Research is an important component of MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd). Conducting research, we gain insight into the value of MDT and understand what is going well and what could be improved. The results of the MDT research is also needed for MDT accountability purposes.
Terms and Conditions for participants of MDT survey
These terms and conditions apply to all MDT surveys conducted by independent research agency Verian on behalf of the Dutch Department of Education (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap [OCW]). This study is being carried out in accordance with Article 89 of the General Data Protection Regulation. By participating, you agree to these terms and conditions and to the privacy statement.
The Department of Education, Culture and Science will not deviate from these terms and conditions for participants in individual cases.
The MDT survey is an ongoing survey for the entire duration of MDT. The survey data will be stored by Verian for up to five years after completion of an MDT project (where the participants did his MDT). After this period, Verian will anonymise the survey data.
Participants must be at least 12 years old to participate in the MDT survey and must have their own (school) email address and/or mobile phone number. Participants can still take part in the survey (see point 7) if they do not have an email address or a mobile phone number, or if they object to sharing these. In this case, the participant should inform the MDT project. The MDT project can then submit a request (to Verian) for an opt-out.
Completion of the survey is a condition for participation in an MDT trajectory. If the participant does not fill in the MDT questionnaire and does not respond to invitations and/or reminders to participate in the survey for a period of one year, a decision may be made to void the participation. Any rewards or certificates not yet issued to the participant may be cancelled.
In order to register a participant (either by the MDT project of the participant themself) some personal data is recorded. These personalia include the participant’s name, address, gender, date of birth and contact details (email address and/or mobile phone number). Participants are responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the personal data they provide to the MDT organisation.
A participant is entitled to object to the processing of their personal data for research purposes on an individual basis. Such an objection can be made to the MDT project where the participant is following or has followed their MDT trajectory. The MDT project may, in consultation with the participant, still allow (anonymous) participation on the basis of an opt-out arrangement.
Participants' personal data, such as name, address or phone number, is stored in the MDT portal (upon opting in) and is available to the MDT projects where the participant is doing their MDT trajectory. Verian, being the involved research agency, can view this data to identify any (data-related) technical issues and answer questions from MDT projects. Personal data of participants however is never shared with the Department of Education and the MDT Program. The MDT survey reports based on participants' responses are always anonymous.
The MDT project may choose to register participants in the MDT survey platform (‘MDT-portal’) or let participants register themselves, thereby recording personal data. The link for the self-registration questionnaire is provided to participants by the MDT project. An invitation to complete the starter questionnaire is automatically sent from Verian's research system via email or text message after the MDT organisation where the participant is following their trajectory has registered the participant or after the participant has registered themselves. The invitation email is automatically signed by the MDT project.
Participants can register twice in an MDT. If they are registering for the second time, they (or the MDT project) must add a '2' after their first or last name when registering. A participant's email address can be used twice for registration.
Verian, the Department of Education and the MDT Program will do their utmost to keep the MDT survey platform accessible and functional at all times, but accept no liability for any (temporary) inaccessibility of the website or for the receipt of incomplete answers to questions. The MDT project can maintain participant records on the survey platform (‘MDT-portal’) and use these as proof of participation.
The MDT questionnaire or parts of it are not allowed to be shared with third parties.
If other or additional terms and conditions apply to specific parts of the questionnaire, these will be presented to participants in advance.
The Department of Education reserves the right to terminate the participation in the MDT survey, without further notice, in the event of: fraud (such as having surveys completed by a robot or deliberately providing false and/or misleading information), non-compliance with the provisions of these terms and conditions & the continuity of the survey being jeopardized by uploading harmful software. Any rewards or certificates not yet issued to the participant may then be cancelled.
If participation in MDT or in the MDT research is terminated (prematurely) by the participant themselves, answers already collected can still be used for the ongoing MDT survey.
The terms and conditions may be amended by the Department of Education at any time, with the exception of the provisions relating to anonymised survey data (see point 8).
If you have any queries or complaints, please contact Verian at mdt@veriangroup.com. Verian has a complaints procedure and aims to answer emails within 1 working day. Where applicable and in consultation with the submitter of the complaint, complaints (whether anonymous or not) will be shared with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
The privacy policy of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science applies to this processing of personal data and may be viewed at: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-onderwijs-cultuur-en-wetenschap/privacy
The terms and conditions for participants are available in several languages (Dutch, English, Arabic and Papiamento) on the MDT website: https://organisaties.doemeemetmdt.nl/deelnemersvoorwaarden-mdt-onderzoek
These terms and conditions are governed by Dutch law.
Originally adopted in The Hague on February 24th, 2022
Last revised on March 28th, 2025