Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Renze Kolster
Author-Name-First: Renze
Author-Name-Last: Kolster
Author-Name: Lisa van Dijk
Author-Name-First: Lisa
Author-Name-Last: van Dijk
Author-Name: Ben Jongbloed
Author-Name-First: Ben
Author-Name-Last: Jongbloed
Title: Excellence in higher education
Abstract: This paper researches excellence in higher education by looking into honours
programmes (HPs) in Dutch higher education. HPs are selective and aimed at the
brightest students, offering them a more challenging – often extra-curricular – study
experience. Based on a survey (n=259) at Dutch universities, our study identifies three
types of honours students: task-committed, above-average ability, and creative. We
asked each group how their ideal HP looks like. Task-committed students are interested
in disciplinary HPs that have a student-centred approach. The above-average ability
students demand a highly selective and small-scale HP that admits only the brightest
students. Moreover, they prefer a HP that is isolated from regular study programmes.
Creative students are interested in a variety of disciplinary subjects, not offered in
regular curricula, often requiring substantial amounts of extra time and effort. The
differences in preferred configurations of HPs have policy implications for universities
interested in introducing excellence education.
Length: 20 pages
Creation-Date: 2016
File-URL: https://ris.utwente.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/14233271
File-Format: Application/pdf
Number: 201601
Keywords: excellence, higher education, honours students, honours programmes
Handle: RePEc:chs:wpachs:201601