Amsterdam, Netherlands - SEO Economisch Onderzoek

One way in which a mutual relationship between a higher education institute (HEI) and theregional stakeholders exists is in the form of regionally-oriented courses, educationalprogrammes, internships and theses. Another way is by providing work-based learning (‘dual’education in the Netherlands). By international standards the Dutch HBO sector offers little parttimeor dual education (OECD, 2008a: 64). In general it can be said that research universitieshave a strong theoretical and research-led orientation. This implies that the curriculum is largelysupply-induced. This is not to say that there is no interaction between regional stakeholders andthe universities. The OECD has even concluded that “even research universities with a stronglytheoretical and research-led orientation offer study programmes which are in fact stronglyoriented towards working life – including programmes in traditionally vocational study fields,such as architecture, law, and medicine.” (OECD, 2008a: 61). In a similar vein, a supply-inducedset of courses does not exclude a regional dimension in at least part of these courses. TheUniversity of Amsterdam (UvA) for instance mentions the following educational programmeswith a regional character: heritage studies, curator, town and country planning, accountancy,forensic sciences, evidence based practice and obstetrics. Other initiatives with a strong regionallink in which the UvA participates are the Duisenberg School of Finance (DSF) and theAmsterdam University College (AUC). The DSF has been created in 2008 by seven of the largestDutch financial sector institutions, with an ambition to create a world class academic institutionin finance in Amsterdam. The regional link of DSF is obvious given the strong position of thefinancial services sector in the Amsterdam metropolitan region. For example, 5.7% ofemployment in the Amsterdam metropolitan region is generated by financial institutions. TheAUC is a new joint initiative by the UvA and VU. It is a small, selective Honours college aiminghigh at academic excellence and with a strong outreach to the local communities and businesslife.Box 4-1: Amsterdam University CollegeThe Amsterdam University College (AUC) is a small, selective Honours college. AUC is a jointinitiative by the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam. In order to realizeAUC UvA and VU have combined their resources. The universities have received a Siriussubsidy of EUR 7.5 million from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to set up AUC.The municipality contributes another EUR 5 million from the Amsterdam Topstad programme.By creating the AUC, both universities intend to put Amsterdam on the map as a ‘knowledgecity’ and to bring more (international) top talent to Amsterdam. The regional significance of AUCis that two regional universities, which have quite a different profile and a history of competition,have acknowledged their mutual interest and decided to work together in this initiative.AUC offers a fully English taught three-year liberal arts and sciences programme at Bachelorlevel. AUC aims high at academic excellence with an international and intercultural focus, as wellas outreach to the (local) community and business life. Education at AUC is given from theconviction that talented students of today have to learn, think and work across the borders oflanguage, culture and disciplines. They will have to compete and cooperate on a global scale.AUC intends to be a place where excellence and diversity come together. Compared tomainstream Dutch universities, the AUC provides more demanding, intensive studies with astronger regional dimension. Education at AUC is characterized by its small scale and highdemanding programmes. Per year only 200 to 300 students will be allowed to enter AUC andthey are selected based on academic qualities and motivation. Moreover, half of the studentscome from abroad and the cultural diversity of the students is strongly looked over.The VU mentions its Zuidas master programme entrepreneurial law as the most profoundexample of regionally-oriented education. The Zuidas master programme has been set up incooperation with the banking industry and law firms located on the Zuidas business district inAmsterdam. It is directed at fulfilling the regional need for professional and legal knowledge.Moreover, the economics and language departments also offer several educational programmeswith a regional relevance. The economics department provides master degrees in logistics and86