Monthly Admissions Live Q&A an ongoing success

Wittenborg's Admissions Live Q&A of the month took place last week and, as usual, several prospective students from different countries worldwide joined the session. It was an opportunity to get to know more about Wittenborg’s study programmes and the process of becoming a student in the Netherlands.

The session, led by Admissions Administrator Mykhailo Huba, started with an introduction about Wittenborg, its locations and programmes. In between the different topics, participants posed their questions and also at the end of the session there was still time to get further clarifications.

Among the participants was a prospective student from Moldova, who aims to pursue his dream of following higher education despite being over 35 years old. His enquiry was about following a bachelor’s programme as a mature student. Fortunately, Wittenborg does not have any age limit for study programmes and everyone who complies with the entry requirements, such as proof of English level, will be welcome to join.

Another contribution to highlight was the enquiry from a father in India, who joined the session with the aim of getting to know better the institution that could potentially welcome his son. Wittenborg knows how important education is for families and the great effort parents make during college years, especially when the student is studying abroad. All his questions were gladly welcomed and answered by Mykhailo Huba.

Prospective students highlight kindness of Admissions Administrator

At the end of the session, the participants thanked Huba for his kindness, patience, and well-explained answers to their questions, and they all seemed very motivated and interested in applying to Wittenborg and in the overall study abroad experience. Likewise, Huba was very glad for the active participation of attendees and enjoyed helping them with their queries.

The next Admissions Live Q&A session will take place on September 15, 2021, from 15:00-16:00 CEST. Everyone is welcome to join and get to know more about Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences. To register, click here.

WUP 20/7/2021
by Laura Serrano
©WUAS Press

Partnership with ITM College in Bad Vöslau Bears Fruit

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences had its first graduates from Austria this semester – stemming from its partnership with the International Tourism Management College (ITM) in Bad Vöslau, near Vienna, Austria. Here it offers its Bachelor of Business administration programme, with specialisation in Hospitality Management, to students from ITM, who studied online.

ITM was the first college in Austria to introduce English as the language of instruction. The college is accredited and approved by the Austrian Ministry of Education.

The graduates celebrated along with about 100 fellow graduates from Wittenborg's Dutch and Munich campuses during the 2021 Summer Graduation Ceremony last Friday, which was once again a hybrid affair. Most students attended in person, observing COVID-19 regulations, while others followed proceedings online.

Hans Lichtenwagner, director of ITM, said in a video message: "We are very proud that the first students from ITM can graduate through Wittenborg and we are also proud of what all the students have achieved. Thanks to all who cooperated with us in such a professional manner. We wish all graduates a great future. Thank you for everything."

One of the graduates, Gloria McCutchan from Austria, said the programme was "perfect" for her and that she got to know lots of people from different backgrounds. "I would definitely recommend studying at Wittenborg – I received great support from the faculty."

Another graduate, Nana Negru from Romania, said she plans on working in Austria after her studies. "My biggest challenge was the online classes. I am a relational person and I missed a lot the dynamics and interactions of learning in a face-to-face environment."

WUP 18/7/2021
by James Wittenborg
©WUAS Press

Faculty Members Meet for Reflections on Teaching & Learning

As Wittenborg’s academic school year came to a close this week, its faculty members came together for an informal teachers pedagogy strategies meeting. The main aim of the meeting is to gather teachers' reflections and to have open discussions on teaching and learning, one year into the pandemic. The event was held on Wednesday, 7 July, via hybrid mode at its Spoorstraat campus and MS Teams. The meeting was attended by lecturers from all of its four campuses, in Apeldoorn, Amsterdam, Munich (Germany) and Bad Voslau (Austria).

The meeting served to provide a platform for teachers to share and discuss innovative and effective teaching pedagogies that have worked well in both online and physical lessons. Topics discussed also revolved around strategies to increase student engagement in class and retention of current digital tools, as well as incorporating new ones.

