European Governance

This public information is part of VUB’s quality assurance and was ratified by the Academic Council on 30/09/2024.

Strenghts of the programme

• Well-balanced and multidisciplinary programme. The programme is characterized by a flexible and multidisciplinary approach, and the specialisation tracks cover a relevant array of topics while offering at the same time both structure and options. The evening classes and the possibility to complete the curriculum in 1 or 2 years are decisive features of the programme for (potential) students.
• Diversity of the student body and staff. The programme, being English-taught and offering evening classes, appeals to a very diverse student body. The diversity is not only based on nationality, but is also reflected in educational background and professional context (students with a day job for example). Students with a variety of expertise and experience engage in peer to peer learning. The diversity is similarly reflected in the staff, which is international and consists of both academics and professionals, thanks to, among other things, its proximity to many relevant institutions and institutions.
• Alumni network. The experienced alumni are a distinct asset of the programme. The course council has taken steps towards a more systematic involvement of their graduates. In particular initiatives such as the Excellence Programme, in which thesis students gain experience in the workplace through alumni, can be considered highlights.

Opportunities for development

• The board is advised to improve the communication of the programme’s profile. In particular it would be useful for prospective students from outside the EEA to understand that the programme is not mostly geared towards careers within the EU institutions, and communication could include testimonials from students or graduates from outside the EEA. Furthermore, The diversity and inclusion within the programme, which are highly valued, can be more highlighted, for example by communicating more explicitly about the financial support options available.
• Students struggling to meet the English proficiency standard may not be noticed in time. The programme could make sure to incorporate sufficient formative feedback moments to pick up on problem signals early on, in order to have the opportunity to provide language support and remedial actions.

Current developments

• The course council will undertake the necessary actions to professionalise its structure and operations in order to guarantee the current quality of the programme. 
• By more appropriately relating the teaching to the research priorities the programme will address the current mismatch between teaching and research specialisations.
• The programme will further enhance and more structurally organize the intake of students from different master programmes to the more specialized offering of the EuroMaster programme. This can be done through different international partnerships, and also through the students from the English-language Master in Political Science at VUB (“Master in European and International Governance”)
• In order to ensure consistency and excellence, the programme will coordinate skills development for students across all courses.

Where do we get this information from?

As institution we routinely ask our students to give their honest opinion about the study programme during their academic career. We also consult our professors and assistants and gauge the expectations in the future field of work. We receive structured feedback from our former students and compare our programmes with others at home and abroad. Through a Peer Review every six years an expert panel endorses the programme’s assets and can recommend some actions. Lastly, the Education Quality Council takes a formal decision about the quality and functioning of a programme.
 

Quality Cycle

Each programme follows a six-year quality cycle. The timeline below shows the schedule for this particular programme.