The evaluation system for staff in Dutch-speaking higher education is set to be reformed. This modernisation aims to ensure that universities can sack poorly performing or abusive staff in a more timely manner.
Flemish Education Minister Ben Weyts (N-VA) is working to reform the way professors, assistants and other staff members in colleges and universities are evaluated. Until now, the system in place was very rigid and the Higher Education Code imposed a straitjacket on the institutions.
A formal evaluation interview after the first three years and five years of service was mandatory, of which a written report had to be drawn up, involving a lot of administration. The current system is also strict for staff who perform well while being too lax for staff who perform poorly, abuse their power or are guilty of harassment.
In recent years, several reports have surfaced of such behaviour among professors but also lower-ranking staff members. A poor evaluation and an additional 'unsatisfactory' on a subsequent evaluation were needed before staff could be fired, resulting in poorly performing or inappropriately behaving staff sometimes staying on for years too long.
Weyts' spokesperson Michaël Devoldere told The Brussels Times that the reform encompasses a general modernisation of personnel policy. "Abuse of power and (sexual) harassment are examples, but there are of course other examples of 'poor performance'. The aim is to tackle them all more effectively." He added that it should also be a better system for the many staff members "who function very well".
The reform, which will come into force by September at the latest, is based on the principle of trust and the notion that most staff members function well and that a formal evaluation is only necessary if there are complaints or doubts about this.
In that case, a remedial process can be started, which can result in a dismissal after just one year if no improvement is observed, much sooner than is currently the case. Informal feedback sessions will replace the rigidly organised ones for staff performing well. These can be requested every year.
