Higher education in management: The case of the Netherlands

Abstract

Higher management education in the Netherlands is dominated by two types of suppliers: universities of professional education and research universities. The differences between these two types remain substantial. In contrast, within each type of supplier, differentiation is generally limited. In most cases, schools offer good education at modest tuition fees. They are able to do so by a government that plays a beneficial role by providing relatively generous funding, while allowing a considerable degree of freedom. However, government funding per student has decreased, the administrative burden, related to both education and research, has increased, and student grants have been largely replaced with student loans. Also, universities of professional education in particular are confronted by increasing competition from private schools.