Amsterdam, Netherlands - OECD

172 Pages·2009·1.52 MB·English

Please cite this paper as:

SEO Economisch Onderzoek (2009), “Amsterdam,
Netherlands: Self-Evaluation Report”, OECD Reviews of
Higher Education in Regional and City Development,
IMHE, http://www.oecd.org/edu/imhe/regionaldevelopment

OECD Reviews of Higher Education in
Regional and City Development

Amsterdam,
Netherlands

SELF-EVALUATION REPORT

SEO Economisch Onderzoek

Directorate for Education
Programme on Institutional Management
in Higher Education (IMHE)
This report was prepared by SEO Economisch Onderzoek in collaboration with a number of higher
education institutions in Amsterdam as an input to the OECD Review of Higher Education in Regional and
City Development. It was prepared in response to guidelines provided by the OECD to all participating
regions. The guidelines encouraged constructive and critical evaluation of the policies, practices and
strategies in HEIs’ regional engagement. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of SEO
Economisch Onderzoek, the OECD or its Member countries
.
Amsterdam, november, 2009

Review of higher education institutions in
Regional and city development
Self-evaluation report of Amsterdam

Bert Tieben
Theo Smid
“De wetenschap dat het goed is”

SEO Economisch Onderzoek doet onafhankelijk toegepast onderzoek in opdracht van overheid en bedrijfsleven. Ons
onderzoek helpt onze opdrachtgevers bij het nemen van beslissingen. SEO Economisch Onderzoek is gelieerd aan de
Universiteit van Amsterdam. Dat geeft ons zicht op de nieuwste wetenschappelijke methoden. We hebben geen winstoogmerk
en investeren continu in het intellectueel kapitaal van de medewerkers via promotietrajecten, het uitbrengen van
wetenschappelijke publicaties, kennisnetwerken en congresbezoek.
SEO-rapport nr. 951

ISBN 978-90-6733-525-6
Copyright © 2009 SEO Amsterdam. Alle rechten voorbehouden. Het is geoorloofd gegevens uit dit rapport te gebruiken in artikelen

