{"id":118000,"date":"2020-09-25T11:27:09","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T09:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=118000"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:05","slug":"what-happened-to-the-loan-system-millions-check-this-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/09\/25\/what-happened-to-the-loan-system-millions-check-this-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"What happened to the loan system millions? Check this overview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The abolition of the basic student grant in 2015 was meant to raise hundreds of millions of euros for the improvement of higher education. Institutions made clear in so-called \u2018quality agreements\u2019<\/a> what they would spend their share of that funding on. Erasmus University received 76 million eur to spend on the improvement of education.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIris van den Broek<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What exactly was in those agreements? NOS op 3<\/em> sifted through them and created a comprehensive online overview<\/a>. The ideas can be viewed by institution and some even by faculty. However, the exact sums being spent are mostly unavailable.<\/p>\n

Masterclasses<\/h2>

The main theme that universities of applied sciences and universities want to work on is \u2018more intensive and small-scale education\u2019. In practice, this often comes down to hiring more lecturers and improving guidance for students. At Erasmus University, focal points were small-scale education, blended<\/em> learning, <\/em>student welfare and more involvement of the outside world in education.<\/p>\n

There are also all kinds of ideas in the area of student welfare, flexible education and diversity. The NOS also listed some notable examples, such as masterclasses in Israeli dance or very expensive didactic courses for lecturers at the American top university Harvard. Erasmus University is mentioned as well among these examples: at Erasmus MC, students learn to prepare surgical procedures with the help of an app.<\/p>\n

In their plans \u2013 which were submitted long before the coronavirus crisis \u2013 many institutions also invest in \u2018online education\u2019. That includes more than streaming lectures; for example, all kinds of useful education apps are expected.<\/p>\n

No progress<\/h2>

The big question is whether these plans will result in intensification of education. One in five educational institutions indicates that extra lecturers are desperately needed to keep up with the growing student numbers. However, that is not what the loan system millions are for.<\/p>\n

Lyle Muns, chair of the Dutch National Union of Students (LSVb), is not very happy with the plans. \u201cStudents have had to relinquish their basic student grant,\u201d he says. \u201cSo, at the very least, you can expect an increase in the student-teacher ratio. But if these \u2018extra\u2019 investments are just enough to compensate for rising student numbers, then there is still no improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister Van Engelshoven takes a different view. \u201cEvery additional teacher improves the student-teacher ratio and is, therefore, an investment in the quality of education,\u201d she says in an interview<\/a> with the NOS. \u201cIf there hadn\u2019t been that investment, the ratio would have worsened. So, it still helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

New basic student grant<\/h2>

We will no doubt hear a lot about the loan system in the run-up to next year\u2019s parliamentary elections. During the general political debates, several parties argued<\/a> for a new basic student grant.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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