Educating competent professionals for the horticultural job market: analysis of the new model for higher education in The Netherlands

Describing end terms by means of competences, in stead of knowledge levels, has played a crucial role in modernizing the current higher education system in The Netherlands. Other related changes are the role of the teacher/tutor, the international focus and the close connection to the job market. A survey has been carried out to analyse how these changes are evaluated by the stakeholders. Teachers in general are positive about the change, though they do not believe that the new system generates better results. Employers are neutral with respect to the change to the competence model, they doubt the relevance of half of the formalized competences, but they are positive about the other (related) changes: close connection of education to the job market and the international focus. The students see the relevance of the majority of formalized competences and also think they will be better equipped for working in teams than their predecessors.