NVAO

Accreditation Organisation of
the Netherlands and Flanders

 

Parkstraat 28
2514 JK The Hague
P.O. Box 85498
2508 CD The Hague
The Netherlands

T +31 (0) 70 312 2300
F +31 (0) 70 312 2301
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Recognition of institutions in The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, private organisations that are not funded by the government may apply for recognition by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science as “Legal Bodies for Higher Education”, which entitles them to provide accredited programmes.

 

 

The Dutch Higher Education and Research Act distinguishes the following recognised higher education institutions:

  • government-funded research universities and universities of applied sciences regulated by law. These government-funded institutions comprise the well-known research universities and universities of applied sciences. They receive funds from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The programmes they provide are legally recognised, as are the related diplomas and degrees;
  •  legal bodies for higher education. Private education establishments that do not receive government funding may be recognised by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science as “Legal Body for Higher Education”, which entitles them to provide accredited programmes. Once accredited, the programmes provided by legal bodies for higher education are recognised by law. The diplomas awarded by such programmes are equal to the diplomas awarded by government-funded institutions.

 

Three steps

An organisation that wishes to be recognised as a “legal body for higher education” is required to follow the three steps outlined below:

  1. First, the organisation must apply to NVAO for extensive initial accreditation involving a quality assessment of the (first) programme to be offered. Unlike standard initial accreditations, an extensive initial accreditation procedure takes account of a programme’s success rates. It is, therefore, not an ex-ante assessment but the programme is required to demonstrate its (actual) quality. NVAO has laid down its relevant procedures in a protocol for extensive initial accreditation. After assessing a programme, NVAO makes a decision on behalf of the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science. There is a charge for NVAO assessments. 
  2.  The organisation subsequently requests a recommendation from the Dutch Inspectorate of Education. The Inspectorate assesses the quality and continuity of the prospective legal body, including its compliance with the Dutch Higher Education and Research Act, and issues a recommendation based on its findings to the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science. Recognised education establishments are subject to supervision by the Education Inspectorate.
  3. Following a positive decision by NVAO and a recommendation from the Dutch Education Inspectorate, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science takes a decision regarding recognition of the organisation as a “Legal Body for Higher Education” and thus its admittance to the Dutch higher education system, based on the policy regulations governing the authority to award higher education degrees.