Erasmus University hosts a large VSNU conference today for policy makers, researchers, educators, administrators and other parties interested in increasing study success. The fact that we host it is meaningful: study success is the most prominent differentiator in Erasmus University’s education profile. Rector Maginificus Henk Schmidt addressed the audience this morning, while the Deans and the rest of the executive board reviewed progress in campus development. There is a lot of press attention for the conference and the data presented there. We see a rather spectacular increase in study success in those faculties  where (kinds of) “nominal = normal” projects have been implemented. And potential fears that students would be discouraged by this system appear to be premature: our preliminary registration numbers are up 13% from last year.