Wittenborg University News
Master Open Day at Wittenborg University - Get to know 3 MSc Programmes in 1 Day
Friday 7 June 2013 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, Wittenborg University & the University of Brighton (UK) present an MSc Open Day Programme:
10.30 Welcome and Introduction to Wittenborg University by Peter Birdsall, Director of Studies
10.45 Presentation by Chris Dutton, Programme coordinator, University of Brighton UK
11.15 'Questions and Answers' with Chris Dutton and Annette Kappert (MSc Programme Coordinator, Wittenborg University)
12.00 Lunch
13.00 MSc Master Class by Dr Saskia Harkema
14.00 Conclusion of the MSc Open Day
After the event, the admissions team and tutors will be available for further questions and discussion.
Register via openday@wittenborg.eu or 088 - 66 72 688
WUP 21/5/2013
Related Content: Master Hospitality ManagementTickerText: Master Open Day at Wittenborg University - Get to know 3 MSc Programmes in 1 DayThe Entrepreneurial Spirit of Wittenborg Student Ayoub Sadik
Wittenborg is a truly business-minded university, the combination of theory and practice also inspires students, especially the young and aspirant entrepreneurs. One of them is Ayoub Sadik, born and raised in Tanzania and currently living in Apeldoorn. His new online business-to-business platform will be launched any day now.
Before coming to the Netherlands to study International Business Administration, Ayoub studied IT at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Combining the knowledge from both universities, he taught himself how to use the Drupal open-source content manager framework, a software application which he used to build his own website. The webpage carries the name 4city2city.com, and is providing companies an online communication community where they can find other businesses in the African market. “In Africa internet business is rapidly growing, but companies still aren’t used to online advertisement.” Ayoub explains. This is why he believes his website will be a success, introducing new means of communication and advertisement for Africa based companies. Organizations can create and manage their own profile on the website whilst communicating and interacting with other organizations in the African continent.
With support from his tutor, and Wittenborg systems management, Ayoub was able to get the website and his business plan ready within a year, during his final year studies. Once the website is online he hopes to generate initial revenue by charging companies for the services and advertisements. When the current format shows to be successful, Ayoub plans to introduce new features like a web shop and a special offers page. After his graduation he will return to Tanzania to expand his online business.
WUP 21/5/2013
Related Content: EBAEntrepreneurshipTickerText: The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Wittenborg Student Ayoub Sadika 1/2 year study exchange at Shanghai Finance University for Wittenborg's IBA students
Want to study in China? Wittenborg University IBA students are offered the chance to spend a term of study (1/2 year) following modules at the Shanghai Finance University, as part of the degree programme. The modules, focusing on a variety of aspects of international finance and business are taught in English and students can gain up to 40 EC credits that are transferred into their Bachelor of International Business Administration programme in the Netherlands.
Students can either spend the Winter Term (starts in September) or the Summer Term (starts in February) in Shanghai, normally either at the end of the 2nd year or at the start of year 3, before their graduation period.
The Shanghai Finance University is situated in the Pudong New District, and is surrounded by many multinational corporations and several other universities. Its campus, with a total area of more than 440,000 square meters, has many lecture halls, teaching facilities and student halls of residence totalling more than 190,000 square meters.
Currently the Shanghai Finance University has nine schools and five departments, offering 24 majors. The students come from 23 provinces and municipalities of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and SHFU also enrolls international students from around the world including Europe, the United States and Africa.
At this time, Shanghai Finance University has more than 8000 full-time students and a faculty of 564 lecturers and professors.
Students from Wittenborg University, studying on the exchange programme in Shanghai will not be required to pay extra tuition fees there, and as the exchange is a reciprocal one, Wittenborg will receive Chinese students from SHFU, also with fee waivers for their study in Holland.
The exchange programme is open to all Wittenborg University students who have gained more than 140 EC Credits and wish to study in China! The exchange programme is specifically aimed at Financial Services Management students, however students from other specialisations are welcome to apply for a place.
New student applicants to Wittenborg University can indicate their wish to join the China Exchange Programme during their admissions process.
