HBO college students will face more centrally-organised exams and all lecturers must have at least a masters’ degree under new measures to improve standards announced by higher education minister Halbe Zijlstra on Friday

‘Doubts have been raised about our education system and they must be rooted out,’ Zijlstra said. ‘Tough action is needed.’
The measures follow a damning report by inspectors on standards at several hbo colleges – also known as universities of applied science. At one college group InHolland, dozens of students face having their degrees withdrawn.