Expertise development and SUEQ / SKE

A member of an Examination Board (EB) is expected to have the expertise to be able to adequately carry out all tasks and responsibilities associated with this role. This involves among others knowledge of the law, knowledge of the role, tasks and responsibilities of an Examination Board member, knowledge of UT and programme-specific regulations regarding testing and graduation, as well as knowledge of the way in which the quality of an assessment can be safeguarded and of ways to ensure that graduates meet the intended final qualifications. Members should also be able to establish regulations related to some articles in the WHW (Dutch Education Law) and establish guidelines for examiners with regard to assessing exams. So a great deal is expected in terms of knowledge and skills.

Since 2012, after the role of the Examination Boards has been considerably reinforced by law, training courses and meetings have been organized at the UT for the members of EB's. Initially institution-wide, later only as tailor-made courses and on request. These tailor-made courses or workshops can still be requested and are offered by the Centre of Expertise in Learning and Teaching (CELT). 

At the initiative and request of the chairman of the joint Examination Committees of the faculty of EEMCS, a Senior University Examination Qualification trajectory (in Dutch: Senior Kwalificatie Examinering; SKE) was set up in 2016 and was for the first time offered in 2017. 
The SUEQ is modelled on Dutch SKE trajectories which are organized more frequently, particularly at universities of applied sciences (Dutch: hbo instellingen). These trajectories and the certification are based on the requirements established by the "Expertgroep BKE/SKE*" in 2013, by the commission of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging van Hogescholen). For the University of Twente, the trajectory is adapted to the academic university situation and especially the UT setting.

The SUEQ is intended in particular for employees in higher education who, at curriculum level, have the task and responsibility of ensuring or safeguarding the quality of assessment and the assessment processes and who are responsible for securing that graduates have achieved the intended final level of the degree programmes. This could, besides members of an Examination Board, also include programme directors, programme coordinators, quality assurance officers and educational advisors.

In this video Arend Rensink, then chairman of the joint Examination Committees of the faculty of EEMCS and initiator of the SUEQ trajectory explains the reason for the launch of a SUEQ (at that time called SKE) trajectory.  

Part of the SUEQ programme, is a symposium in which the participants publicly share the results of an in-depth study into a theme in the field of ensuring or safeguarding the quality of assessment. To learn more about the results of the symposia in 2017, 2018 and 2019, take a look at the sites mentioned below (NB. Not all posters and presentations are available in English).  

Although the main goals and the assignments that the participants work on have essentially remained the same, the trajectory has undergone some changes in terms of its design over time. For a description of how the trajectory is set up nowadays, see below.
January 2023 the SUEQ trajectory will be offered for the fifth time. In view of the increase in international staff holding relevant positions, the language will be English.

 *Verantwoord toetsen en beslissen in het hoger beroepsonderwijs. Een voorstel voor een programma van eisen voor een basis- en seniorkwalificatie examinering (BKE/SKE). Expertgroep BKE/SKE in opdracht van de Vereniging Hogescholen, oktober 2013.