Accreditation is a designation indicating that an educational programme meets the requirements set by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Achieving accreditation is a precondition for the recognition of diplomas, for the funding of programmes and for grant applications.
An external committee evaluates and assesses the programmes and reports to the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), the body that also issues accreditations. An overview of accredited programmes can be found on the NVAO website.
An essential aspect of the accreditation process is quality assurance, which means that the results of an organisation and its education are evaluated. This is done through interviews and assessments.
Accreditation bachelor programmes
All bachelor programmes of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague were positively accredited in 2022. Across the board, the panel found the quality of the graduation projects to be good. In several cases, these projects demonstrate qualities and features – communication abilities, social and political sensitivity, artistic research, etc. - that alumni consider to be core elements in their professional practice. Furthermore, the discussions with recent graduates, alumni and the professional field show that Fine Art and Design alumni find a relevant position of their own in the professional field.
Accreditation Master Interior Architecture
The master's programme in Interior Architecture was positively accredited in 2022. The panel considered that INSIDE has a clear profile, which is operationalised in relevant characteristics that set it apart from other interior architecture programmes in the Netherlands. The panel thinks highly of this profile and of the courage of the programme to try and broaden the concept of interior architecture within the professional domain. The panel considered that students who pass the graduation exam have indeed achieved the learning outcomes and demonstrate a level of competency that can be expected of a master interior architecture. The panel found the topics of the graduation projects diverse, relevant, personal and authentic.
Accreditation master's programmes Artistic Research, Industrial Design, Non Linear Narrative, and Photography and Society
The master's programmes Artistic Research, Industrial Design, Non Linear Narrative, and Photography and Society were positively accredited in 2017. The panel judged that the KABK managed to establish a well-rounded master degree programme with four specialisations, each having a clear profile, a unique focus, and attracting creative and competent students. Every specialisation focuses on reflection, promotes a research-driven mindset and an interdisciplinary approach, and constitutes an expert community that is working on topics of contemporary urgency. Across the board, the panel found the quality of the graduation projects to be good, with the written publication often being of an even better quality than the artistic work. The discussion with alums and the professional field demonstrated that the departments prepare MAFAD students well to find and articulate their own role and place in the field.
Accreditation Master Type and Media
The Master Type and Media was positively accredited in 2022. The panel considered that the Type and Media programme manages to train students up to master level in the specific field of type design in full compliance with the nation-wide competences for fine art and design. The overall quality of the materials is ranging from good to excellent and even the weaker projects passed the minimum quality threshold. Hence the panel considers that students who pass this graduation exam indeed demonstrate a level of competency that can be expected of a master Type and Media. Moreover, the panel established that Type and Media students graduate as individual type designers who are ready to pursue a variety of professional pathways and are attractive to employers in the field.
