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  • Book
  • Open Access
  • © 2015

Talent Development in European Higher Education

Honors programs in the Benelux, Nordic and German-speaking countries

  • Presents the first structured overview of honors programs in European higher education

  • Offers examples of ‘good practice’ for honors educators around the world

  • Provides a wealth of practical information on existing programs, networks, key persons and literature

  • Gives insight in climate towards academic talent across different European countries

  • Allows honors students to make an informed choice on honors programs in Europe

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxi
  2. Introducing Talent Development and Honors in European Higher Education

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 3-10Open Access
    3. Developing Honors Education in Specific National Contexts

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 11-30Open Access
    4. Methods and Limitations

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 31-40Open Access
  3. The Benelux Countries

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-42
    2. The Netherlands: Focus on Excellence, Honors Programs All Around

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 43-75Open Access
    3. Belgium: Complex System, Differentiated Development

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 77-89Open Access
    4. Luxembourg: Small, Multilingual and International

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 91-97Open Access
  4. The Nordic Countries

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 99-104
    2. Denmark: Strong Focus on Talent Development

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 105-124Open Access
    3. Norway: Slow Shift Towards Differentiation

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 125-138Open Access
    4. Sweden: Incentive to Move Towards More Differentiation

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 139-152Open Access
    5. Finland: Excellent Basics, Selective Continuation

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 153-164Open Access
    6. Iceland: Getting Back on Track

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 165-173Open Access
  5. The German-Speaking Countries

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 175-177
    2. Germany: Foundations Supporting Talents

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 179-211Open Access
    3. Austria: A Rapidly Expanding Higher Education Sector

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 213-227Open Access
    4. Switzerland: A Patchwork, Not (Yet) Including Honors

      • Marca V. C. Wolfensberger
      Pages 229-238Open Access
  6. Talent Development and Honors in European Higher Education: A Comparative Perspective

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 239-239

About this book

This book examines the much-debated question of how to unleash the potential of young people with promising intellectual abilities and motivation. It looks at the increasingly important topic of excellence in education, and the shift in focus towards the provision of programs to support talented students in higher education. It provides a systematic overview of programs for talented students at northern European higher education institutions (HEIs). Starting in the Netherlands, where nearly all HEIs have developed honors programs over the past two decades, the book explores three clusters of countries: the Benelux, the Nordic and the German-speaking countries. For each of these countries, it discusses the local culture towards excellence, the structure of the education system, and the presence of honors programs. In total, the book reviews the special talent provisions for nearly four million students at 303 higher education institutions in eleven countries. In addition, it offers an analysis of the reasons to develop such programs, a look into the future of honors education and a practical list of suggestions for further research.

The Sirius Program assigned Marca Wolfensberger to carry out this research.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen & Utrecht University, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Dr. Marca V.C. Wolfensberger

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Talent Development in European Higher Education

  • Book Subtitle: Honors programs in the Benelux, Nordic and German-speaking countries

  • Authors: Dr. Marca V.C. Wolfensberger

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12919-8

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and the Author(s) 2015

  • License: CC BY-NC

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-12918-1Published: 12 March 2015

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-12919-8Published: 10 February 2015

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXI, 335

  • Number of Illustrations: 27 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Higher Education, Educational Policy and Politics, International and Comparative Education

Buy it now

Buying options

Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access