Students are increasingly complaining, a survey conducted by the Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau (HOP) says. In 2015, universities registered a total of 2,032 complaints, nearly 400 more than two years previous. But many students have no idea where to turn to with their complaints, the ISO says.
‘It’s been quite a search to find the complaints desk, the student charter, and other documents at each institution. The pressure on students is increasing. That’s why it’s more important than ever that they know where to turn to when they are having problems’, says ISO board member Jeroen Wienen.
Where to turn
According to the LSR, most complaints concern the wrongful binding study advice in the second year and the extra costs they have to pay on top of their tuition fees. As such, the organisations have come together and set up the website studierechten.com where students from each research university and university of applied sciences can find out where to turn to with their complaints.
Minister of Education Bussemaker approves of the site. ‘Students are outspoken and independent enough to stand up for their rights. But they do need to know what their rights are. Even if they don’t study law’, she says.