The Netherlands needs far more variety in higher education, Sijboldt Noorda, the new president of the VSNU (Association of Universities) says in the Volkskrant on Monday. The strict division between universities and more practical-orientated HBO colleges (hogescholen) should be broadened into five or six sub-categories, Noorda said.

Universities are no more ‘one-size’ fits all, Noorda told the paper. There are university colleges, broad-based English-language bachelor programmes, honours programmes, specialised bachelor degrees and extra courses for highly-talented students, he pointed out.
In addition, Noorda said it was a pity that HBO colleges continued to offer four-year degree courses like universities and had not taken real advantage of the opportunity to offer two-year programmes.