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The Miraculous Rise ofLiberal Arts & Sciences
in the Netherlands
Unica Conference Budapest
Fried KeesenDirecteur of Education
University College Utrecht
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Increasingly complex world
End of an Era?
Complex problems
Complex solutions
Technical problems
Technical
solutions
Major breakthroughs at the interfaces of disciplines
Specialization: solution or problematic artifact?
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Artes Liberales: the free mind
Antiquity – middle ages: Homo Universalis (literate and numerate)
Early modern times: replaced by Humboldt University: specialization
LA&S today: full range of academic disciplines
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Problems in Dutch Higher Education in the late 20th century
Discussions about the quality of Higher Education:•Mass education•Unification > aimed at average•High attrition rates•Budget constraints•Bologna upcoming
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University College Utrecht
Resistance:• Budget• Disbelief in LA&S concept• Competition for students• Competition for teachers
Support:• Personal commitment key
players (notably SCI!)• Invitations• Bologna process• Outside world
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University College Utrecht: Different
Big Five: 5 major differences• Liberal Arts & Sciences• Selective• International• Residential• Performance
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1. Artes Liberales: timelessA concept, not a content:• Train the mind to think• Curiosity• Respect for facts• New perspectives• Explore and discover• Engage and develop• Broad & deep• Make life interesting• Outreach and responsibility
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2. Selection in the Netherlands?Dutch context:• Selective secondary education (4, 5, 6 years)• Open Access to University (diploma based) • Egalitarian Culture
Equal Opportunities <> Equal Talent> Permission for experiment, laws adapted now
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3. International• Intercultural exchange • World citizenship• Preparing students for a globalized
world
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4. Residential
LA&S concept goes beyond what happens in class
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5. Performance
• Absence of selection > 6 is enough mentality
• Best efforts• Continuous feedback• Support• No resits
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Selection at UCU
> 850 applicants 225 spots• The Big Four• Letter of motivation • Transcript• Recommendation• Interview• Individual <> Cohort
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UCU Succes
(Dutch Quality Newspaper)
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0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2005 excl UCU
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1996
UCU as UU “R&D” facility
Utrecht University Elsevier rankingLessons Learnt:
• Student choices
• Active learning
• Interdisciplinarity
• Promoting excellence, honours
• Reducing atrition
• International Classroom
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LA&S Colleges in the Netherlands 2015
All Comprehensive Research Universities except one
One Technical University (LA&S??)
Yearly enrollment now 1250 -1500
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Different Debates
Netherlands:• Uniform system:
LA&S = quality
• Liberal Arts & Sciences for top 5% only
• Quality Brand:– Skills & Knowledge– Broad & Deep– International
United States:• Differentiated system:
Institution = quality • LA as one option• Career perspective?• Return on investment?
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Present Debate in the NetherlandsDemocracy put to challenge• Secularization• Decline of Ideology driven
Politics• Moral Debates • Responsible Citizenship,
Integrity
New Roles of University in Dutch Society:• End of value-free Science & Education?• The LA&S concept as a role model again?
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Thank you!