programme after one year, if possible for the last six cohorts.

b. For programmes with an official length of more than one year: the proportion of the total number of full-time master’s students dropping out as yet within the official length of the programme, if possible for the last six cohorts.

Quality of teaching staff

Professional higher education: the proportion of teachers with a master’s degree or PhD.

Academic higher education: the proportion of teachers with a basic, senior or extensive teaching qualification.

Student-teacher ratio

Professional higher education: the ratio between the total number of full-time students enrolled and the total number of FTEs logged by the teaching staff of the programme in the most recent academic year.

Academic higher education: the ratio between the total number of full-time students enrolled and the total number of FTEs logged by the academic staff of the programme in the most recent academic year.

Success rate

(bachelor´s programmes)

The proportion of full-time bachelor’s students enrolling in the programme again after the first year of study (re-entrants) and earning a bachelor’s degree within the official length of the programme + one year, if possible for the last three cohorts for which full surveys are available.

Success rate

(master´s programmes)

The proportion of full-time master’s students earning a master’s degree within the official length of the programme + one year.