Complaints procedure

We treat as a complaint any expression of dissatisfaction with our service which calls for a response. We listen to your complaints, treat them seriously, and learn from them so that we can continuously improve our service. Your complaints will always be treated confidential.

If you have a complaint about BioTech Delft, our courses, teachers or employees, first try to resolve the issue with the person in question. Explain your complaint and ask for a response. If this does not lead to a satisfactory solution, you can follow 2 possibilities complaints procedures.

Submitting your complaint

The two possibilities to file a complained are:

  1. Email Vincent Renken (V.L.J.Renken@tudelft.nl). As Program Director, he can be contacted regarding all courses, policies and communications.
  2. Email a board member of the foundation (https://biotechnologycourses.nl/about-biotechdelft/)

Please include the following:

  • Date
  • Your contact details
  • Course name, BioTech Delft and date
  • A description of the complaint (including the date of the incident)
  • The reason for filing your complaint
  • Have you already discussed the complaint with someone? If so, with whom?

After receipt of your complaint you will get a confirmation within five working days. Within four weeks after receiving your complaint we will make a decision. If more time is needed, the term of four weeks will be extended with another two weeks.

The complaint office of BioTech Delft does not treat complaints about undesirable behaviour, discrimination or (sexual) harassment. For help and advice in these matters you can contact the confidential advisors of the TU Delft.

Ombudsman

If your do not agree on the solution to your complaint, you can contact the ombudsman. As an independent party, the ombudsman negotiates between the complainant and the subject of the complaint. He can advise the proper authority, namely the board of BioTech Delft.

Please find the contact details of the ombudsman here or send an email to ombudsman@tudelft.nl.

The outcome of the Ombudsman is binding to both parties (if not appealed) and will be implemented by BioTech Delft within a month if not otherwise specified.

Objection and appeal

You can send a notice of appeal by mail to:

Board of the BioTech Delft foundation
T.a.v. Jan Maarten Geertman (president)
Van der Maasweg 9
2629 HZ Delft

You can submit a notice of appeal within 6 weeks. This term starts the day after the decision on your complaint was sent.

After receipt of the notice of appeal you will get a confirmation within five working days. Your objection will be handled within six weeks. If necessary, the term of six weeks can be extended with another six weeks. If more time is needed, we will ask for your cooperation in extending the term in writing.

The notice of appeal should include the following:

  • Name and contact details
  • Date
  • Signature
  • A description of the decision you are objecting to (please include a copy of the decision)
  • The motivation for your appeal (arguments why the decision would not be correct)

A notice of appeal will be submitted to an advisory committee. The committee will investigate the possibility of an amicable settlement. If this is possible, the procedure will be ended but otherwise the appeal will be handled. A hearing will follow, after which the committee will advise the board. The board will decide on the appeal, which will be communicated by mail.

In the event of immediate urgency, you can request for an urgency procedure. The president of the committee will decide if this is the case. If so, the committee will advise as soon as possible, after which the board can make a decision within four weeks.

If you do not agree on the decision, it is possible to object within six weeks at the court of The Hague: Rechtbank te ’s-Gravenhage, Prins Clauslaan 60, 2595 AJ Den Haag, the Netherlands.