News item | 09-05-2023 | 11:00 am
Improving the well-being of students: that is the aim of the amendment of the binding study advice (bsa) by Minister Dijkgraaf (Education). Colleges and universities have a standard for freshmen to move on to the second year. Dijkgraaf wants that standard to be set at a maximum of 30 of the total of 60 credits. Now it is an average of 45 points that must be achieved in that first year. Students also need better guidance from their college or university. For example, the minister wants to ensure a better balance between study progress and well-being for students in higher vocational education and university education and to give them more time to get used to studying. In MBO, which does not work with a specific number of credits, Dijkgraaf will improve the implementation of the BSA.
Depending on the number of credits obtained, many students receive a BSA at the end of the first year in which the university or university of applied sciences states whether or not the student can continue to the second year. Institutions that have a BSA currently apply their own standards for this. On average, first-year students now have to obtain about 45 of the total of 60 credits in order to proceed to the second year.
Minister Dijkgraaf: “I want to reduce the pressure in the system and thus improve the well-being of students. I hear time and time again in conversations with students that they experience a lot of pressure to perform. Research also shows that the mental well-being of students is under pressure. The BSA should support students in finding a balance between their well-being and study progress, but the emphasis is now mainly on study progress. As a result, the bar is often set too high in the first year, resulting in too much pressure on the student. Too much pressure has a paralyzing effect, can lead to poorer learning performance and thus obscures the idea of whether or not a student is suitable for a study programme. In the first year, you as a student make a broader development and a lot comes to the student, such as moving to a room, getting used to study and student life and standing on your own two feet. That is why I want to adjust the BSA to reduce the performance pressure on students. And if students are not in the right place, they must be helped to make the right choice.”
More time and space
Adjusting the BSA – and thus improving student welfare – is one of the agreements in the coalition agreement. Based on discussions with student organizations, colleges and universities, Minister Dijkgraaf has decided to lay down in a bill that the BSA in the first year will be limited to a maximum of 30 credits in order to determine whether or not a student is suitable for continuing the training. This gives students who need it the opportunity to pass the BSA in the second year. This proposal gives them more time to get used to everything related to studying.
If a student has obtained less than 60 credits at the end of the second year of study, a university of applied sciences or university may discontinue the program and refer the student to another, suitable programme. This also applies to students who have demonstrably taken insufficient steps in their studies in the first year, with less than 30 credits. In this way, there is sufficient insight into good study progress. Incidentally, institutions will retain the option of deciding for themselves whether they wish to apply a BSA. They may also have a lower or no standard.
Better guidance
The BSA only works if other matters have also been properly arranged. For example, the minister wants students who do not (threaten to) pass the BSA to be properly supervised by institutions. He wants to make a personal meeting between student and institution compulsory about this. In this way, they can jointly determine what is needed to pass the BSA or whether another degree program is more appropriate. This ensures that students are in the right place faster and prevents dropout and study arrears.
Together with students and institutions, Minister Dijkgraaf also wants to ensure that the BSA is part of a broader policy of guidance, study choice information and referral to the institution. Institutions must also inform students in a timely manner about exceptions to the BSA, such as taking into account personal circumstances such as illness, providing informal care or the death of a loved one. The minister wants to send the bill on the BSA to the House of Representatives next spring, so that the legislative amendment will take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Better application of BSA in MBO
In MBO, the BSA was only introduced fairly recently in order to ensure a smooth transition of young people to MBO. The BSA must ensure that a student can complete a suitable study program with the right supervision. Every MBO student receives a study progress interview and study advice in the first year. There is no minimum number of credits that must be obtained in MBO, but in the event of demonstrably insufficient study progress, a school can decide to terminate the student’s education and guide him to a suitable alternative study programme.
The form, rules and application of the BSA are not yet clear enough in MBO. Dijkgraaf wants schools to put more effort into properly guiding students who have made the wrong study choice or who are making insufficient progress.
Improve mental well-being of students
Adjusting the BSA is one of the government’s measures to improve the mental well-being of students. That is under pressure: half of them experience psychological complaints such as fear and gloom.
Agreements have been made with universities of applied sciences and universities as well as in vocational education about improving student welfare, such as paying more attention to prevention. An approach to student welfare at universities of applied sciences and universities is expected to be ready before the summer, for which 15 million euros is available annually. In addition, research is being done into the broad causes of stress and pressure to perform. A ‘smarter academic year’ should also lead to more peace and space. Finally, the reintroduction of the basic grant and the expansion of the supplementary grant will provide students with more financial peace of mind.