For more information about registering for the Wittenborg University China Exchange Programme Shanghai, please contact our admissions officer Vivi Wu at chinadesk@wittenborg.eu
WUP 17/5/2013
Related Content: ChinaExchange ProgrammeTickerText: a 1/2 year study exchange at Shanghai Finance University for Wittenborg's IBA students
EuroBA - a 3 Year BA Hons degree in International Hospitality Management
The Euro BA is for the true international student! This 3 Year Bachelor Hons degree, awarded by the University of Brighton, requires students to study the 180 EC credit programme in 4 different countries: From September 2013, Year 1 kicks off in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, at Wittenborg University. Students will study Year 2 at ANGELL Business School, in Freiburg, Germany. The 2nd year ends with a work placement. Year 3 sees students spend Semester 1 at the University of Brighton (UK) and the final semester, writing their graduation dissertation at Ecole de Savignac, in the South of France. For more information contact the admissions team.
The programme has been running at locations in France, Spain and Germany for the past 3 years and Wittenborg is proud to have joined the partnership of EuroBA institutions!
Graduates can enter the MSc degree programmes in International Hospitality Management, International Event Management or International Tourism Management directly.
- IBA Hospitality Management -The International Business Administration (IBA) Bachelor degree programme with specialisation (Minor) in Hospitality Management is aimed at students who are wanting to follow a management career in the service industry, in an internationally focused organisation or enterprise. The current Hospitality, Tourism and Lesure sector is looking at branding and sustainability, talent management and strengthening marketing and sales. An IBA graduate specialised in Hospitality Management will understand all these issues!
This degree programme leads to a Business Administration career in the exciting profession of hospitality management or tourism. Business travel and renewed interest in domestic and foreign tourism is increasing the demand for hospitality managers in hotels, event spaces, and food service companies. The International Business Administration (IBA) Bachelor Degree with a specialisation in Hospitality Management will introduce students to the management aspects required to oversee the everyday operations of resorts, gaming venues, and banquet facilities, or the management of specialty event-planning departments of schools, healthcare organizations, and businesses.
The Hospitality, Tourism and Service Sector industries remain the fastest growing sectors in the world, with countries such as China and India developing their internal markets, and companies in Europe and the US focusing on brand development in a worldwide presence.
Graduates can enter the MSc degree programmes in International Hospitality Management, International Event Management or International Tourism Management directly.
WUP 15/5/2013
Related Content: AdmissionIBA Hospitality ManagementMSc International Hospitality ManagementTickerText: EuroBA - The European Bachelor of Arts - a 3 Year BA Hons degree in International Hospitality ManagementA BirdsEye View - Illegals in Holland - possibly a new source of national income, or more costs?
A BirdsEye View - Illegals in Holland - possibly a new source of national income, or the cause of a massive increase in costs and paper-work? - The current Dutch government is planning to make being illegal in the Netherlands a criminal offence with fines for all those caught, and prison sentences for those who don't pay on time! The basic idea is that making the notion of being illegal unpleasant will act as a deterrent. The proposals have sparked a wide and critical debate in the Netherlands, with a number of very prominent politicians publicly condemning the motion.
Estimates range from between 100 and 150 thousand illegal residents in the Netherlands, and if many of these were picked up and fined, the national cashbox could benefit a pretty penny .. the trouble is that the saying "there's gold in them there hills" has often proven wrong.
However, it would be flippant to suggest that the Dutch government is proposing to make being 'illegal' a criminal offense just because it sees a gap in the market, no; there are fundamental political reasons to do so - none the least attracting voters from far right, and the traditional working classes.
Essentially, the problems of tackling illegal immigrants in the Netherlands is a European one, in that the Netherlands is part of Schengen, which means that the internal European borders are open for people to travel in and out of the country without being checked. The actual border controls are held far away, in countries such as Poland, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, who find it difficult to secure all their crossing points with countries outside of the Schengen area. This results in the Netherlands, and other Western European countries, not really knowing how many immigrants without valid papers are residing in their countries at any given moment.
In the Netherlands the police are limited in their powers to stop and interrogate suspected illegal immigrants. They are only allowed to ask a person's name and address in cases where a clear offense has been committed. As Dutch politician Hero Brinkman points out in his column in last Friday's newspaper the Volkskrant, it is well known that illegal immigrants often gather at certain places in the cities of Holland, however cannot be approached by the authorities unless they actually commit an offense.
Brinkman goes on to highlight the problems inherent to illegal immigrants, whether their status is punishable or not (as is the case now). The majority of illegal immigrants are economic migrants who have left poor developing countries in search of a better economic life, a number are also refugees who have not been granted asylum. In both cases society is dealing with the poorest members of society, often without qualifications or schooling, and the idea that any of these people, once discovered, arrested, charged, tried, and eventually fined will ever be able, or actually want to pay the fines imposed by the Dutch courts is probably a politically motivated dream. The cost of these stages of finding and reckoning with illegal immigrants will be borne by the Dutch tax-payer, as will the arrest, trial and sentencing and imprisonment of those offenders who fail to pay their fines.
