"Robots are Not Here to Take our Jobs, but to Increase Productivity"

MBA students from Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences recently visited ESPS - the company behind the Robotics Experience Centre in Almelo. They were led by the Head of Wittenborg’s School for Business, Dr Rauf Abdul.

The excursion was part of the final MBA Project Week for the current academic year. Students got a lecture on the activities at the centre by Jeron Heimerink, a Robot Application Project Engineer at ESPS. They were also given a tour around the centre and attended a workshop. ESPS has been operating for the past decade and has more than 15 international companies on their clients list.

On what they learned from the experience, one student, Adedamola Nuga from Nigeria, said: “For almost every task there is now a robot that can help. However, they are quite dangerous and as such need to be caged. Contrary to popular belief, robots are not here to take jobs away from humans. The idea is to collaborate and improve productivity and for robots to carry out repetitive tasks.

“Students had lots of questions and by the end of the tour we were very happy about the opportunity to visit ESPS,” Nuga concluded. 

WUP 23/6/2019
by James Wittenborg
©Wittenborg University Press

Remembered Fondly by Colleagues

The passing away of one of Wittenborg's most popular invigilators, Jan Kruitbos, was met with sadness by staff and students alike this week. Kruitbos, 71, worked at Wittenborg for 10 years and was a familiar face during exams and university events like the bi-annual staff dinners. A private service was held for him on Monday.

Wittenborg's chair of the executive board, Peter Birdsall, expressed his condolences and informed students and staff in a message that Kruitbos passed away unexpectedly last week after a short period of illness.

"Jan worked for Wittenborg for 10 years, having started with us in Deventer in 2009. He was an important member of the team of Exam Invigilators, ensuring that all examinations are carried out fairly and squarely at WUAS. Many of you who have either taken examinations or worked with the examinations system will have known him. Jan was an extremely friendly person who was committed to Wittenborg and its students. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends and we shall miss him dearly."

"When he spoke to you he was right there! That is a rare quality in today's busy world"

He was also remembered fondly by academic staff, like Daniel O'Connell, who said: "I remember him with affection ... he always had a smile for you, even early in the morning when I wanted to growl! It did not work with him, and he would still smile. Also, when he spoke to you, he looked at you and was right there! That's a rare quality to find in today's busy world."

WUP 19/06/2019
by James Wittenborg
©Wittenborg University Press

Netherlands has a Lot in Common with India - Like Emphasis on New Technology

Wittenborg CEO, Maggie Feng, has had a preliminary meeting with Good People Consulting, an Indian talent acquisition group which provides business solutions in the field of human resource management, to discuss collaboration opportunities with Indian institutions.

The group was led by Good People Consulting managing partner and CEO, Amal K. Das. He was accompanied by director, Ashwani K. Dhaul, and regional director, Vikas Verma. Also in the group was the executive vice-president of the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce & Trade (NICCT), Rajiv Mehra, who is also a member of the board.

Feng said there are many similarities between the Netherlands and India, such as the job market, the emphasis on new technology, engineering and artificial intelligence (AI). At last year's Tech Summit in Bangalore, the Dutch consul-general, Gert Heijkoop, told the India Times that the Netherlands has a deficit of engineers and there is an immense opportunity for Indian engineers to bridge the talent gap in Holland.

Wittenborg's student registrar, Santosh Aryal, added that Wittenborg has a growing number of Indian students.

Good People Consulting already have alliances with universities and other institutions in India and provide services such as placement of students in various industries, providing internships in the corporate world and taking industry projects to campus.

WUP 17/6/2019
by Anesca Smith
©Wittenborg University Press

Chan Teaches at Top Hong Kong University

When Wittenborg CEO, Maggie Feng, recently visited the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Hotel and Tourism Management and looked through their list of faculty members, there's one name she certainly did not expect to see - that of Hollywood legend, Jackie Chan.

Chan is a member of the faculty and teaches tourism management. According to the university website he was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Social Science by the Hong Kong Baptist University in 1996.

With his international fame, Dr Chan has been Hong Kong’s official Tourism Ambassador since 1995. He is also actively involved in charities, public services, and is an avid businessman with stakes in everything from production companies to retail, restaurants and gyms.

Feng was in Hong Kong for the 2019 APaCHRIE and EuroCHRIE Conference. It was the first time the two conferences were held jointly. It was hosted by the university in the Hotel ICON - ranked Hong Kong's 3rd best hotel by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice.

Sadly, Feng said, Chan was not at the conference so meeting him will have to wait until next time.

WUP 7/6/2019
by Anesca Smith
©Wittenborg University Press