Viewpoints
ISO represents students on many issues. Here, it is important to have well-considered positions, which we can proclaim in our discussions with the ministry, politicians and the media. We always develop these positions together with our constituency, which consists of students from all over the country who are active in the participation council of their educational institution (for more information, see our member organisations). In this process, the students represent their own institution. We have regular and extensive contact with these member organisations throughout the year so that we can keep them up to date and informed about what’s important to their cause. In our meeting cycles, we aim to have open discussions on relevant social issues. The results of these discussions are laid out in position papers that determine our broadly supported views.
#1Supporting student success
Student finance
- Students cannot be the runt of the litter in educational financial policy
- An expansive and substantial supplementary grant
- Return of the basic grant system without damage to educational quality
Student well-being
- Well-being as a focus point for policy in higher education
- Access to available, fitting and high quality psychological aid to all students
- A sustainable study climate where student success goes before study success
- The (legal) establishment of a duty of care for institutions within higher education
Binding study advice
- A non-binding study advice without expulsion from study programmes
- More attention to qualitative norms: advice based on personal goals
- Flexibility and personal guidance for underperforming students
Social safety
- No transgressive behaviour or socially unsafe situations in higher educations
- Sound monitoring and investigation into social safety, in order to predict trends and dangers
- Sound educational and awareness campaigns for preventing socially unsafe situations and improving social cohesion
- Reporting and complaint procedures that must be safe
- External monitoring of the functioning of institutions with respect to social safety and procedures related to it
Labour market &
Internships
- Improved compatibility of programmes with society and the labour market, in order to prepare students for a career
- A minimal compensation for internships
- Educational institutions and employers must work to prevent discrimination in internships
- Educational institutions should invest in internship supervision and information about the rights and obligations of interns
Student mobility
grant
- The student mobility grant is an important way to keep education accessible and affordable to all
- It is important to give students access to more mobility for internships or education in other cities
- ISO proclaims student interests in talks with transport companies
Talent development
- A sustainable study climate where student success goes before study success
- Space for talent development is goed for students and for society
- Attention to accessibility and inclusivity at extracurricular activities and board years
Transfer
opportunities
- There need to be sound and fair opportunities available for students to transfer between study programmes and levels of study
- This needs to be accessible to all without unnecessary obstacles or tresholds
#2Quality and inclusive education
Digitisation
- Digitisation promises sound opportunities for varied and accessible education
- However, new educational methods must not exclude students with (for example) financial disadvantages
- Students’ privacy must be guaranteed
Sustainability
- Educational institutions play a crucial role in the involvement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals with education
- Institutions must structurally invest in sustainability across the board: in education, research and operations
Teacher quality
- More investment in good educational staff that can teach well, as this is essential for learning
- ISO puts excellent teaching proficiency in the spotlight at its yearly Teacher of the Year Award
- New developments with students in front of the classroom are promising, but must not diminish educational quality
Flexibilisation
- Among students there is a desire for flexible education
- Pilots like flex-studying and payment-per-EC offer useful opportunities and need to be implemented integrally across the educational system
- Attention must be paid in these developments that the pressure for students to perform does not increase
Selection
- Students should have the opportunity to pursue the education they desire.
- Selection and additional admission requirements should be minimized as much as possible.
- There should be a national vision or guidelines on selectio
Internationalisation
- Internationalisation is welcome, but it has to be beneficial to the general quality of education
- Internationalisation of educational programmes needs to happen in collaboration with students and student participation
- International students need enough opportunities to full participate in student life
#3A useful and fair national system
Participation
- Participation members in councils need to be involved early and structurally in the decision making process
- Participation needs to be seen as a consulting partner to talk to in an effective and substantive way about policies
Quality agreements
- When the basic grant system was abolished, agreements have been made to invest the newly available funds in the quality of higher education
- This needs to happen in full accordance with the wishes of student participation
- ISO supports these student participation councils on a central, national level
Student rights
& legal aid
- Students need access to readily available legal aid
- ISO supports this integrally through its own subsidiary, the Student Legal Clinic (LSR) and advocates for more structural support for this organisation
Accreditation
- Accreditation is the process of controls with which the quality of educational programmes is guaranteed
- The perspective students is important in this process and needs to be actively included
- ISO is confident in the transition to institution accreditation, but keeps an eye on whether it reaches the intended goals
Funding of
higher education
- We need to look critically at the future of this funding, taking into account the rising amount of students
- Expansive investment in higher education is necessary in our society
