3.4 Reflection
Executive Board findings
The Board held bilateral meetings with all School Boards to discuss the progress of the 2022 Quality Agreements. At all these meetings, the student assessors of the School Boards were also present. The Executive Board is satisfied with realized investments.
Discussions were held with the TiSEM Board about the current underutilization of the Quality Resources, and the importance of using these resources was recognized by all parties. There was also discussion about the experience gained with the Associate Deans. This functions as a team, which allows for more manpower to take things on and offers the Vice Dean of Education the possibility to discuss things with a critical sounding board.
In the conversation with TLS, the Executive Board expressed satisfaction that TLS has committed to all themes, and that the 2022 investment is largely going according to plan. Discussions included the perceived added value of the innovation team appointed at TLS and the experience gained with blended learning. The student assessor also indicated that students at TLS perceived the collaboration with the School Board positively. Before each School Council meeting, the papers are previewed and experts from the School join in.
The Executive Board is pleased with TSB's commitment to all six national themes. Whereas in the two previous years, overspending took place, in 2022 TSB has invested less than budgeted. This puts TSB on track for spending over the total duration of the Quality Resources . TSB explained that they have chosen to pool activities in order to make more impact this way. Students are seeing tangible results from the Quality Resources, such as the student mentors as part of PASS and the internship officer.
In the conversation with the TSHD School Board, it was discussed that much has been invested, and many new developments are underway. For example, the new role of the instructional designer is considered to be very positive. Participation, according to the student assessor, is well engaged, and the request for English-language documentation was acted on quickly. Students are noticing what is being done, and they are experiencing the results of the Quality Agreements. The TSHD School Board experiences appropriate involvement from the participation body.
The Executive Board notes a slight underspending at TST. The TST School Board indicates that, due to personnel changes in the School Board, they have consciously chosen not to spend the funds under high time pressure but to take their time. The student assessor hereby indicates that the ideas of the participation body are taken very seriously.
The Executive Board concludes that, in all Schools, the Schools’ participation bodies are intensively involved. If there are deviations from the plans, this is adequately explained by the Schools, and participation bodies are consulted. The student assessors are also closely involved in this. The Board agrees with the choices made regarding content and is satisfied with the progress of the Quality Agreements at the Schools.
Reflection University Council
The elaboration and implementation of the policy and measures regarding the Quality Agreements lie with the Schools. The Executive Board and the University Council oversee that the School Boards do this in close consultation with the School Council (see the attached reflection of the School Councils). In the more general sense, we as University Council have been informed by the Executive Board about the Quality Agreements by means of the budget, the interim management reports, and the annual report. Where necessary, we asked clarifications and received satisfactory answers. During the periodic consultation of the University Council with the decentralized participation bodies, this was a topic on the agendas and was discussed at length. We note that the Quality Agreements and the accompanying measures have contributed to the flexibilization and intensification of education. These developments have largely been accelerated by the pandemic, including the technical component within digitalization. The University Council is committed to the continuation and substantiation of policies and investments in this area. We also note that the Quality Agreements have been included in the policy and continue in the strategy. An important aspect is that the investments are clearly visible to the students. For this reason, the University Council considers it important that the Executive Board stays in contact with the participation bodies to ensure that the revenues from the student loan system are used for the Quality Agreements and benefit the students’ educational climate. The University Council wishes the Schools and the Executive Board good luck with the continued implementation of the Quality Agreements and looks forward to future developments.
Reflection Board of Governors
The Board of Governors greatly appreciates the effort and commitment provided by the university community. The Board particularly appreciates the way in which staff and students, together and with great energy, are working out the intentions of the new Strategy 2027. The Board of Governors has also noticed that much energy has gone into dealing with and implementing the Administrative Agreement of June 2022 as well as the implementation and monitoring of the Quality Agreements and the National Education Programme (NPO).
The Board of Governors has been involved during the start and subsequent process of the Administrative Agreement 2022, the Quality Agreements and the NPO and also has regular consultations on these matters with the Executive Board, whether or not in one of the internal committees, and the participation body. The Board of Governors notes that a sound system of steering and monitoring is in place, both within the Schools and between the Executive Board and the Schools. With regard to the Quality Agreements, the Board of Governors is informed in the interim about material budget shifts and notes that the progress of the Quality Agreements is on track.
