Positioning in National Quality Assessments

Elsevier Elsevier's annual 'Studying' edition provides insight into how the country regards its Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes. For 2010, Elsevier published opinions of professors and students regarding the programmes in Twente of Business Administration, Health Sciences and Industrial Engineering and Management. Although respondents appear to be have been more critical than in previous years, the results in 2010 showed improvement in some areas over the previous year.

The Bachelor's programme of Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Twente again scored well above the national average with professors, and is ranked number one in the country. Within the programme of Health Sciences, various components have improved. For example, examination score reporting terms were evaluated as above the national average. Another clearly visible programme improvement is its increased involvement with professionals and organisations working in the field of healthcare. Strategic investments have been made by Health Sciences to enhance programme contacts and activities, and these efforts can be seen to have delivered the desired effects.

In the area of academic verbal skills, student responses regarding the Business Administration and Health Sciences programme were more positive in 2010 than in previous years. This includes communication with, and providing information to, students.

In general, Elsevier's guide shows that improvement has occurred in terms of the quality of study material.

To improve the quality assessment of all its programmes, the School of Management and Governance will endeavour to adopt a similar approach to the one taken by Health Sciences. Progress will be sought particularly in the areas of improving the examination score reporting terms and in terms of linkages with individuals and organisations in professional practice.

In final analysis, the most significant challenge for Management and Governance is to embed academic written, verbal and research skills into its current programmes.

The Business Information Technology and European Studies programmes were not reviewed in the Elsevier's quality assessment survey.

Higher Education Choices Guide 2011

The most recent quality assessment of the Higher Education Choices Guide showed an upward trend for the School of Management and Governance, as did the Elsevier's guide. However, there are also opportunities for further improvement.

Two of the Faculty's programmes, Business Information Technology and Industrial Management and Engineering, had assessments that exceeded the national average. Both programmes came first in the national ranking. The other programmes' positions remained unchanged or fell one or more places in the overall ranking.

General developments in 2010 as compared to 2009
Following the results of the previous year's Guide, all of Management and Governance's programmes were focused on improvement in the following areas:
- the number of contact hours;
- career development;
- quality of teachers;
- facilities.

Based on Higher Education Choices Guide 2011, we note the following:
- The number of contact hours in the programme of Business Information Technology has improved to an average rating.
- Career Development received an improved evaluation in Business Information Technology, moving from an average score (0) to an assessment of 'the best of all institutions' (+++).
At Industrial Management and Engineering, the career development valuation was increased from an average score (0) in 2010 to an above average score (+) in 2011. The positions of other programmes were unchanged in this section. - The evaluation for the quality of teaching received a better evaluation in the Bachelor's of Business Information Technology and in the Bachelor's of Industrial Management and Engineering. For other programmes the assessment either remained the same or became more critical. It thus remains an issue for the School of Management and Governance to improve.
- With the exception of Health Sciences, scores of the facilities for the programmes were equally or even more positively valued compared to 2010. Furthermore, the respondents scored the facilities for Business Information Technology above the national average.
- One striking result for the programme of Health Sciences was the percentage of students who enrolled after the first year. This bachelor's programme, together with the Bachelor's of Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente, scored much better than the national average (++).

The overview below shows that the programmes of Management and Governance generally remained constant or improved over the past three years.

Enhancement Activities in 2010 and 2011

A general issue for improvement is the percentage of first-year 'survivors' who go on to achieve their Bachelor's degree within three years (WO) or 4 years (HBO). In comparison with 2009's results, the only programme to show improvement in this area was Business Administration.

Business Information Technology's excellent rating The Business Information Technology programme at the University of Twente received an excellent rating. The Guide calls the programme a real 'high flyer'. According to the Guide, the very positive assessment comes not only from enthusiastic students; it is also shared by experts. The Guide reported that Bachelors students in particular are appreciative of the professional skills the acquired from the programme, as well as its facilities. With a total score of 82 points, Enschede scored significantly higher than any other comparable programme. Across the country, similar programmes received scores of between just 50 and 74. Clearly the Business Information Technology programme will continue to develop itself along these lines and will continue to seek positive and demonstrable benefits.

Business Administration
Over the past year, the School of Management and Governance has focused on revising the programme of Business Administration in order to achieve a programme that compares well to other offerings in the country. To increase students' practical orientation, all of the business integration projects in the Bachelor's programme have been revamped in alignment with the explicit mandate of using real-life situations. Management and Governance has also begun an international version of Business Administration in the past year. A student advisor has been appointed to both the the Dutch programme and to the international variant of this Bachelor's programme. Communication with and information to students and teachers is therefore more circumfluent. In 2011, a self-assessment will be implemented as preparation for accreditation. This evaluation is expected to show the results of the aforementioned changes in the form of positive assessments by students and academic staff. The aspects for improvement specified here arise partly a result of this self-evaluation.

Business Administration
Experts in the field of Business Administration still rate the programme in Twente highly; above the national average. By adjusting and replacing some subjects in the programme, the number of contact hours for first year of study has been increased. The "learning to learn" track has also been implemented to provide new students a better start to their university experience. In both the Bachelor's and the Master's programmes the focus is on an integrated approach and better connections with the practice of business administration.

European Studies
Prospective students wanted more information about the career prospects of European Studies graduates. To gain more insight into the careers of students, an alumni survey was conducted in 2010. The survey results are presented in the visitation report, during open information days, and to current students in the first year of the programme. These activities increase insight into the career prospects in this field. In 2010, the staff of European Studies was focused on the visitation of the programme, for which European Studies expects to achieve a positive assessment. But, while the assessment may be positive, the programme no longer aspires to achieving separate accreditation for the Bachelor of European Studies. This is completely aligned with the visitation policy and developments within the University that will see the creation of broader Bachelor's programmes. The challenge now is to realise more synergy with the (likely English-language) Public Administration programme. Additionally, working with the University of Muenster, the School of Management and Governance continues to find opportunities for creating 'double degrees' in Bachelor's and Master's programmes. These will replace the current "joint degrees."

Health Sciences
The School of Management and Governance intends to continue its already-initiated improvements over the coming years. Particular attention will be given to:
- The design of the Master's programme and the ability to offer diverse choices for students.
- Career orientation: there are plans to realise a programme for career orientation, in collaboration with alumni. One of the goals is to increase the opportunities for internships. The focus will be placed on short internships for first year students.
- Positioning in healthcare, the quality of education and more contact hours with lecturers.

Industrial Engineering and Management
Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Twente received the highest score in comparison to other IEM courses in the Netherlands. IEM has been working since 2007 on a number of programme enhancements. In 2010 and 2011 the following improvements were continued and will be further developed: - A proactive stream of study information is organised for students. This is achieved through introduction and progression courses focusing on the theme of the course, as well as student activism, re-taking exams, regaining study delays, choosing a minor, creating a sensible study plan, etcetera.
- Additional choice options have been developed for students in the IEM programme.
- The number of contact hours with lecturers in the first quartile increased in 2009-2010. Better levels of cooperation with Student Society "Stress" have been achieved in the areas of handling complaints, organising field trips, presentations and other student activities at the University of Twente.
- And last but not least, the project "Learning to learn" offers new students the chance for an effective start to their learning development. In the area of lecturers and methods of education, this programme has received an above national average score. And since education methods are part of the "Learning to learn" projects, it is has likely also had a positive influence on the excellent result achieved in the Higher Education Choices Guide.

Based on current results as well as our already-initiated and continuing improvements, we are very much looking forward to the next survey.