Drop-outs

Updated on 06 May 2011 By Rien Brouwers

One of the five strategic objectives in the Avans University of Applied Sciences Long Term Policy Plan 2007-2010 is to reduce drop-out rates. Drop-out rates have been identified as a major problem throughout the higher education sector, as demonstrated by the white paper entitled Dedicated to Quality published by the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences in 2009.

The Learning and Innovation Center (LIC) is working with the schools to achieve this strategic objective. One example of this is the peer tutoring and peer mentoring project. As part of this project, students receive support from senior students in ‘problem areas’. The pilots have shown that this significantly improves preliminary examination results.

Study career counseling also helps to reduce drop-out rates. Here too, the LIC is working together with schools to improve counseling.

The LIC monitors the research results of projects carried out elsewhere, but also conducts its own research within Avans University of Applied Sciences. Based on an analysis of the student satisfaction survey conducted in 2009, the LIC is working to identify the most important factors that boost study motivation. This information is also available at school level, and can be used to support targeted interventions in the study program curricula.