Options Guide for Higher Professional Education 2026: AUAS continues to work on improvement measures initiated
Today, the Options Guide for Higher Professional Education (Keuzegids Hoger Onderwijs) 2026 was published. The guide bases itself largely on some results from the National Student Survey (NSE) and to a smaller extent on study success rates. The perspective in the Options Guide is in line with the results of the NSE 2025 in which student satisfaction fell, affecting AUAS’ position. Our university of applied sciences is in last place this year.
The AUAS finished just below several other universities of applied sciences from the Randstad region in the Options Guide for Higher Professional Education(opens in new window). The best-rated large university of applied sciences is Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. This year, 19 AUAS degree programmes received higher scores than last year. Unfortunately, twice as many degree programmes earned lower scores. As a result, some degree programmes are no longer rated as the best in the Netherlands, despite still performing strongly in their field of study.
Jopie Nooren, chair of the Executive Board: ‘That we are at the bottom of the Options Guide is disappointing, but it is not unexpected. We already got this impression from the NSE and it reaffirms the importance of the improvement programme we started before the summer. That work is in full swing as our ambition is clear. We want our students to enjoy studying, maximise their talents and graduate proudly. We will use the extra 6 million euros we have been given for 2026 to improve student satisfaction on educational quality.’
Student satisfaction improvement programme
Following the results of the NSE 2025, the AUAS launched an approach to improve student satisfaction. Part of this improvement programme are the following three AUAS-wide measures:
• Improve information provision: better communication on programmes, cohesion and follow-up of evaluations.
• Greater clarity on assessment criteria and improve feedback.
• Improve preparation for professional practice for full-time students.
In addition, each programme formulated one or more of its own improvement actions together with students. This way, the solutions fit the specific practices and needs of each programme. In addition, an in-depth study on a structural and sound approach to permanently improve student satisfaction is being conducted.
At the same time, student satisfaction is about more than programme quality. For example, it also deals with practical matters, such as timetables that fit students' personal needs, with opportunities to gain international or managerial experience, and with whether students feel at home with their lecturers, fellow students and in their learning environment. Many factors combine to determine whether students are satisfied.
Study success in the Options Guide
Besides student satisfaction, measured by the NSE, study success also matters in the Options Guide. Study success measures how many students progress to the second year of study and how many students graduate within five years. In the Options Guide for Higher Professional Education 2026, we see a slight increase in study success compared with 2025. This gives us confidence that we are taking the right steps in improving student guidance. For example, with the new promise of student guidance that we are making to all AUAS students from this academic year onwards.
Together, we will continue to build a university of applied sciences where our students can achieve their best, because we believe in the importance of good education and applied research.