Education Research Current About VU Amsterdam NL
Login as
Prospective student Student Employee
Bachelor Master VU for Professionals
Exchange programme VU Amsterdam Summer School Honours programme VU-NT2 Semester in Amsterdam
PhD at VU Amsterdam Research highlights Prizes and distinctions
Research institutes Our scientists Research Impact Support Portal Creating impact
News Events calendar Woman at the top
Israël and Palestinian regions Culture on campus
Practical matters Mission and core values Entrepreneurship on VU Campus
Organisation Partnerships Alumni University Library Working at VU Amsterdam
Sorry! De informatie die je zoekt, is enkel beschikbaar in het Engels.
This programme is saved in My Study Choice.
Something went wrong with processing the request.
Something went wrong with processing the request.

VU Taxonomy for course learning goals at VU Amsterdam

Last updated on 29 April 2025
The VU taxonomy is used at course level to operationalize the international Dublin descriptors of learning goals for VU Amsterdam. This VU taxonomy offers teachers and programme directors guidelines to implement the VU educational vision by ensuring implementation of the central VU intended learning outcomes of the curriculum and courses.

The VU taxonomy is a translation of the taxonomies used at course level to the international Dublin descriptors which provides a meta framework to describe learning outcomes. If the mix of low and high stakes assignments and tests in the curriculum covers all levels of the full VU taxonomy in the educational programme, all Dublin descriptors are covered and hence the aims as described in the VU educational vision are realised.

It is up to the programme to decide what percentage of the programme in terms of amount of courses, learning materials or time investment is dedicated to the categories in the taxonomy.

As the world changes quickly, the VU taxonomy will remain a living taxonomy. It will evolve most likely in about a 5-year cycle, with adaptation in the VU Educational Vision.

After consulting test experts inside and outside VU Amsterdam in 2020, with the approval of Stuurgroep onderwijs kwaliteit (STOK) and the VU strategy transition team, the VU taxonomy has been developed to be able to explain the choice of assessment methods in a practical and coherent language. On 6 July 2020 the VU taxonomy 2020 was finally defined for the first time by the Assessment Group VU (Toetsgroep VU), who offered itself to be responsible for keeping the taxonomy up to date. If you have any comments or suggestions, please mail toetsgroep@vu.nl.

Below you find the VU taxonomy 2022. This is a further improvement of the VU taxonomy 2020, made by a project group that incorporates the VU taxonomy in the Manual for Quality Assurance of Teaching and Learning.

Taxonomy descriptors

  • Knowledge base

    Knowledge base refers to student having a broad and deep overview of the common knowledge, concepts, principles procedures of a given domain of study.

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within the knowledge base are: multiple choice assessments, assessment with open-ended type questions / short answers, 20-minute oral exam, progress test.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within the knowledge base are: concept map, constructing assessment questions, three minute essay, venn diagram, assignment, take home exam, assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, cloze test.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within the knowledge base can also be assessed integrated into: essay, paper, assignment, take home exam, critical appraisal of topic (presentation), assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, portfolio (interview), dissertation (defence), advisory report, clinical case (presentation/defence), product design, product completion.

  • Programme specific skills in applying knowledge and understanding

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within 'programme specific skills in applying knowledge and understanding' are: case based multiple choice assessments, assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, assessment with open-ended type questions / short answers, practicum, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), 20-minute oral exam, case based progress test, programmatic assessment.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within 'programme specific skills in applying knowledge and understanding' are: multiple choice exam, assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, assessment with open-ended type questions / short answer examination, assignment, take home exam, critical incidents, constructing assessment questions, case study, presentation, speech, interview, debate, 20-minutes oral exam, concept map, three minute essay, venn diagram, contract.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within 'programme specific skills in applying knowledge and understanding' can also be assessed integrated into: multiple choice exam, assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, assessment with open-ended type questions / short answer examination, essay, paper, assignment, take home exam, critical incidents, project, excursion, field trip, working visit, (poster) presentation, speech, interview, debate.

  • Open mind

    The power of diversity leads to an inclusive view, new insights, innovations and scientific excellence, ability to question one's own position and to be open to other perspectives, to approach problems from multiple perspectives

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within ‘open mind’ are: essay, paper, take home exam, assignment, debate, critical appraisal of topic / PICO presentation, 20-minutes oral exam, defense, portfolio (interview).

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within ‘open mind’ are: assessment with open-ended type questions / short answer examination, assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, peer review, questionnaire, (poster) presentation, interview, critical incidents, concept map, venn diagram, three minute essay, gobbet, cloze test.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within the ‘open mind’ can also be assessed integrated into: multiple choice exam (case based questions, multiple answer, rank, hotspot, hotmatch), assessment with open-ended type questions / short answer examination, assessment with open-ended type questions based on short cases, excursion, field trip, working visit, practical, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), (poster) presentation, interview, contract, project, dissertation (defence), case study, advisory report, clinical case (presentation/defence), product design, product completion.

