Avans tops Dutch universities of applied sciences rankings for the fifth time

Avans University of Applied Sciences is again ranked the top large university of applied sciences in the Netherlands by the Keuzegids Hbo 2017 guide published today. Avans has been in the top 3 for 8 years and occupies the top position for the fifth time. The ‘Best studies 2016’ survey, published this week by Dutch weekly Elsevier, confirms Avans' leading position. Elsevier has named Avans the number 1 ‘general university of applied sciences’.

Keuzegids Hbo is one of the leading higher education guides in the Netherlands. Published annually, its aim is to help secondary school pupils choose the right study programme. The Keuzegids Hbo rankings are based on indicators including the results of the Dutch National Student Survey (NSS). This year, over 300,000 students across the Netherlands took part in this survey. More than 13,000 Avans students completed the NSS questionnaire.

Top position for years

Paul Rüpp, President of the Executive Board of Avans University of Applied Sciences, said: “It is a huge compliment to the organisation that students have awarded us the top spot for the fifth time. Having been ranked in the top 3 for 8 years now, I think it is safe to say that apparently we are doing some things right. Firstly, we listen to our students. We do this all year round, not just when there is a nationwide student survey. We are able to do this because we have firmly committed ourselves to being a large university of applied sciences which offers its schools and support services units a large degree of independence. This allows us to use a small-scale approach which benefits both students and staff.

We now have a wonderful Keuzegids result, the top spot in the Elsevier ranking and the highest score of all the universities of applied sciences in the ‘Best Employers’ survey conducted by Effectory and Intermediair magazine. It goes without saying that I am very proud of all the Avans employees who have managed to achieve this. I am most excited about the fact that we continue to be ambitious and succeed in achieving higher scores every year. That is a world-class achievement.”

Above average in nearly all areas

Avans' NSS scores are higher than the national average in nearly all areas, such as study programme structure and curriculum, practice-based research, study counselling and lecturers. Avans nevertheless aims to make further improvements in various areas, such as scheduling and work placement counselling. Although satisfaction with respect to these is up from last year, Avans is committed to make sure satisfaction increases further.

Topopleidingen quality seal

6 Avans study programmes have been awarded the ‘Topopleiding’ (top study programme) quality seal from the Keuzegids guide. This means they are among the best in the Netherlands. These 6 study programmes are: the Bachelor of Industrial Engineering & Management in Den Bosch, the Bachelor of Chemistry in Den Bosch, the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in Den Bosch, the Bachelor of Information Technology in Den Bosch, the Bachelor of Advanced Business Creation in Den Bosch and the Bachelor of Physiotherapy in Breda.

Number 1 rankings

36 of the 54 study programmes Avans offers have been ranked in the top 3 of their respective categories. 14 of these occupy the top position. 7 have been ranked second and 15 have come third.

The following study programmes in Breda have been ranked number 1: the Bachelor of Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology, the Bachelor of Accountancy, the Bachelor of Small Business & Retail Management, the Bachelor of Applied Safety & Security Studies, the Bachelor of Communication and the Bachelor of Communication & Multimedia Design.

The following study programmes in Den Bosch occupy the top position: the Bachelor of Industrial Engineering & Management, the Bachelor of Chemistry, the Bachelor of Information Technology, the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the Bachelor of Public Administration and Public Governance, the Bachelor of Cultural and Social Development and the Bachelor of Applied Safety & Security Studies. The Bachelor of Laws, offered by the University of Law Avans-Fontys, also came first.

Keuzegids Hbo is an independent higher education guide issued by the Dutch centre for information on higher education C.H.O.I.. More information on each study programme and on the method used to compile the ranking can be found on keuzegids.nl (available in Dutch only).