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Mapping and comparative assessment of Dutch academic bachelor and master programmes in environment and sustainability

Dutch academic programmes in environment and sustainability collaborate in the Interuniversity Committee on Environmental Sciences (Interuniversitaire Commissie Milieuwetenschappen; ICM).

An important activity of the ICM is the preparation of the accreditation of the academic programmes by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) which takes place every 5-6 years. During the last accreditation round, the organisations involved in the ICM and the independent assessment panel concluded that the landscape of academic programmes in the Netherlands has expanded and diversified considerably over the last 10 years and that there is a need to map this landscape. This mapping can for example be used by prospective students that want to choose a programme that fits their interests and also by the programmes themselves to position their programme in this landscape (e.g. to highlight differences with other programmes).
The ICM made a start with the mapping of the academic programmes, but this task proved to be more difficult and more comprehensive than originally anticipated. The initial mapping activities focused on positioning of the programmes in the triangle people, planet & profit, and against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ICM is now looking for a master student that want to take up the challenge of mapping the Dutch academic programmes in environment and sustainability. This would involve the following activities:

  • Develop a suitable method/system for mapping and comparing the programmes, i.e. based on literature study and discussions with people involved in ICM;
  • Setting up and conducting a survey for BSc and MSc programmes in environment and sustainability;
  • Processing and analysing the data, resulting in (1) a short – comparable – description of all academic programmes, (2) a description of the academic educational landscape for environment and sustainability studies in the Netherlands, and (3) developing recommendations for individual programmes and ICM to strengthen their programmes.

Positioning of the Dutch academic programmes in the international landscape is optional. Assessment of the programmes against developments in the field is also optional.
Project form: Literature review, identifying points of comparison, assessment.

Contact: Dr. Angelique Lansu