University of Groningen/Campus Fryslȃn bachelor's programmes once again among the best in the Netherlands: Global Responsibility & Leadership and Data Science & Society

The Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL) and Data Science & Society (DSS) programmes have once again been awarded a quality mark by the Keuzegids Universiteiten (University Selection Guide).

According to the 2026 Keuzegids, the Global Responsibility & Leadership programme is the best programme in the Netherlands – for the fifth year in a row. Since the establishment of the Campus Fryslȃn faculty in 2018, GRL has received the designation “top-rated programme” every year.
For the DSS programme, which started in 2022, this is the second time it has been awarded the “top-rated programme” label. A programme receives the “top programme” quality mark if it scores more than 75 out of 100 points.

This year's results show that Campus Fryslân's bachelor's programmes in Global Responsibility & Leadership (100 points) and Data Science & Society (76 points) are once again among the best in the country.

What makes the programmes unique?
Dr. Sarah Feron, interim Program Director Global Responsibility & Leadership BSc indicates: 'We are honored to receive this distinction for the 5th consecutive time. It reflects the effort of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the support of our partners. Our strength lies in cultivating critical thinking and analytical skills, and in tackling real-world challenges, like climate change and social injustice, through transdisciplinary work. This approach, rooted locally and oriented globally, prepares students to address the complex issues shaping our world.'

Dr. Oskar Gstrein, Programme Director BSc Data Science and Society complements: ‘Receiving this prestigious label again is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our lecturers, staff, and students. Every day, we collaborate across disciplines and with local partners to redefine what it means to learn and innovate with data. Our programme doesn’t just prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow — it empowers them to shape the future. We are contributing to building a vibrant data ecosystem in the north, where curiosity meets real-world impact.’ 

Students proud to study at the University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân
Maya Motzkau, student assessor and second-year student Global Responsibility & Leadership: 'Being part of Campus Fryslân and the GRL programme is a meaningful and unforgettable experience that will shape you for a lifetime. The small-scaled classes, interesting discussions and interdisciplinary approach allows us students to fully reflect and contribute to our future career. In this programme, I get the opportunity to fully immerse myself and broaden my own horizon while tackling global challenges with local solutions.'

Freark de Lange, a second-year student of BSc Data Science & Society, is also enthusiastic: 'The BSc Data Science & Society brings a human element to a highly technical discipline. This is not only reflected in the contents of the programme, but also in our Campus Fryslân community. We know our professors on a personal level and benefit greatly from close ties to the industry. I am glad to be part of this innovative and supportive community.'

Top programmes across borders
Global Responsibility & Leadership provides students with the knowledge and skills to study social transitions from different perspectives – politics, climate and human behaviour – in a coherent manner and to translate them into concrete solutions.

The Data Science & Society programme is a future-oriented study in which students learn to work with the social and ethical aspects of data. In doing so, they develop technical skills to analyse and apply data. Collaboration with both the public and private sectors gives the programme practical depth.

Half of the students come from abroad. Some of them continue to work in the region after graduation.

About the Keuzegids
The Keuzegids Universities 2026 was published on Thursday 27 November. The guide contains new statistics on study success, new expert and student assessments of all university bachelor's programmes, and information about the feasibility of a programme and the language of instruction. The University Selection Guide is published annually by the Centre for Higher Education Information (CHOI) and is intended for students and counsellors who want to find out more about university bachelor's programmes. The assessments in the guide are based on student evaluations (National Student Survey 2026), data from the national programme database Studiekeuze123 and inspection reports from the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).