Viewpoints:

Talent development

General

Talent development can take many forms and can mean something different for each student. What is important is that the student is central to shaping his or her educational programme. This is essential to keep education accessible to everyone and to ensure that the student gets the most out of it. Study time should not be seen in terms of efficiency, in which students are guided through their studies as quickly as possible, but should focus on the development of each individual student. However, characteristics of the profitability philosophy are woven into the education system, for example through the binding study advice and the funding system. Study success can mean something different for each student. Personal attention and guidance are necessary to make study success possible for each student.

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Current affairs

In recent years, the pressure on students to complete their studies faster is increasing, reducing the scope for extra-curricular activities. In 2019, the National Youth Council (NJR) published a study on student boards. This research shows that the accessibility of governing is under pressure. It should not be the case that board years and other extra-curricular activities are only possible for a select group of students. The ISO is committed to the accessibility of boards.  

The intellectual property of students is also an important issue. It is often unclear what the rights of students are in relation to their institution and institutions can make use of their position of power. The ISO, in cooperation with DutchSE, is committed to the proper regulation of intellectual property for student entrepreneurs at Dutch universities and colleges. Students must remain the owners of their own ideas and agreements between institutions and students in this regard must be unambiguous and transparent.

Viewpoint of the ISO

Students must have the opportunity to discover and develop their talents. This is not only good for the students themselves, but talent development also benefits society. It is therefore the task of the entire field to allow students to develop optimally, both within and outside the curriculum. It is necessary for students to be given space and recognition for what they do outside the walls of the educational institution, for example during a management or council year, starting their own business or social work. This recognition can be in the form of financial compensation, a certificate or extra credits. At the same time, students must not feel that their diploma alone is not enough for success on the labour market and that they are expected to undertake extra-curricular activities.

Extra-curricular education programmes and board years must be accessible to all groups of students. The ISO advocates that admission to such programmes should not be based solely on the student’s average grade. In order to give students from all socio-economic groups the opportunity to spend a year at an executive level, the ISO and the LKvV are working together to achieve tuition fee-free governing boards.