The organisations say that the millions should be invested primarily in education rather than in research or valorisation. ‘Businesses or top researcher should not be able to make off with the money if that means students will be left with nothing’, ISO and LSVb write.
The money should also be equally divided among research universities and universities of applied sciences without education minister Jet Bussemaker being allowed to attach any stipulations to the money, they say. The minister should keep an eye on whether the money is actually spent on improving educational quality, according to the organisations.
‘We’re arguing for new agreements concerning educational quality to be made by students, staff, and managers. These agreements should be respected, and that’s where we feel the Inspectorate of Education comes in’, says Jan Sinnige with the ISO.
Agreements
Just like universities, the student organisations are against any new performance agreements. They say that they have led to too many efficiency measures, such as the binding study advice.
‘Any new plans financed through the basic grant funds should be drawn up at the research university or university of applied sciences itself and should have the approval of the students. That money belongs to all students, and they should reap its benefits’, according to ISO and LSVb.
The organisations want students to have a direct say in how the millions are spent. In order to guarantee that these agreements are observed and students truly have a voice, they feel the Inspectorate of Education has to keep an eye on things. Any educational institute that does not comply will be financially cut off by the inspectorate.
‘We’re convinced that is the best way to ensure that the basic grant money is actually invested in educational quality’, say the organisations.