  • Skills - Interpersonal skills

    ... hearing, seeing and knowing each other in a community of learners creating a positive learning culture, solving a problem in cooperation with others

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within ‘interpersonal skills’ are typically suitable for formative assessment with which students can assemble learning treasures to show that they meet the set criteria for selective assessment, like: 360 degrees feedbackform, professional Behavior scoringform, project collaboration scoringform, supervision learnings or log, intervision learnings or log, play roles, work place assessment, skills assessment, critical incidents, self reflection, reflective journals, written STARRT’s (situation, task, action, result, reflection, transfer), portfolio, reflection interview, competency based / criterion based interview, job interview, 20-minute oral exam, programmatic assessment.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within ‘interpersonal skills’ are: consultation, critical appraisal of topic, PICO, peer review assignment, peer feedback assignment, Coöperative or planning assignment, practical, play roles, work place assessment, skills assessment, reflective journal, reflection interview, three minute essay, presentation, elevator pitch, debate, excursion, field trip, working visit, 360 degrees feedback, group work.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within ‘interpersonal skills’ can also be assessed integrated into: assignment, take-home exam, excursion, field trip, working visit, practical, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), (poster) presentation, interview, project, dissertation (defence), case study, advisory report, clinical case (presentation/defence), product design, product completion.

  • Skills - Oral communication

    ... with (a) laypersons, (b) peers and (c) experts

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within ‘oral communication’ are: (poster) presentation, debate, defense, speech, (job) interview, 20-minute oral exam, play roles, work place assessment, skills assessment, critical incidents.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within ‘oral communication’ are: play roles, work place assessment, skills assessment, critical incidents, (poster) presentation, debate, elevator pitch, consultation, practical, play roles, work place assessment, skills assessment, excursion, field trip, working visit, 360 degrees feedback.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within ‘oral communication’ can also be assessed integrated into: (poster) presentation, debate, reflection interview, interview, project, 20-minute oral exam, cooperative or planning assignment, critical appraisal of topic, PICO, excursion, field trip, working visit, practical, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), job interview, portfolio, competency based / criterion based interview, programmatic assessment, dissertation (defense), clinical case (presentation/defense).

  • Skills - Written communication

    ... with (a) laypersons, (b) peers and (c) experts

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within ‘written communication’ are: paper, take home exam, assignment, critical appraisal of topic / PICO paper, case study, review, systematic review, poster presentation, dissertation, advisory report, product completion, product design.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within ‘written communication’ are: three minute essay, gobbet, essay, assignment, take home exam, review, peer review, questionnaire, practical, contract, concept map, word tree.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within ‘written communication’ can also be assessed integrated into: essay, assignment, take home exam, review, peer review, questionnaire, constructing assessment questions, excursion, field trip, working visit, project (report), portfolio.

  • Reflexive attitude and responsibility in society

    ... leading a group, planning a project, community service learning

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within ‘own reflexive attitude and responsibility in society’ are: leadership or planning assignment, social work / task, work place assessment, skills assessment, critical incidents, portfolio, reflection interview, competency based / Criterion based interview, job interview, 20-minute oral exam.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within ‘own reflexive attitude and responsibility in society’ are: self-reflection, reflective journals, written STARRT’s (situation, task, action, result, reflection, transfer), leadership or planning assignment, critical incidents, practical, play roles, reflective journal, reflection interview, three minute essay, presentation, working visit reflection, 360 degrees feedback, group work role analysis, interview, debate, concept map, venn diagram, three minute essay.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within ‘own reflexive attitude and responsibility in society’ can also be assessed integrated into: excursion, field trip, working visit, contract, project, group work, dissertation, defense, portfolio, advisory report, product design, product completion.

  • Responsible for own study career and study success

    ... constructing personal learning goals based on reflections, selfmotivating, studyplanning

    Typically suitable assessment methods ...

    Suitable assessment methods for learning goals within ‘responsible for own study career and study success’ are: contract, portfolio, reflection interview, competency based / criterion based interview, job interview, 20-minute oral exam.

    Can be used as part of ...

    You can also assess learning goals at different moments during one course, using several assessment methods. In this case, assessment methods suitable for learning goals within ‘responsible for own study career and study success’ are: practical, presentation, 20-minutes oral exam, critical incidents, contract, three minute essay, self-reflection, reflective journals, written STARRT’s (situation, task, action, result, reflection, transfer), reflection interview, working visit reflection, 360 degrees feedback analysis, group work role analysis.

    Can also be integrated into ...

    Learning goals within ‘responsible for own study career and study success’can also be assessed integrated into: excursion, field trip, working visit, practical, presentation, contract, project, programmatic assessment, dissertation, portfolio, advisory report, product design, product completion.

Quick links

Homepage Culture on campus VU Sports Centre Dashboard

Study

Academic calendar Study guide Timetable Canvas

Featured

VUfonds VU Magazine Ad Valvas Digital accessibility

About VU

Contact us Working at VU Amsterdam Faculties Divisions
Privacy Disclaimer Veiligheid Webcolofon Cookies Webarchief

Copyright © 2025 - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam