Flexibilisation of education is a wide-ranging topic that is receiving a lot of attention nationally and in an EU context. In the VU Amsterdam Strategy 2020-2025 (the institutional plan), VU Amsterdam has also expressed its ambition to further flexibilise our education. With the VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education, we make clear for which target group we want to use which forms of flexibilisation, and on the basis of which 5 principles we do so. In a way that fits VU Amsterdam's educational vision, ambitions and core values (open, personal and responsible).
VU Amsterdam deliberately chooses structured flexibilisation options rather than unlimited freedom of choice. The choices are fixed in advance and are intended for groups of students. After all, academic education thrives mainly with each other, on campus and online. If customisation per student is needed, we look at what is and is not possible and desirable. We have also looked at which forms of flexibility we can already realise now, within the possibilities of our organisation and legal frameworks. Our focus is therefore on the period of 2023-2030.
In the abridged version of our vision on flexibilisation of education, you can read, in summary and from a target group perspective, how we want to shape flexibilisation and according to which 5 principles. The complete vision, substantiation and realisation of the vision on flexibilisation can be read in the document 'Making room for talent: VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education'.
The title 'making room for talent' refers to an important VU principle, namely that education should always be about academic, personal and social talent development. We want to help all students recognise their talent, pursue their passions and encourage them to make conscious choices. This interpretation of flexibilisation makes the VU talent policy - now mainly focused on excellence and high grades - more challenging, richer and more in line with our core values. Flexibilisation also makes it possible to better combine studying with developing talent and passion outside of the academy.
The vision was written by the 'vision for flexibilisation of education' working group, following an extensive round of discussions within and outside of VU Amsterdam. The vision was adopted by the Executive Board in December 2022 and supported by the Consultation of Education Portfolio Holders (OPO in Dutch: Overleg Portefeuillehouders Onderwijs) and the Education Quality Steering Group (STOK in Dutch: Stuurgroep Onderwijskwaliteit).
In February 2022, VU also adopted the 'vision of educational logistics for flexible education' (FLOW), which shows what educational logistics could look like if VU were to flexibilise extensively. The 'VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education' then makes VU-wide choices and, based on five principles, shows what our flexibilisation ambitions are and what is and is not possible within our organisation and laws and regulations. Both documents and the public version can be downloaded on this page.
Do you see opportunities, have questions or want to talk about this subject? Get in touch with Hayke Everwijn, education policy officer.
VU Amsterdam vision on the flexibilisation of education
Q&A - VU Amsterdam vision on the flexibilisation of education
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The vision is there. How will it move forward?
Flexibilisation keeps education at VU Amsterdam future-proof, but is impactful for our organisation. We therefore want to choose a route that fits the capacity of the faculties and services. In consultation with them, we will develop a roadmap. We will then submit this roadmap to the Executive Board.
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What does the vision on flexibilisation mean for me as a teacher?
The forms of flexibilisation mentioned in the vision require different skills, a different outlook and a changing commitment from teachers.
As an instructor, you will have to deal with a greater diversity of learners. In the Bachelor's phase, a module or set of modules might be taken by students from multiple learning paths. In the Master's phase, you might be teaching initial students and working students who have not all met the entry requirements of a programme or module in the same way. This requires greater differentiation skills, for which you may need training and guidance. You need a greater palette of teaching skills tailored to the greater diversity of learners.
Cross-disciplinary learning paths in undergraduate courses require a cross-programme view and working method. This requires working together in multidisciplinary teams and in different compositions. This may require a change in the way of thinking and working, and consciously building strong, flexible teaching teams.
To facilitate working people, part of the teaching in part-time Master's programmes, for example, can also be given at times outside of office hours.
This does not mean that all these changes will apply directly to you. The way and pace of flexibilisation will depend on the plans of your faculty and programme. In addition, the necessary professionalisation requires education, training and support from VU Amsterdam. -
What does the vision on flexibilisation mean for education logistics?
Flexibilisation of education offers a lot, but also demands a lot from our organisation. In §4.1 of the VU Amsterdam vision on flexibilisation of education 2022, you'll find an overview of the preconditions for realising our flexibilisation ambitions. The preconditions are divided into 9 themes: student guidance, information and information systems, faculty commitment and skills, curriculum design, community building, educational planning, governance and responsibilities, workload and resources, and quality assurance.
Earlier, in February 2022, VU Amsterdam also adopted the 'vision of educational logistics for flexible education' (FLOW). The FLOW vision mainly looks at what educational logistics should look like to enable flexible and degree-focused education. The VU Amsterdam vision on flexible education now makes university-wide choices. The vision answers questions such as: What do we mean by flexibilisation, what kind of flexibilisation suits VU Amsterdam (5 principles), what is our vision and are our flexibilisation ambitions, and what is possible within our organisation and laws and regulations? -
What does the vision of flexibilisation mean for students?
With flexibilisation, we want to help all students recognise their talents, pursue their passions and encourage them to make conscious choices. And enable studying to better coincide with developing talent and passion outside of the academy. The abridged version (public version) of the vision of flexibility describes from the perspective of learners (students and professionals) what this means in concrete terms.
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What is the connection with VU Amsterdam's other educational ambitions?
Flexibilisation is a means of shaping our education to serve a wide diversity of learners and their needs, including professionals. With the way we want to use flexibilisation, we also contribute to developing interdisciplinary education and a strong connection with society. Flexibilisation also contributes to accessible and inclusive education; where necessary, we make it easier to follow education and testing at a distance more often.
At the same time, far-reaching flexibilisation can be at odds with collaborative learning and the importance of long learning lines for academic education. During the vision creation process, we discussed this extensively. This led to five starting points and the choice for structured and limited flexibilisation, at least for the period until 2030.
In this way, the vision of flexibilisation is in line with VU Amsterdam's educational vision, ambitions and core values (open, personal and responsible). -
Who can I contact with my questions or ideas?
Contact your faculty's portfolio holder for education or Hayke Everwijn, Education Policy Officer.