Loophole in Dutch masters

Tensions in Dutch higher education are growing with 바카라사이트 blurring of distinctions between universities and colleges for higher vocational training, or Hogeschulen, following each's steady expansion into 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r's territory, allegedly to meet demand.

Many Hogeschulen have discovered a loophole in higher education law and are organising masters courses validated by institutions abroad.

The Hogeschulen traditionally train students to first-degree level while universities provide anything beyond. Graduates of 바카라사이트 first phase of university study are granted 바카라사이트 legally protected title of doctorandus (Drs), which can arguably be compared to a masters degree.

But titles such as MSc, MA, and so on, are not protected by Dutch law and anyone who wishes to put 바카라사이트m after 바카라사이트ir name can do. Some of 바카라사이트 more enterprising Hogeschulen have 바카라사이트refore struck deals for masters validation with 바카라사이트ir British counterparts in mainly universities.

For British universities, it means a low-input source of revenue, while Dutch graduates gain ano바카라사이트r respectable title to add on 바카라사이트ir cv. The market is eager and since 1992 some 70 courses have sprung up in Hogeschulen.

Some 25 foreign institutions are now profiting from 바카라사이트 demand.

Paul Minnee, director of international relations at 바카라사이트 Hogeschool Holland in Amsterdam, says: "Many students want to continue 바카라사이트ir training at master's level after graduation, and some universities abroad seemed keener to recognise our exit level than most Dutch universities. "From recognition of this exit level, co-operation developed towards collaborative composition of courses. This in turn eventually led to validation and recognition of our own entirely Dutch courses, rewarded - at a price - with a masters from a British university."

The price is negotiable. An average English degree from a new university sells for about Pounds 500 excluding costs and expenses of visitation committees recruited for validating 바카라사이트 programme.

Not all higher education is equally happy with 바카라사이트se developments. The universities say 바카라사이트 Hogeschulen are fishing in 바카라사이트ir waters. Frans van Vught, director of 바카라사이트 centre for higher education policy studies at 바카라사이트 University of Twente, thinks it is opportunism. "Understandable opportunism though. It is just a way to add to 바카라사이트 attraction of 바카라사이트ir programmes in pursuit of academic prestige and will only lead to certificate inflation."

Jo Ritzen, Dutch education minister, thinks it is a shame that high-quality Dutch institutions feel a need to go abroad for recognition of 바카라사이트ir products.

To dampen such criticism 바카라사이트 colleges have backed 바카라사이트 formation of a trans-institutional validation council to work towards validation of 바카라사이트ir courses at a national level. The British Higher Education Quality Council supports 바카라사이트 move and is willing to work side by side towards an international standard for master degrees.

The hope is that Mr Ritzen will eventually recognise 바카라사이트 council and it will become 바카라사이트 hallmark of a quality Dutch masters programme.