UG receives NVAO assessment for quality assurance

The University of Groningen (UG) has received a positive assessment from the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) for its Institutional Quality Assurance Audit (ITK). With this assessment, the NVAO confirms that the UG has a robust quality-assurance system and a strong quality culture. The official certificate was presented by the chair of the NVAO on 25 November. 

Confidence in quality

The NVAO concludes that the UG fully meets the requirements for all four standards: vision and policy, implementation, evaluation, and development. The final assessment is positive. The University safeguards the quality of its education and encourages a culture in which staff and students work together towards continuous improvement.

The NVAO’s decision confirms that the UG has firmly embedded its educational vision in its policy and practice, with a focus on good education, good research, and societal impact.

Strengths

The report praises the UG for its student-centred approach. The University pays particular attention to both academic success — focusing on academic and professional development — and student success, which centres on personal and social development.

The NVAO further mentions the strong involvement of students in policy and decision-making, as well as the important role played by more than 250 study and student associations that help to build a lively and connected community.

The administrative and policy structures are also assessed positively. The University has well-functioning networks and consultation mechanisms that promote cooperation between faculties and service units. This enables the UG to respond quickly and carefully to current developments, as when drawing up policy on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).

The UG also receives recognition for its professional development for lecturers. The wide range of training courses and development activities is further consolidated in the central Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), which strengthens the exchange of knowledge and experience within the University.

Recommendations for further development

The NVAO makes several recommendations for the coming years. For example, it recommends increasing the visibility of informal networks in documentation and policy, in addition to strengthening support for decentralized consultative participation bodies. The panel also recommends harmonizing methods of evaluation and measurement, as well as ensuring that staff members have sufficient time for professional development, thus enabling them to make optimal use of the facilities of the CTL.

Looking ahead

With this positive assessment, the UG will retain its ITK certification for six years. The University will continue to work towards high-quality, future-oriented education, supported by a community of committed students, staff, and partners in the region and beyond.