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Wittenborg and Texas MBA Students Collaborate in Workshop for Zuidoost Werkt 

https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-and-texas-mba-students-collaborate-workshop-zuidoost-werkt.htm

Students Develop Strategies for Employment and Language Support for Zuidoost Werkt

On 25 August, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences’ Amsterdam study location welcomed Zuidoost Werkt, an employment social enterprise that helps residents of Amsterdam Zuidoost find training and employment. The initiative is part of the Masterplan Zuidoost (2021–2040), a long-term strategy aimed at empowering residents, strengthening community ties, and creating sustainable career pathways, especially for those facing barriers to employment.  

During the visit, Project Manager Wouter Plaisier presented the masterplan to a joint group of Wittenborg and University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) MBA (Master of Business Administration) students. The plan emphasises a shift from top-down planning to inclusive, community-led solutions that enable local residents to thrive.  

Following the presentation, students took part in a brainstorming workshop to develop strategies to help highly educated migrants access employment and language training. Wouter and Mirjam Ros from the Municipality of Amsterdam circulated among the groups, providing guidance and feedback. The session benefited greatly from the expertise of students with HR backgrounds, which added to the quality of the recommendations.

Groups presented ideas focused on three key themes:

Mentorship and Community-led Support
Language and Confidence Building
Partnerships and Fair Access to Work
Wittenborg students also shared their experiences as non-Dutch speakers navigating the local labour market, offering valuable insights for the United States visitors about the challenges migrants face in language learning and workplace integration.  

Senior Lecturer Amy Abdou, who organised the event, described it as a “win-win for everyone involved.”  

“The executive MBA students from Texas were excited to meet their local counterparts and exchange ideas. The organisation received meaningful feedback, compiled into a report and translated it into Dutch. Wittenborg students gained networking opportunities and insight into initiatives supporting people like them.”  

Fernando Jimenez-Arevalo, Associate Professor at UTEP, noted the parallels between Amsterdam Zuidoost and El Paso, highlighting shared challenges UTEP has faced to empower students who may lack English language skills.  

WUP 26/09/2025 
by Erene Roux 
©WUAS Press

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