Head of School of Business Dr Rauf Abdul opened with a welcoming speech and thanked the teachers for taking time to join the meeting. He announced that, for the next academic year (2021-2022), Wittenborg will have full on-campus lessons and will make laptops a compulsory tool for students in the classroom.

In his welcoming speech, President and Chair of Wittenborg Peter Birdsall said that one of the key objectives of Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences is to enrich students with the experience of what it means to be studying in the Netherlands. He added that the meeting was organised to discuss pedagogy strategies to be employed to encourage classroom attendance and ensure that each lesson is a worthwhile experience.

Sharing of Innovative & Effective Strategies

Faculty members were eager to share their knowledge, expertise and experience, and many innovative strategies were shared during the meeting. Among the tested and proven strategies implemented by teachers were flipped classroom, team problem-solving, team learning using simulations and case studies, edutainment, gamifications and the experiential classroom. Teachers also unanimously agreed that there should be less teacher teaching and more teacher facilitations of classroom activities and projects.

The issue of how to increase student engagement and retention in the classroom was keenly discussed. Sascha Liebhardt, Campus Director of Wittenborg's Munich Campus, said that it is vital to start each lesson well in order to arouse students' curiosity in the subject and develop their passion for business. For example, teachers can start the lesson with a case study or a crime related to the topic, like accounting, and from there discuss its impacts on the business or the various stakeholders.

Marc de Jong, Wittenborg’s German language teacher, reiterated that for language learning human interaction is the core of the business and, therefore, physical attendance in class is of utmost importance. Students' intrinsic motivation can also be stimulated by providing them opportunities to interact with native students or speakers in real and open settings.

Integration & Collaboration among Campuses and Universities

A rather interesting strategy was suggested by Vice-President of Academic Affairs Dr Ron Tuninga. He advocated the utilisation of the multitude of technologies available to integrate lessons among Wittenborg's four campuses, as well as integration with other universities. With the ubiquity of virtual learning, business practitioners, CEO, managers or prominent academics from across the globe can be invited to address students during lessons. In addition, to enhance student experience in teamwork, the mixing of bachelor's students and master's students from different pathways and specialisations, or even students from other universities, should be widely practised.

A New Wave of Teaching & Learning

At the end of the meeting, it was clear from teachers’ feedback that the traditional mode of frontal teaching where teachers teach and students take down notes is no longer applicable. The advent of new technologies and COVID-19, plus the new generation of students ('Generation WIFI'), has all drastically transformed teaching and learning. Students, either bachelor's or master's, struggle to sit through lectures (whether online or physical). They require an interactive and collaborative environment to learn, simulating the business industry, and they need a sense of direction and control over what they are learning. There is a need, therefore, to provide students with a form of pedagogy that challenges and brings out the best in them.

The meeting culminated in the ‘End-of-Year Snacks & Drinks’ with students, teachers and staff at the campus. More than eighty students and staff attended the end-of-year bash in both Apeldoorn and Amsterdam campuses. The mood was cheery and light. Wittenborg wishes all students and staff a very happy summer vacation.

WUP 14/7/2021
by Hanna Abdelwahab
©WUAS Press

Much Joy as Wittenborg Celebrates at 2021 Summer Graduation Ceremony

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences celebrated its 2021 Summer Graduation Ceremony on Friday - hopeful that it will be the last one constricted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduates were praised by management and lecturers alike for their tenacity and perseverance in obtaining their degrees despite the difficult circumstances brought about by the pandemic.

For the first time in the institution's history, due to the number of graduates, the hybrid ceremony took place in two phases with the morning session reserved for master's students and the afternoon session for those graduating with a bachelor's degree, as well as members of staff who completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning. 

Graduates turned up in droves to collect their diplomas - especially master's students - and a joyful atmosphere marked the occasion. There were, however, still students who logged on virtually to attend the ceremony. Master's student Ashen Balasinghe (MBM/MSc) spoke on behalf of fellow graduates, congratulating them on their achievements. "Today, we are celebrating our hard work and dedication," he said. He also thanked Wittenborg and the lecturers who worked diligently to ensure students' success.

