Business operations

Business operations serve the core tasks of universities. Research and education are made possible by all the work done behind the screens in this area. Business operations deals with student administration, finances, purchasing, housing, and sustainability, among other things.

 

Government and the market

Doing research sometimes brings universities close to participating in market activities, and sometimes universities become involved in market activities. In a code of conduct regarding the market activities of universities, the Dutch research universities have laid down rules for such activities, including full costing as minimum selling price for research. All Dutch research universities have committed themselves to that code, seeking to regulate such activities to the benefit of all concerned.

 

Agreement with the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)

A considerable part of the research done at the Dutch research universities is funded by the Dutch funding council NWO. In 2008, NWO and VSNU, together with a number of affected parties, agreed on rules concerning the contributions of NWO to the research funding of the Dutch research universities, particularly concerning the height of the contributions. Moreover, the parties agreed to exploring the possibilities for introducing a full costing system for the contributions of NWO.

 

Full costing

The internal calculations of universities are increasingly based on full costing systems. Full costing systems are used in many subsidy schemes, including the European 7th Framework Programme, and full costing is required by the code of conduct regarding the market activities of universities.

 

Studielink

The Dutch research universities and the universities of applied sciences together have set up Studielink, a system allowing universities to efficiently manage student enrolment. With Studielink students can enrol and re-enrol online.