In this way the Laioo hopes to bring the problems of the aio's to the attention in a positive manner, after the traditional occupation of the 'Maagdenhuis' (University of Amsterdam) and a public burning of theses on the Binnenhof (near parliament).
To be eligible for the prize the universities have to do some proper work on their PhD-system. The Laioo advises them to abolish the aio- and bursal-system, to pay PhD-students as 'normal' scientific personnel. The universities should also pay attention to career development, and offer proper guidance with the writing of theses.
It is not yet known when the Best University Award will be. Chairperson May-May Meijer of the Laioo is still working hard on uncovering the latest numbers on PhD-yield. Older numbers give Twente and Eindhoven a good shot at the prize. Theses on technology or the natural sciences are usually finished the quickest. Because of the shortage of researchers in the exact sciences the terms of employment are relatively good.
The percentage of aio's who finish their thesis on time for the aio's who started in 1991, 1992 and 1993. Twente 59%, Eindhoven 58, Delft 41, Groningen 35, VU A'dam 34, Leiden 33%, Rotterdam 33, Maastricht 32, Utrecht 31, Tilburg 31, University of Amsterdam 28, Nijmegen 22, Wageningen 20%, and NWO-oio' 42%.