Wittenborg president Peter Birdsall stressed how unique the graduates were by completing their degrees during a pandemic. "You are an example of human resolve - ambitious young people determined to change their lives for the better." He said that although the graduates' financial and legal contract with Wittenborg is coming to an end, the moral and ethical contract will stand.

He talked about a two-way contract, saying it is the duty of graduates to live the best lives they could, find fulfilling careers, further their studies and be happy. "We hope your studies result in a good life, a better life because that also reflects on us. Our duty, on the other hand, is to grow the quality of education at Wittenborg, the brand and the accreditation. Your degree will become more valuable over time."

Birdsall also sought to reassure the graduates about their futures. "The COVID crisis will pass and we will get back to a normal situation, see families more often, find jobs and get positions. Yes, this is a challenging moment to be graduating, but I'm sure you are all going to be successful, happy people."

The graduates were from Wittenborg's campuses in Apeldoorn, Amsterdam, Munich and Bad Vöslau. 

The guest speaker of the event was Bernd de Roo, member of Wittenborg's Advisory Board and tax law expert. He spoke about his student days at Leiden University and how valuable the contacts he made there were and continue to be for his career. "Work is something you do for the rest of your life, so it is important to have fun in your job, while you continue to grow. Wittenborg is an excellent place to kick off your career."

End-of-Year Snacks & Drinks Event

With exams completed and summer vacation around the corner, Wittenborg’s End-of-Year Snacks & Drinks event attracted almost ninety students, teachers and staff. The event, held on 7 July at the Apeldoorn and Amsterdam campuses, was graced by President and Chair of Wittenborg Peter Birdsall and CEO Maggie Feng.

The main aims of the simple event were to get informal feedback from students and also to familiarise new students with the Wittenborg family. It was an opportunity to bring together freshmen, sophomores and graduating students with Wittenborg teachers and staff under one roof, making them feel motivated to come back to campus in the new academic year.

For Nigerian student Elizabeth Ifionu, who started her studies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a refreshing and uplifting experience. Ifionu, an MBM student of Logistics and International Trade, said that after one year of online learning, attending the Snacks & Drinks bash gave her the chance to meet up with friends and teachers. “It was a really nice experience, as it gives me close-up connection physically to those virtual faces of my classmates. It was also a chance for me to widen my social circle by meeting students from other programmes and specialisations or teachers and staff whom I have not met before.”

Enthusiastic to meet classmates and staff 'live'

The event at the Amsterdam campus saw students and staff sitting together at a long table with food and drinks aplenty. Commenting on the event, Wittenborg's Amsterdam Campus Manager, Iryna Bernatska, said that the students and staff discussed everything and anything under the sun - the weather, traditions, families, culture and their experiences in the Netherlands. Students were also curious as regards to the new academic year and wanted to know when physical classes would start. MBA International Management student, Bahareh Bolhassani from Iran, remarked, "It was such a great experience after such a long break to come to campus and meet our classmates and new staff 'live'. We discussed some cultural differences and it was nice to meet different people with diverse cultures".  

Mehdi Sadri, an MBA Entrepreneurship & Innovation student, who joined Wittenborg in May, commented, "I am so happy to finally meet classmates and faculty members in person. It was such an amazing and friendly atmosphere. In addition, I had a chance to visit the Amsterdam campus for the first time."

Bernatska added, "It is always nice to have a chat with students in informal situations. You get to know their personalities and build closer connections. I could see how enthusiastic they were to chat with us and they did not want to leave. We all hope that our regular gathering will be back to normal starting from September".