From Brinkman's article it seems that the only thing to be done with the imprisoned illegal immigrants, once they have done their time, is to release them back onto the streets, as re-patriating them to their home countries is only possible if those nations assist the Netherlands. Of course most don't!
As an international University in this country, we should be concerned about a number of issues that could affect us by these new laws, if they ever come in.. the first is clearly the Netherlands' image as a fair and liberal country, that traditionally deals with its social problems in a pragmatic and business-like way. The proposed solution is neither pragmatic or business-like.
Secondly, we should be concerned about the definition of being an 'illegal immigrant' - many students in the Netherlands have expired residence cards, as a result of not reapplying on time, delays at the IND or even the break caused by switching their study programmes. Until now students have been given the room to restart the process within 3 months, in some cases even longer, or their ID card expiring. If police agents are given the new duty to detect and arrest people without a valid residence ID permit, this could cause unpleasant situations for students and increase the burden of work and bureaucracy at the international offices of Dutch Universities.
Te problem lies in the fact that populist policies such as are being proposed are focussed on the result of problems caused abroad - poverty and conditions in developing countries, and the inefficiency / inability of Schengen countries to monitor the immigration through its borders. Maybe it's time that European countries wake up to the fact that free movement of people between its member countries brings much more collective responsibility than they first anticipated, in the management of immigration.
Luckily (for us at least), the Netherlands has still one of the most democratically driven political systems in the world, and with a balanced right and left wing coalition in government, there is hope that this motion will not be passed, as the left-wing labour parties members are heavily against the idea… however, politicians tend to choose for a short term solution that leads to immediate voting support!
a BirdsEye View 2013
WUP 11/5/2013
Sources:
de Volkskrant, 10//5/2013
Related Content: A BirdseyeviewHenk Penseel's Wittenborg Blog
Behind the Scenes with IBA Student Rafael Pokorny
Rafael, or Raf as his friends call him, is native to Graz, a medium-sized city in southeast Austria which boasts one of the country’s oldest universities. Interested in a more international education, however, Raf decided to pursue a degree outside of his native land. The Netherlands was one of several countries in which he was interested in studying, though Raf admits he knew almost nothing about the country other than its bike, cheese and blond hair stereotypes. Since arriving in Apeldoorn in October, Raf’s perception of the Netherlands has already changed in a number of ways.
Raf joined Wittenborg after working several months in Austria in the health care industry. Prior to that, he was a high school exchange student in West Chester, Pennsylvania (USA) thus he brings both the professional and educational experience characteristic of many Wittenborg students. These experiences also made the transition to his studies at Wittenborg quite smooth. Raf says he enjoys the freedom that university life offers and that business classes come quite naturally to him. “Business just makes sense” he says when asked why he chose this particular field; “My family has always been involved in business and I have always been around a business community.” It seems fitting that Raf plans to begin his career in sales or event management, depending on what opportunities his studies and network afford him. Would he like to stay in the Netherlands? “It depends,” he replies, noting that in the business world it’s not just what you know, but who you know. He does like the straight-forward and direct nature of the Dutch, however.
Apeldoorn has proven a bit different than the other cities Raf has lived in. When he first arrived he was surprised to see how picturesque the city is. Apeldoorn is “quite pretty” he says, the houses reminding him of the kind one reads about in fairytales. Raf also quickly discovered the convenient location that Apeldoorn offers in relation to other cities, already having visited Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Deventer and Utrecht. The relative number of students in a city is, of course, a very important factor in choosing a place to live for many Wittenborg students. Raf is no exception to this, and he hopes that Apeldoorn will improve accessibility to student housing in the coming years to attract even more students.
Naturally a bright student, Raf thinks he may also study medicine someday in the UK or elsewhere. A business degree may indeed offer a competitive advantage to students applying for post-bachelor studies in either related or unrelated fields. What is Raf’s advice for students currently working on their IBA degrees? “Attend class,” he advises, noting that classroom hours are a valuable time in which lecturers can elaborate on study materials and provide extra examples to help students with more difficult material. Sound advice from a student well on the path to success.
Interviewer - Andy Fekete, Wittenbrg University's Student Support and Front Desk Manager
WUP 10/5/2013
Related Content: International ClassoomInternational Business AdministrationApplicationTickerText: Behind the Scenes with IBA Student Rafael Pokorny7th June 2013 - Open Day for the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management Master programmes
Wittenborg University opens its doors to interested students in 3 MSc programmes from the School of Hospitality and Service Management. The Full Time and Part Time MSc degree programmes start in September and last 1 and 2 years respectively.