en dergelijke, mits daarbij de bron duidelijk en nauwkeurig wordt vermeld.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ............................................................................................... 1 
LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................... 3 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 5 
1.  OVERVIEW OF THE REGION ........................................................................................... 9 
1.1  Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 9 
1.2  The geographical situation .............................................................................................. 9 
1.2.1  Location of the Amsterdam metropolitan area ........................................................ 9 
1.2.2  The Amsterdam metropolitan area in perspective ................................................. 11 
1.2.3  The settlement structure ........................................................................................ 12 
1.2.4  Location of Higher Education Institutes ................................................................ 13 
1.3  The demographic situation ............................................................................................ 14 
1.3.1  Age structure and migration .................................................................................. 14 
1.3.2  Levels of deprivation ............................................................................................. 16 
1.3.3  Health and wellbeing ............................................................................................. 16 
1.3.4  Participation in higher education ........................................................................... 17 
1.4  The economic and social base ....................................................................................... 20 
1.4.1  Overview ............................................................................................................... 20 
1.4.2  Research & development ....................................................................................... 23 
1.4.3  Social and cultural characteristics of the region .................................................... 24 
1.4.4  Labor market indicators ......................................................................................... 26 
1.5  The governance structure .............................................................................................. 27 
1.5.1  Governance in the Netherlands .............................................................................. 27 
1.5.2  Governance in the Amsterdam metropolitan region .............................................. 29 
2  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM ................................. 33 
2.1  Introduction ................................................................................................................... 33 
2.2  Overview of the national system of higher education ................................................... 33 
2.2.1  Universities ............................................................................................................ 35 
2.2.2  Universities of Applied Sciences ........................................................................... 35 
2.2.3  Accreditation ......................................................................................................... 36 
2.2.4  Overall size of the higher education system .......................................................... 37 
2.2.5  Dutch HEIs in an international perspective ........................................................... 41 
2.2.6  Issues and debates .................................................................................................. 42
2.3  Higher education and the labor market .......................................................................... 43 
2.4  Governance and the regulatory framework ................................................................... 45 
2.4.1  Federal governance ................................................................................................ 45 
2.4.2  Advisory bodies ..................................................................................................... 45 
2.4.3  Consultative bodies ............................................................................................... 45 
2.4.4  Intermediary organizations .................................................................................... 46 
2.4.5  Interest groups ....................................................................................................... 46 
2.5  Funding .......................................................................................................................... 46 
2.6  Regional dimension ‘inside’ the national higher education policy ............................... 49 
2.7  Regional higher education system and governance ....................................................... 51 
3  CONTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH TO REGIONAL INNOVATION ............................. 53 
3.1  Introduction ................................................................................................................... 53 
3.2  Framework conditions for promoting research and innovation ..................................... 53 
3.2.1  A theoretical framework ........................................................................................ 53 
3.2.2  National legal framework ...................................................................................... 55 
3.2.3  National funding framework ................................................................................. 56 
3.3  The Amsterdam metropolitan area in a national innovation strategy ............................ 59 
3.4  Regional innovation strategy of the Amsterdam metropolitan area .............................. 59 
3.5  Key clusters of economic activity according to RIS ..................................................... 63 
3.5.1  ICT and the creative industry ................................................................................ 63 
3.5.2  Trade and logistics ................................................................................................. 63 
3.5.3  Life Sciences ......................................................................................................... 64 
3.5.4  Sustainability ......................................................................................................... 64 
3.5.5  The importance of innovative clusters for the local economy ............................... 65 
3.5.6  Innovation output in the Amsterdam region .......................................................... 69 
3.6  Responding to regional needs and demands .................................................................. 70 
3.7  Interfaces facilitating knowledge exploitation and exchange ........................................ 75 
3.7.1  The role of the university TTOs ............................................................................ 75 