WUP 11/7/2021
by Hanna Abdelwahab
©WUAS Press

Related Content

Wittenborg Signs Cooperation Agreement with China Education Group (CEG)

A memorandum of cooperation has recently been signed between Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences and Nanchang Bola Students Services (NBSS), which is a branch of the China Education Group (CEG). NBSS will act as Wittenborg's China Representative Office. 

CEG is a leading global higher and vocational education group with footholds in China, Australia and the UK, aiming to provide quality education through innovation. The group was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2017 and is currently the largest listed higher education and vocational education group in China.

CEG believes that the partnership with Wittenborg will further diversify its international education opportunities for students who want to study abroad. "It can provide more and diversified study abroad options for CEG's 250,000 students, as well as provide CEG member schools with richer channels for international education exchanges. This in turn will help to establish a win-win cooperation between Chinese and European higher education," said Plymouth Li, legal director at CEG's Strategy & Investment Department in Shanghai.

Wittenborg CEO Maggie Feng said: “Being Chinese and born in Beijing, I feel that China has always been part of Wittenborg’s DNA, since the founding of the international business school that Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences is today. For many years, we have carefully selected our partners in China and this has brought us almost 2 decades of successful Chinese graduates as well as a host of meaningful partnerships.

"We are excited about our new partnership with the China Education Group, as they own several private, state-accredited Chinese universities of applied sciences and colleges, and have considerable experience in higher education in China. They have also expanded their higher education in Australia and the UK and have developed international expertise. We are looking forward to working with CEG and NBSS in establishing our new China Representative Office, helping to give their students an opportunity to learn and train in the Netherlands, further expanding and sustaining our Wittenborg.”

In terms of student enrolment, CEG is the largest listed higher and vocational education provider in China. As of February 2021, the group had approximately 250,300 enrolled students from about 100 countries around the world.

The group operates in three business segments and its school network includes 11 universities and professional schools in China (including the top-ranked and largest private university in the country and four schools in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area), a higher education institute in Sydney, Australia, and a US-UK dual-degree awarding university in London, UK.

WUP 07/07/2021
by James Wittenborg
©WUAS Press

Wittenborg’s Erasmus+ Project, INFURI, is picking up speed with the completion of its second Living Labs session last Wednesday, 23rd June. The event was a physical session held in Apeldoorn, in the office of one of the project’s participating companies, Brummel,  a business to business, custom-made furniture designer and manufacturer.

Circularity is Future of the Industry

Project INFURI, short for INnovation in the FURniture Industry in the Era of Circular Economy, aims to spread innovative and sustainable circular business models in the furniture industry with the focus on SMEs. It involves collaboration with a consortium of 9 institutions from 7 countries in Europe and about 36 companies active in the furniture and circular economy.
 
According to Wittenborg’s EU Project Coordinator, Aydan Ismayilova, the purpose of the second Living Labs session was to introduce local furniture companies in Gelderland to the Erasmus+ funded INFURI project that promotes and supports the companies in their transition to circular business models. “Circularity is the future of the industry. However, the transition to it constitutes a major challenge for companies from the high cost of innovation to lack of resources. Thus, the aim of the session is to understand the barriers and challenges faced by Dutch companies in their transition to more sustainable business,” said Ismayilova.

 

Interactive Activities Lined Up for Participating Companies

Local furniture companies attending the session were Emondt kmi, Kloppenberg Meubelen, Petersen Interieur, Intermontage and Circulock.  The companies participated in a few interactive activities including a Q methodology, self-diagnosis survey and manifesto. The inputs gathered during the session will assist the project partners in developing recommendations and training materials. Companies also indicated which areas of circularity they are more interested in and this can help the coordinators in planning for future activities of the project.

With the smooth running of the planned activities so far, despite the pandemic, it is hoped that this 30-month project, which started in December 2020, can be completed by May 2023. Judging by the enthusiasm shown during the session by the participating partners, more interactive and exciting activities will be planned for the next 4 living labs sessions which are in the pipeline.

WUP 5/7/2021
by Hanna Abdelwahab
©WUAS Press