The MSc degree programmes are offered jointly with the University of Brighton and lead to a a double (UK and Dutch) MSc / Postgraduate degree. The degree fee is 12600 euro, however Wittenborg University graduates (current students and alumni) are given an automatic scholarship of 3000 Euro. Students requiring 2 years or more to graduate (including part-time) are required to pay the additional registration fee of 1500 euro (total), for years 2 /3.
The Master International Hospitality Management is an excellent follow-up for Bachelor graduates from Bachelor programmes such as Wittenborg's IBA degrees, other business and economic degrees in Holland, and also Hotel schools in the Netherlands and around the world such as the Dutch schools the Hague, Stenden, Saxion or TIO. The MSc offers an academic research degree that can be finished in 1 year (full time) or 2 years (part time). All Wittenborg's MSc degrees are suitable for working professionals who want to combine study with their working careers.
The Master International Tourism Management offers students the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of the tourism industry, carrying out academic research, combined with an in-company project (optional). The degree also takes 1 year full time and 2 years part-time.
As a broad Management Master degree, the MSc International Event Management is the broadest of the three service orientated MSc degree programmes. The degree offers an in-depth study of areas of organisation, marketing, entrepreneurship, globalisation and event management in SMEs or multinational corporations.
During the open day, prospective students will get the opportunity to meet with lecturers, current students, support staff and also follow an example lecture given by one of Wittenborg University's own professors, together with teaching staff from the UK.
more information? - contact admissions@wittenborg.eu
..more details to follow..
WUP 9/5/2013
Related Content: International Event Management MSc ProgrammeMaster Hospitality ManagementMaster International TourismApplicationTickerText: 7th June 2013 - Open Day for the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management Master programmes
Chinese to implement 5 year visas for foreigners to stimulate knowledge migrants
While the Dutch government is concerned about how to bind its non-EU graduates to the Netherlands in a bid to fill the gap that is developing in the source of knowledge workers, the Chinese government has just announced planes to drastically relax its visa regulations for knowledge migrants.
Foreign knowledge migrants will soon be able to receive Chinese visas valid for up to 5 years, if the draft regulation goes through as planned. The resolution will introduce two new types of visa for the foreign professionals, that China says it urgently needs, according to Saturday's edition of China Daily.
According to Wang Huiyao, Director of the centre for China and Globalisation, "The regulations will especially attract those professionals who are employed in other countries however wish to spend some time working in China."
The new so-named R1 visa will be a standard residence card issued for up to 5 years for a knowledge migrant, whilst the R2 visa will allow foreign professionals multi-entry and stays for wok of up to 180 days.
It seems that many countries across the world are currently concerned about their competitiveness and future growth due to a lack of skilled and qualified young professionals. In the Netherlands this currently means that international graduated from Dutch Universities are allowed to stay and work in the Netherlands, whilst oversees graduates have an easier visa process to come to Holland and work.
The trend to attract foreign professionals is however contradicted by an ever growing number of young people unemployed, or "not active" across the world, and gives rise to a debate on the type and quality of education offered to both local and international students. For this reason, Wittenborg University's Bachelor IBA in Hospitality Management is maybe preferable to a general Bachelor in Business. All Wittenborg's BBA programmes require students t specialise in a profession.
One further area of concern in the Netherlands is the number of young entrepreneurs being attracted to start their own companies, and programmes such as Wittenborg's Bachelor Entrepreneurial Business Administration, that combines starting a business with study, are aimed at improving the situation.
WUP 6/5/2013
Sources:
China Daily 04/05/2013Related Content: chinese studentsApplicationHospitality ManagementEntrepreneurshipTickerText: Chinese to implement 5 year visas for foreigners to stimulate knowledge migrants
Most international students in the UK not expecting to stay, the Netherlands looking for more knowledge migrants!
Whilst the Netherlands is increasingly looking at ways to bind their non-EU University graduates to the Dutch economy, a recent survey carried out by study abroad publishers "Hobsons" has revealed that the majority of students who head towards the UK for their studies are not intending to stay there.
According to the Hobsons' survey "Just one in 17 prospective international students sees settling permanently in the UK as the main aim of a university education in the country". Hobsons facilitates recruitment for Universities worldwide, including a number of UK Universities, and their survey had around 6000 respondents, of which only 6% responded that they were aiming to stay in the UK after their studies.
