2. Legal framework: documents and accreditation

The goal of this chapter is to show how the TU Delft operates by describing the legal framework within which assessments take place, and the requirements of accreditation and audits. Although we refer to the English translation of Dutch laws, regulations, policies and other documents in English for accessibility, the original Dutch texts are binding. Interfaculty programmes, programmes that are joint degrees with other universities, and programmes that face specific national requirements can encounter conflicting policies. The same holds for service courses and free electives. In these cases, programmes (and courses) make an informed decision on what policy to follow.

2.1 Framework of legal, regulatory and policy documents

Explanation of blocks: See running text. Single arrows between boxes indicate that the items in the lower box comply with the ones in the upper box. Double arrow between boxes indicate an interaction. Arrows within a box indicate that the next item complies with the previous item. Adapted from Buijns & Kok (2015).²⁰

The visual above (Figure 8) demonstrates the relation between the following regulations, policy and the Assessment Framework:

1. the external requirements for the TU Delft (box 1)
2. the university wide policies and regulations (box 2)
3. the TU Delft Assessment framework (bar 3)
4. the faculties’ policies and regulations (box 4)
5. the programmes’ policies, plans, and regulations (box 5)
6. the assessment in the courses (box 6)

The double arrows indicate that an update in the framework may lead to an update of the central regulations, and changes in the regulations will lead to an update in the framework. The visual also shows how the TU Delft monitors the assessment quality and (the execution of) the policies and regulations using:

7. university-wide monitoring (box 7)
8. faculty monitoring (box 8)
9. programme monitoring (box 9)
10. course monitoring (box 10)

In Appendix B, the documents that form the legal framework for the assessment policy of the TU Delft are described in terms of type of document, owner, refresh rate and current version. The owner of the document keeps the document up-to-date and fixes inconsistencies. An overview of the tasks and stakeholders in regulations is listed in the RACI in Appendix D.2 (Legal framework & TU Delft wide assessment agreements).

All documents mentioned in the framework are published on an accessible place on internet (see Table 5), so that teaching staff, students, and other stakeholders can inform themselves of their rights and obligations. Significant changes in the documents are communicated clearly.

Disclaimer

The assessment framework summarizes existing regulations, and creates a framework for new regulations and practices. The regulations (see Figure 8) are legally binding, the assessment framework and other policy documents are not.

2.2 Accreditation and audits

The NVAO must accredit each (new) programme, before it is acknowledged by the government and before its diplomas will be (internationally) valid. An accreditation is valid for six years.

TU Delft also applies for an institutional accreditation during an institutional audit. By obtaining institutional accreditation, the accreditation process for individual programmes can follow the limited version of the accreditation, since the NVAO relies on institutional quality (assurance system). The institutional audit and the accreditation of individual programmes evaluate assessment and its quality control, which is explained below. Information on the internal quality assurance of the TU Delft can be found in the TU Delft plan for Educational Quality¹⁴.