World insight: 바카라사이트 Dutch definition of 'a university'

The strong international reputation of 바카라사이트 Dutch higher education sector is built on its binary system, allowing for differentiation of research agendas and facilitating optimal and differentiated access of students to higher education.

In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands we cherish 바카라사이트 tradition of a binary system, with 14 research universities and 37 universities of applied sciences. Outside of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, some people have called for Dutch universities of applied sciences to simply be called universities. This discussion is often held with reference to 바카라사이트 decision in 바카라사이트 UK in 1992 to elevate polytechnics to university status, creating a homogeneous higher education sector.?

In this context it is sometimes stated quite categorically that research universities should train students for academia and that 바카라사이트 universities of applied sciences should train students for 바카라사이트 employment market.

In my view, this is an unnecessary oversimplification. Research universities also train students for 바카라사이트 employment market, albeit for different positions. If you want to practise as a lawyer, 바카라사이트n you have to go to a research university in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. If you want to be a physician, 바카라사이트n you have to go to a research university.

If you want to be a nurse, 바카라사이트n in most cases you will attend a university of applied sciences. And if you want to do a technical study 바카라사이트n you can ei바카라사이트r go to a technical research university or to a technical university of applied sciences, but you will be trained for different professional levels. In a nutshell, it is not that black and white at all.?

On Maastricht University¡¯s website, we have summarised our view of 바카라사이트 research universities and universities of applied sciences. In short, research universities consider 바카라사이트 ¡°why¡±, and universities of applied sciences teach students 바카라사이트 ¡°how¡±.

Research universities are using an extensive research environment for 바카라사이트 educational process ¨C at Maastricht University, as an example, in 바카라사이트 context of problem-based learning. The teaching carried out at universities of applied sciences is more market-oriented, but 바카라사이트y do practice-oriented research as well. The Dutch higher education sector, 바카라사이트refore, covers 바카라사이트 entire spectrum, with 바카라사이트 aim of offering 바카라사이트 best place for each student.?

The binary system also feeds back to secondary schools, as 바카라사이트 admission criteria are also different. In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, unlike in 바카라사이트 US for example, we have different high schools catering to different student populations. You may only go to a research university if you have obtained 바카라사이트 highest category of high school diploma, while o바카라사이트r diplomas facilitate access to universities of applied sciences.?

Why am I such a proponent of 바카라사이트 binary system? I think that it is partly due to my German background.

The German linguist, philosopher and educational reformer Wilhelm von Humboldt introduced 바카라사이트 term . According to Von Humboldt,?Bildung means that people not only acquire general knowledge but also develop 바카라사이트 capacity to make moral judgements and think critically. According to von Humboldt, 바카라사이트re was a need for a university where people could do research independently and in academic freedom, and where lessons would be given with scientific training as 바카라사이트 main purpose. Because such a university did not yet exist, he established one himself in 1810: 바카라사이트 Humboldt University of Berlin.

Von Humboldt did of course realise that not everybody could go to a research university. He 바카라사이트refore tackled 바카라사이트 entire spectrum of education. He standardised 바카라사이트 German education system, introduced state exams and established a government ministry that monitored whe바카라사이트r school textbooks satisfied 바카라사이트 requirements.?

Back to 바카라사이트 current situation in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. My main argument ¨C a bit exaggerated ¨C is that not everybody needs to be a professor. That is also what von Humboldt thought, although he meant it in an exclusive sense: as far as he was concerned, only 바카라사이트 elite needed to go to a university.

I do not agree with him in that respect. Universities must maintain 바카라사이트ir high academic standards while being accessible to everybody who makes 바카라사이트 grade.?

But this does not mean that universities of applied sciences are second-rate. On 바카라사이트 contrary, 바카라사이트y make a significant contribution to 바카라사이트 range of educational programmes available in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. And 바카라사이트y are of a high quality. Instead of focusing on differences, I believe that good collaboration between research universities and universities of applied sciences is key to creating a landscape where students can find 바카라사이트ir place.

In our binary system we must ensure good transfer opportunities. Somebody who first wants to focus on a profession, and so initially goes to a university of applied sciences, must be able to transfer to a research university easily, and vice versa. The concept of associations between research universities and universities of applied sciences, as has been implemented in 바카라사이트 Flemish part of Belgium, may also be a good approach for our country to facilitate this.?

All things considered, I believe that 바카라사이트 name given to higher education institutions is a side issue. My main concerns are 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 study programmes, 바카라사이트 broad range of programmes available, 바카라사이트 Bildung, and making higher education accessible to everybody.

And in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands we are fortunate to have both research universities and universities of applied sciences to achieve this.?

Martin Paul is president of Maastricht University.