The Netherlands
Recent developments:
- Law on ‘Enhanced Governance Powers’ passed in 2016 with increased student involvement in university governance
- New student funding system introduced in 2015
- ‘Lighter’ programme accreditation introduced after 2015
- Law regulating public sector salaries introduced in 2013
Organisational autonomy: medium high
The appointment of the members of the university executive board must be confirmed by the ministry. Universities decide on selection criteria, terms of office and dismissal. The members of the university supervisory board are all external and are appointed by the ministry. Universities can decide on their internal academic structures and may create legal entities.
Financial autonomy: medium high
Universities operate on a yearly budget and can freely allocate funds internally. They may keep surpluses and borrow money as well as own and sell buildings. Restrictions to financial autonomy apply to tuition fees for national and EU students for Bachelor and Master programmes, which are set externally. Universities may set fees for doctoral programmes and to international students.
Academic autonomy: medium low
In a system of free admission, Dutch universities cooperate with the ministry to regulate student selection. Prior accreditation of programmes at Bachelor and Master levels is required and universities cannot choose the quality assurance provider. Universities are free to terminate programmes, choose the language of instruction and design the content of academic programmes.
Staffing autonomy: medium high
Universities freely organise the recruitment and promotion of senior academic and administrative staff. Salary bands are negotiated with other parties and strict regulations apply for dismissal.
Organisational weighted 69% unweighted 76%
0% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is validated by an external authority
This applies to 11 other countries: Brandenburg, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
100% Selection criteria for the executive head
The selection criteria for the executive head are not stated in the law
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Wallonia, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Dismissal of the executive head
The procedure for the dismissal of the executive head is not stated in the law
This applies to 10 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Ireland, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Term of office of the executive head
The length of the term of office is not stated in the law
This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Wallonia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom
29% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
The appointment is completely controlled by an external authority
This applies to 5 other countries: Hungary, Luxembourg, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland
100% Capacity to decide on academic structures
Universities can decide on their academic structures without constraints
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Capacity to create legal entities
Universities can create legal entities without constraints
This applies to 18 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Spain, United Kingdom
Financial weighted 77% unweighted 78%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
100% Type of public funding
Block grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding
This applies to 15 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money without restrictions
100% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 15 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings without restrictions
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level
Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees
This applies to 8 other countries: Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Serbia, United Kingdom
100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees
100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees
100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Staffing weighted 73% unweighted 72%
100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 17 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 6 other countries: Brandenburg, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway
20% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
This applies to 9 other countries: Croatia, France, Wallonia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Spain
Dismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector
20% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
Dismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector
This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Flanders, Ireland, Slovakia, Switzerland
100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
100% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 13 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Academic weighted 48% unweighted 57%
0% Overall student numbers
Free admission
This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Switzerland
40% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
60% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
40% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded
40% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded
100% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 12 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Flanders, Hesse, Ireland, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
100% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
0% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms
Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms
0% Selection of quality assurance providers
Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency
100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes
Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)
This applies to 25 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom