Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS)
06 Mar 2008
On 29 January 2008, the Dutch Minister for Education, Ronald Plasterk announced that his ministry will use the name Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) to refer in English to institutions offering profession-oriented study programmes.
In recent years, the universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands have grown from teaching institutions to broad-based knowledge institutions. The new name – University of Applied Sciences – is in keeping with current international convention.
The name University of Applied Sciences will be used by all multidisciplinary institutions offering profession-oriented learning. Institutions that concentrate entirely or largely on the arts, teacher training, agriculture or hospitality may adopt a name other than ‘university of applied sciences’. A consultation period will be used to decide on the English names that these institutions will use. A final decision is expected in summer 2008.
As soon as that decision reached us, we will of course inform you accordingly.
(attached a Diagram of the Dutch Education System, adjusted to this new information.)