A Life-changing Decision: Wittenborg Graduate Shares her International Journey
A Life-changing Decision: Wittenborg Graduate Shares her International Journey
A Life-changing Decision: Wittenborg Graduate Shares her International Journey
Yolanda Huang Reflects on How Studying Abroad Shaped her Career
Born and raised in China, Yolanda Huang could easily have stayed there and pursued a government job, as her parents had hoped. But her dream was to build a global career and join an international company, so she chose a different path. In 2003, Yolanda decided to move to the Netherlands to study for an International Business Administration (IBA) degree at Wittenborg. Still in its early years, the school was then based in Deventer.
The graduate explains that she first heard about Wittenborg when the institution’s then-education coordinator, Stewart Else, visited Shanghai to promote the school to prospective students. “The timing was perfect because I was looking for schools in the Netherlands and Germany, and I liked that Wittenborg offered such a variety of courses. That was the main reason why I chose it,” she says.
According to Yolanda, the biggest challenge she faced when moving to the Netherlands was studying in English, which she was not used to at first. However, she points out that Wittenborg was very helpful and welcoming to her and the other students coming from abroad. “I feel very lucky because Wittenborg had arranged excellent accommodation for us. They had also assigned some students who had been there longer to support us. They told us about Deventer, gave us practical tips on living in the Netherlands, showed us where the supermarkets were and helped us adjust to our new life.”
Yolanda also highlights that her time studying at Wittenborg helped her develop important professional skills, such as critical thinking, logical reasoning and research. “Back in China, learning is more focused on memory; students are expected to simply remember what the lecturer is telling them. I found Wittenborg's practical approach very helpful. We went on several field trips to companies and museums and participated in project weeks. My English also became much better.”
After graduating in 2007, Yolanda moved back to China and secured a job at Education First, a company specialising in teaching English to children and adults, where she worked as an executive assistant performing administrative tasks. She later joined other companies, including the Dutch multinational Vanderlande, which specialises in logistics, and Benteler Automotive Components, where she was responsible for both administrative and human resources tasks. Yolanda is currently based in Shanghai, where she works as an Executive Assistant at Ares Management, a global investment firm.
Looking back on her Wittenborg experience, Yolanda says that the decision to study abroad changed her life by giving it an international dimension. “What I miss most about Wittenborg are the people. I have great memories of the other students and lecturers, Peter, Maggie and Stewart. Actually, Stewart even attended my wedding in China. I made some special connections there. When I look at Wittenborg now, I’m happy to see that, 18 years later, it’s even more international than it was.”
The graduate advises current students to build on their professional skills and make the most of their programmes. “Don’t be shy to ask questions to lecturers and the other people there. Make sure to get involved and get engaged, because this is a special experience you’re going through,” she concludes.
WUP 06/08/2025
by Ulisses Sawczuk
©WUAS Press
Tags
#SDG4: Quality Education
#Internationalisation
#Diversity
#highered
#internationalstudent
#studyinholland
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