The main reasons for choosing a UK University was the international global recognition of the UK qualifications, the safety in the Uk and the increased job opportunities upon return home.
"Although the survey did not cover the Netherlands, other investigations have shown that similar reasons are given for choosing a study in Holland, however if the results were to be similar here, then the government has its work cutout to persuade graduates to set up companies here or work for Dutch organisations", says Wittenborg University's director Peter Birdsall.
The survey was carried out admits changes in the UK's immigration regulations for international students, which has brought to an end the automatic right to work for graduates (the Netherlands offers all graduates the right to work after graduation). According to the Times Higher Education article, the new regulations also hit hard at private colleges, whose international students have lost the right to work during their studies.
The survey also showed that parent's have the most influence on where their children will go to study, and most students choose their course before the country, submitting an application to multiple Universities before choosing their final destination!
WUP 5/5/2013
Sources:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/foreign-applicants-arent-stop...
Related Content: International ClassoomApplicationInternational Event Management MSc ProgrammeIBA Hospitality ManagementTickerText: Most international students in the UK not expecting to stay - the Netherlands looking for more knowledge migrants!
Dual Vocational Education in China offering the win-win solution
Germany is helping to instigate vocational education in China, through the Dual Method which combines working and learning. Companies such as Bosch and Siemens involved in projects coordinated by the German Chamber of Commerce are enabling technicians to follow courses while working in manufacturing enterprises China.
China, just as the Netherlands, has a shortage of skilled technicians, and dual education can solve two problems - attracting young technically minded workers and at the same time teaching them the skills, knowledge and competences to work effectively in companies manufacturing technical products. Employee loyalty is increased through offering employees education that leads to recognized certificates.
According to the English language newspaper China Daily, graduates can obtain a technical certificate if they pass two exams that are designed for German dual system trainees. The German Chamber of Commerce in China issues the certificates which are recognized by all European manufacturers investing in China.
Although this dual education is aimed at lower and middle education, higher education dual system degrees are already taking place within MBA Programmes around the world and in Germany the dual system of learning is implemented in many state accredited bachelor degree Programmes, especially in vocational degrees such as the the IBA Bachelor degrees in Hospitality Management that allow direct entry into Wittenborg University's top-up IBA or MSc degree programmes.
WUP 3/5/2013
Related Content: International Event Management MSc ProgrammeMaster Hospitality ManagementApplicationTickerText: Dual Vocational Education in China offering the win-win solutionDutch Parliament gets itself into a nonsensical debate about the academic title "Bachelor"
At present the Dutch Government has not completely agreed on a transparent method of applying titles to their higher education in English, although a bill to do so has narrowly been passed through the 2nd Chamber of parliament.
Generally, there is a divide between the funded Research Universities and the Universities of Applied Science in the titles that their respective Bachelor graduates can carry. The Bachelor Arts and Bachelor of Science titles seem to be used by the research Universities, leaving the simple title Bachelor (B) for most of the graduates of a University of Applied Sciences.
Many in government, including the Minister of Education Jet Bussemaker, feel that the Dutch are causing unnecessary confusion for themselves and their students, internationally and at home by not providing their students with clear titles, such as BA, or BSc. for degrees that are equivalent to a UK BA (Hons).
Most other countries have adopted the title system which is basically the same as the UK title system for their degree awards.
Wittenborg University's Bachelor degrees are all business degrees, resulting in the title BBA, which has always been the same at Research Universities and Universities of Applied Science, as has MBA. Wittenborg's MSc degrees in Hospitality Management, Tourism and International Event Management are all UK awards.
It is hoped that the motion will soon be passed by the 1st Chamber ending the debate and making all Bachelor and Master titles for Dutch students equal to those of their counterparts across Europe.
WUP 30/4/2013
Related Content: Bachelor ProgrammeApplicationMaster Hospitality ManagementTickerText: Dutch Parliament gets itself into a nonsensical debate about the academic title "Bachelor".Witenborg University at the Dutch Days in Shanghai
Wittenborg director Peter Birdsall assisted Neso Beijing on its stand at the 2 day Dutch Brasserie held as part of the Dutch Day celebrations in Shanghai, surrounding Queens Day and the coronation of the new King, Willem-Alexander. The stands were situated Jing An park, just of the famous central Nanjing Road in Shanghai's central shopping area.
