Holland: 'Second master's year unnecessary'

Employers and graduates have no need for a second year in the master's programmes, which now take one year, the Dutch schools inspectorate concluded last week. In the report Masterjaren tellen, the schools inspectorate concludes that master's graduates of one-year programmes, and their employers, have no complaints about the duration of these programmes. This is the concern of several master's providers. They are of the opinion that one year is too short to guide students to the desired level. For this kind of bottleneck, an extra year is not the best solution, states the inspectorate. Instead of one extra master's year, universities can better raise the level of their bachelor's programmes. In addition, the inspectorate suggests that master's programmes should set their goals clearer. The inspectorate's conclusions fit the view of Tilburg University's rector, Frank van der Duyn Schouten. For years already he, unlike many other rectors, has disputed the necessity for a standard second year. During the academic year's opening ceremony, Van der Duyn Schouten stated that he would rather use the money to give further training to secondary school teachers. The rector makes an exception for students who 'have the courage' to switch to another master's programme, or students who enter the university from higher professional education (hbo) study programmes. [SD/transl.YV] //Univers.Tilburg University