{"id":119037,"date":"2020-10-29T14:49:04","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T13:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=119037"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:11","slug":"dutch-mps-vote-to-reconsider-binding-study-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/10\/29\/dutch-mps-vote-to-reconsider-binding-study-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Dutch MPs vote to reconsider binding study advice"},"content":{"rendered":"

A slim majority of MPs have voted to bring an end to the binding study advice on the continuation of studies, a measure that essentially forces students to drop out if they make too little progress in their first year. They have backed a motion submitted by opposition party GroenLinks to reopen the debate on this hotly contested measure.<\/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\tChris Gorzeman<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As it stands, many degree programmes place strict demands on their first-year students. Those who fail to obtain enough credits are given a negative binding recommendation on the continuation of studies, which effectively forces them to abandon their study programme. But if GroenLinks gets its way, this may change.<\/p>\n

The party wants the government to talk to higher education institutions and convince them to remove the \u2018binding\u2019 aspect of this recommendation. This would leave the decision on whether or not to continue up to the students themselves.<\/p>\n

A pointless obstacle<\/h2>

GroenLinks argues that many students who are forced to break off their studies simply enrol in the same programme at another university, making the recommendation little more than a pointless obstacle to academic progress. The resulting delay benefits no one at all. The pressure associated with the measure also discourages students from doing voluntary work, or serving on a representative council or participation body.<\/p>\n

Others believe that the binding nature of the recommendation actually protects students. They argue that students who underperform should be given clear advice at an early stage, otherwise they will keep fighting a losing battle.<\/p>\n

The impact of the coronavirus crisis may well be the driving force behind intensifying this discussion on student performance. In the past year, most universities of applied sciences have done away with the binding recommendation, while some universities have wondered whether to follow suit. The agreements made with the Ministry of Education have turned out to be vague<\/a> to say the least.<\/p>\n\n\t

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