3.7.2  Results of the TTOs ............................................................................................... 76 
3.7.3  Other mechanisms to commercialize the knowledge base .................................... 76 
3.8  Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 77 
3.8.1  The need for cooperation ....................................................................................... 77 
3.8.2  SWOT analysis ...................................................................................................... 79
4  CONTRIBUTION OF TEACHING & LEARNING TO LABOR MARKET AND SKILLS
83 
4.1  Introduction ................................................................................................................... 83 
4.2  Supply and demand of (higher) education and the labor market ................................... 83 
4.3  Localising the learning process ..................................................................................... 85 
4.3.1  Interaction between HEIs and regional needs ....................................................... 85 
4.3.2  The integration of students in the region ............................................................... 88 
4.3.3  Postgraduate activity and regional needs ............................................................... 89 
4.3.4  Strategic regional coalitions .................................................................................. 89 
4.4  Student recruitment and regional employment .............................................................. 91 
4.4.1  Student recruitment ............................................................................................... 91 
4.4.2  HEIs as part of the regional education supply chain ............................................. 94 
4.4.3  Regional employment ............................................................................................ 94 
4.5  Promoting lifelong learning, continuing professional development and training ......... 95 
4.5.1  Lifelong learning, continuing education and professional development ............... 95 
4.5.2  Education and minority groups .............................................................................. 97 
4.6  Changing forms of educational provision ..................................................................... 99 
4.7  Enhancing the regional learning system ...................................................................... 101 
4.8  Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 103 
5  CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................................... 107 
5.1  Introduction ................................................................................................................. 107 
5.2  Social development ..................................................................................................... 107 
5.2.1  Welfare state and social development ................................................................. 107 
5.2.2  Health care and social services provision ............................................................ 109 
5.2.3  Production and dissemination of knowledge ....................................................... 109 
5.2.4  Infrastructures and volunteering services ............................................................ 110 
5.3  Cultural development .................................................................................................. 110 
5.4  Environmental sustainability ....................................................................................... 112 
5.4.1  Economic importance .......................................................................................... 112 
5.5  Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 114 
6  CAPACITY BUILDING FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION ........................................ 117 
6.1  Introduction ................................................................................................................. 117 
6.2  Origin and governance of the HEIs in the Amsterdam metropolitan area ................... 117
6.3  Mechanisms to promote regional engagement of HEIs ............................................... 120 
6.3.1  Formal and informal mechanisms ....................................................................... 120 
6.3.2  Financial resources for regional engagement ...................................................... 121 
6.3.3  The role of the regional government ................................................................... 122 
6.4  Promoting regional dialogue and joint marketing initiatives ...................................... 123 
6.5  Evaluating and mapping the impact of the regional higher education system ............ 124 
6.6  Institutional capacity building for regional involvement ............................................. 125 
6.7  Creating a new organizational culture ......................................................................... 125 
7  CONCLUSIONS: MOVING BEYOND THE SELF-EVALUATION ............................. 127 
7.1  Introduction ................................................................................................................. 127 
7.2  The contribution of HEIs to city and regional development ....................................... 127 
7.3  The challenges for regional cooperation ..................................................................... 131 
7.4  Conclusion: the road forward ...................................................................................... 132 
7.4.1  The need for increased investment ...................................................................... 132 
7.4.2  Two scenario’s for future action .......................................................................... 133 
7.4.3  The action plan linked to the regional communities scenario ............................. 134 
7.4.4  The action plan building on the global competition scenario .............................. 135 
7.4.5  Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 136 
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 139 
ANNEX A: MAP OF THE AMSTERDAM METROPOLITAN AREA ................................... 149 
ANNEX B: HEIs IN THE AMSTERDAM METROPOLITAN AREA ..................................... 150 
ANNEX C: KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS .......................................................................... 155 
ANNEX D: ORGANIZATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE HE-SYSTEM ........................ 156 
ANNEX E: REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS OF AMSTERDAM HEIs ..................................... 157 
ANNEX F: BUSINESSES REPRESENTED IN THE ADVISORY BOARD OF IAMSTARTER
161 
ANNEX G: CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES .......................................................... 162 
GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................ 163
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES

Box 2-1: Bologna Declaration ....................................................................................................... 34 
Box 3-1: Innovation in the Amsterdam metropolitan region, key organizations .......................... 60 
Box 3-2: Responding to regional needs and demands ................................................................... 72 
Box 4-1: Amsterdam University College ...................................................................................... 86 
Box 4-2: Amsterdam Graduate School of Science ........................................................................ 90 
Box 4-3: Market failure in lifelong learning ................................................................................. 96 
Box 4-4: Honours Programmes ................................................................................................... 100 
Box 6-1: Sustainability in Amsterdam (Amsterdam Duurzaam) ................................................ 122 
Box 6-2: Obstacles for collaboration between SMEs and UASs ................................................ 123 
Box 6-3: ‘Univercity’ at the Zuidas ............................................................................................. 125 
Box 7-1: Amsterdam Bright City ................................................................................................ 129 
Box 7-2: Four futures for Europe ................................................................................................ 134 

Table 1-1: The Amsterdam metropolitan region in a national perspective ................................... 11 
Table 1-2: Higher Education Institutions in the Amsterdam metropolitan region ........................ 13 
Table 1-3: Ten largest employers in the Amsterdam metropolitan region (1 January 2007) ........ 22 
Table 1-4: Ownership structure companies by number of workers per business .......................... 23 
Table 1-5: Employees by size of business (%) .............................................................................. 23 
Table 1-6: R&D expenditures ....................................................................................................... 24 
Table 1-7: Other indicators of innovative strength ........................................................................ 24 
Table 1-8: Key labor market indicators ......................................................................................... 26 
Table 1-9: Unemployment (% of population aged 15-64) ............................................................ 27 
Table 2-1: Student enrolment at UAS in the Amsterdam metropolitan area ................................. 39 
Table 2-2: Student enrolment at universities in the Amsterdam metropolitan area ...................... 39 
Table 2-3: Public and private funding in higher education ........................................................... 39 
Table 2-4: Leiden Top 100 European Universities 2000-2007 ..................................................... 41 
Table 2-5: Academic Ranking of World Universities (University of Shanghai, 2008) ................ 42 
Table 2-6: World Universities Top 200 (Times Higher Education Supplement, 2008) ................ 42 
Table 2-7: Labor market prospects per educational level .............................................................. 44 
Table 2-8: Funding of HEIs in the Amsterdam metropolitan area by budget stream .................... 48 
Table 3-1: Jobs, added value and branches of the creative industry in the Amsterdam metropolitan
region ............................................................................................................................................. 67 
Table 3-2: Number of business branches and employment in the ICT sector in Amsterdam ....... 67 
Table 3-3: Employment and added value of the trade and logistics sector in Amsterdam ............ 68 
Table 3-4: Employment in the medium and high-tech industry in the province Noord-Holland
(NH) and the Netherlands (NL) ..................................................................................................... 70 
Table 3-5: Patent applications in Noord-Holland to the European Patent Office (EPO) by
technology ..................................................................................................................................... 70 
Table 3-6: SWOT .......................................................................................................................... 79 
Table 4-1: Regional origin and destination of VU graduates ........................................................ 92 
Table 4-2: Share of foreign Dutch nationals in student population of Amsterdam HEIs .............. 98 
Table 4-3: Participation rates of non-Western minorities at Hogeschool INHolland, 2004-2008 98 
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Table 4-4: Completion rates of different ethnic groups at the University of Amsterdam ............. 99 
Table 4-5: Executive, strategic and operational links between research universities and other HEIs
..................................................................................................................................................... 102 
Table 4-6: SWOT ........................................................................................................................ 103 
Table 5-1: SWOT ........................................................................................................................ 114 
Table 6-1: Executive and supervisory boards of the Amsterdam HEIs ....................................... 118 
Table 7-1: Scenario’s and action plans for the Amsterdam metropolitan area ............................ 138 

Figure 1-1: The geographical location of the Amsterdam metropolitan area ................................ 10 
Figure 1-2: Population by age and gender ..................................................................................... 15 
Figure 1-3: Net migration rates ..................................................................................................... 16 
Figure 1-4: UAS students by gender ............................................................................................. 18 
Figure 1-5: University students by gender .................................................................................... 18 
Figure 1-6: Higher education students by social group (2007-2008) ............................................ 19 
Figure 1-7: Dropouts secondary education and MBO ................................................................... 20 
Figure 1-8: Employment in Amsterdam by sector ........................................................................ 21 
Figure 1-9: Employment in Amsterdam by sector (1990-2007) ................................................... 22 
Figure 1-10: Higher education students by place of living ........................................................... 27 
Figure 2-1: Structure of the higher education system in the Netherlands ..................................... 34 
Figure 2-2: Student enrolment at UAS (HBO) and universities (WO) ......................................... 38 
Figure 2-3: Inflow of first years students at UAS (HBO) and universities (WO) ......................... 38 
Figure 2-4: Students at UAS by broad disciplines ........................................................................ 40 
Figure 2-5: Students at universities by broad disciplines .............................................................. 41 
Figure 2-6: Participation in tertiary education, relative shares, by ethnic groups ......................... 43 
Figure 2-7: Public funding of universities and hogescholen (% of GDP) ..................................... 47 
Figure 2-8: Publicly funded educational budget of universities (per student) ............................... 48 
Figure 3-1: Components of an innovation system ......................................................................... 54 
Figure 3-2: Actors in the field of Dutch innovation policy ........................................................... 56 
Figure 3-3: R&D expenditures in Noord-Holland (NH) and the Netherlands (NL) as a % of
(regional) GDP .............................................................................................................................. 60 
Figure 3-4: Employment in Amsterdam by sector ........................................................................ 66 
Figure 3-5: Type of activities at BioMedical companies in the Amsterdam metropolitan region 69 
Figure 3-6: Regional innovation system ........................................................................................ 78 
Figure 4-1: Unemployment per education level in the Amsterdam region (%) ............................ 84 
Figure 4-2: Regional origin of VU graduates ................................................................................ 92 
Figure 4-3: Regional destination of VU graduates ........................................................................ 92 
Figure 4-4: Percentage of employees in the Netherlands participating in lifelong learning, by
company size ................................................................................................................................. 96 
Figure 6-1: Organization chart Vrije Universiteit ....................................................................... 119 
Figure 6-2: Organization chart University of Amsterdam ........................................................... 119 
Figure 6-3: Organization chart Hogeschool INHolland .............................................................. 120 

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