Voucher experiment for part-time studies

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Voucherexperiment in deeltijdonderwijs
Name of the instrument - English translation
Voucher experiment for part-time studies
Scheme ID
164
Country
Netherlands
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument
Cost-related support
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

Individuals receive financial support from the State to cover part of their study costs. Only selected part-time programmes in higher education and training are eligible, corresponding to fields currently in short supply (including health and welfare, and technical fields of study). Students who enroll in the eligible programme get a voucher of EUR 1 250 per 30 ECTS. Given that only programmes with fees below EUR 3 750 per 30 ECTS are eligible, the minimum co-funding share is 33% (and more, when fees are lower than the set maximum). The remaining share of the fees is expected to be covered by the individuals and/or their employers (if any). Funding comes from the State, approximately a total of EUR 32 000 000 for the time period 2016-2024, and approximately 3 900 students in Higher Education participate in the financing experiment. There is no possibility of re-use.

Level of operation
National
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Not applicable
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Further instrument
Articles 1.7a, first and second paragraphs of the Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek (Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research)
Objective(s) and target(s)
To stimulate lifelong learning and upskilling in health and welfare and technical fields.
Year of implementation
2015
Year of latest amendment
2019
Year of termination
2024
Operation/management
The operation is managed by the Dutch Ministry of Education
Eligible group(s)
Any student who meets the requirements of the Subsidy Scheme for the grants in Higher Education may claim a reduction in tuition fees of up to EUR 1 250 from a university of applied sciences that qualifies for a voucher when taking a module. A student who wants to follow two modules in the same academic year will have to deregister for the first module before he can register for the second module. A student as described in article 1 will lose the entitlement to statutory tuition fees as outlined in article 7.45a of the Act and the entitlement to exemption from or reduction in tuition fees as outlined in article 7.48 of the Act. The executive board of a participating institution may charge a student as described in articles 1 and 2 for enrolling in a module up to a maximum of EUR 3 750 in tuition fees.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Part-time programmes offered by higher education institutions (associate degrees of 120 ECTS or a bachelor programme of 240 ECTS) with associated costs of not more than 3750 EUR per 30ECTS, in one of the fields of study which are part of the experiment and correspond to fields currently in short supply (including health and welfare, and technical fields of study).
Source of financing and collection mechanism
State
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
Students who enroll in the eligible programme gets a voucher of 1 250 per 30 ECTS. Given that only programmes with fees below 3 750 per 30 ECTS are eligible, the minimum co-funding share is 33% (and more, when fees are lower than the set maximum).
Eligible costs
Fees
Volumes of funding
2016-2024: EUR 32 000 000, aproximately EUR 3 500 000 per year
Beneficiaries/take up
Approximately 3 900 student in Higher Education participating in the Demand Financing experiment. Only training courses in the technical/ICT and care and welfare sectors. There are personnel shortages in these sectors.
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
http://www.hogeronderwijs.nu/2014/10/voucherexperiment-in-deeltijdonder…
Monitoring/evaluation reports available
Minsterie van SZW, Voortgangsrapportage Leven Lang Ontwikkelen, November 2020
Most relevant webpage - in English
Not available
Most relevant webpage - local language
Not available
Recent changes

As a result of the interim evaluation, it was decided in the spring of 2019 not to extend the inflow into the demand funding experiment. Students who entered before September 2019 can continue their education with vouchers until 2024. In the report of the final evaluation of the experiment learning outcomes (end of 2020), ResearchNed will provide an update on the state of affairs in the experiment demand funding. At the end of 2021, the final evaluation of the Experiment Demand Financing will take place. Apart from the financial unfeasibility, the Minister of Education sees insufficient substantive reasons to extend and/or expand the experiment. Even after extension or expansion, the experiment will not provide any insight into whether it is desirable to convert the current regular funding into demand-based funding with vouchers that can be spent at both funded and non funded institutions.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
Information portal on higher education issues: http://www.hogeronderwijs.nu/2014/10/voucherexperiment-in-deeltijdonder…
https://www.tweedekamer.nl/debat_en_vergadering/commissievergaderingen/…
https://www.scienceguide.nl/2019/04/ondanks-het-succes-in-het-private-h…
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