Advisory report: Shaking-up the system - Towards a future-proof higher education and research system

Global competition in higher education and research is growing. New developments impose ever-changing demands on workers and offer opportunities for a major shake-up of education and research. Student numbers have increased sharply and the system is becoming overloaded. Is the Dutch higher education and research system adequately prepared for the future? What do all these developments require of Dutch universities (universiteiten) and universities of applied sciences (hogescholen)?

In its report, ‘Shaking-up the system’ (Het stelsel op scherp gezet), the Council concludes that the Dutch higher education and research system in its present form is not future-proof. Universities and universities of applied sciences need to adopt profiles that are more distinctive, and collaborate better, while the Education Minister takes more control to ensure that the system as a whole functions better.