The brasserie was opened by the Dutch Consul General in Shanghai, Mr Peter Potman and was visited by many local Chinese, interested in what was going on, and getting a small taste and introduction to the Netherlands, however the stands were also an attraction for Dutch living in Shanghai, to get together and meet with both new and familiar faces.
Alongside promoting Dutch Higher Education from the Neso Stand, Peter took time to speak to Dutch business people and entrepreneurs living and working in Shanghai. "I was impressed by the numbers of Dutch living and starting businesses in China from their Shanghai base. I spoke to Entrepreneurs doing business in areas such as technology, design, architecture and real estate, and got a real idea of the level of Dutch entrepreneurship taking place."
The Dutch Days in Shanghai have been organised by the Netherlands Consulate in Shanghai.
WUP 29/4/2013
Related Content: chinese studentsApplicationTickerText: Witenborg University at the Dutch Days in Shanghai
A Birdseyeview - Youth unemployment rising around the world
WUP 27/4/2013 A Birdseyeview- Youth unemployment rising around the world - governments should take care of their higher education offerings - In the Netherlands, and in many developed countries of the West, youth unemployment has been steadily rising, however in developing countries this is also the case, and according to The Economist, in a recent publication, ('Generation jobless', 27th April 2013), two main factors are contributing to the rise in jobless youths. In the West it sees the slowdown combined with the very strict labour laws as a reason, and in the developing world it is the continuing population explosion. Although University graduates are much more likely to find employment than those youths who drop out of education at an early age, the recent trend of Universities offering non-specific, or generalist degree prograammes has also led to a higher number of graduates who find it difficult to find employment after their studies.
Instead of Western governments blindly stimulating the numbers of high schoolers going into degree programmes, they should be carefully stimulating the vocational degrees that offer students courses that lead to their development and preparation for the job market. In the Netherlands there has been much criticism of so-called 'fun degrees' that have a very low graduate to employment rate. Also, the Minister of Education has now called for Colleges (BTEC level) to actually prove that they have enough 'real' work-placement positions for potential students.
Graduates need a complex mix of knowledge and skills to be able to convince employers to keep them on after the first year or two of employment; they need to be able to show that they have an in depth understanding of their discipline, and communicate this, whilst showing the skills required to be efficient, reliable and able to handle stress and intensive working environments.
At Wittenborg University, we believe that all graduates need a broad base of skills and knowledge, even if they are specializing in Marketing and Communication, or Hospitality Management. Logistics or Financial Services. To enable this, all students follow a broad management programme during their first year, in which accounting and finance, marketing and communication, information management, economics and organisation management are balanced.
As the programmes progress, students specialise more and more in their vocational specialisations, however continue to build up a body of overall management knowledge and skills. Hiring and firing people, for instance, is the same across many industries, however the Hospitality Industry will differ from the Information Technology industry in specific areas and these must also be addressed.
Throughout the different Bachelor of Business Administration degree Programmes all students are required to follow a Personal Development Plan, which has a high focus on employability, work finding skills and the ability to retain employment.
Also, at Master's level, vocational research degrees will play an important role in developing a much more industry specific higher education offering. Young graduate employees are much more likely to be held accountable by employers than their counterparts 20 or even only 10 years ago, and degree programmes need to enable their graduates to show that they can fit into a workplace quickly, learn fast and be re-employable.
For instance, the Master of Science in International Hospitality Management focuses on developing an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to managing a Hotel, or Resort - the service industry develops fast and its young managers must be ale to move and adapt quickly to changes in their business environment.
As Dutch Universities and Colleges develop and rollout degree programmes in the coming years they must focus increasingly on the employability of graduates, but also employee retention levels.
A BirdsEyeView,
WUP, 27/4/2013
Related Content: PDPBachelor ProgrammeMaster Hospitality ManagementApplicationBehind the scenes at Wittenborg University with student Chinh Ha
Chinh Ha is a Marketing & Communication student at Wittenborg University from the capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi. She visited the Netherlands for the first time, in 2010 when her father was studying in The Hague. “The Netherlands is a very beautiful country and the people are friendly and nice” says Chinh. “That’s one of the reasons I decided to study here”.
After taking a three-year marketing and communication course in Rotterdam she returned to Vietnam where she worked at a telecom company for five years in the marketing and branding department. Eventually she decided to do something different and came to Wittenborg to increase her knowledge about marketing & communication.
The excellent (international) student support that Chinh received while applying for the IBA course was one of the main reasons she chose Wittenborg. “Everything was done for me from the day that I applied for the IBA course; Wittenborg even arranged my visa for me. After one month and half I signed my study agreement and was ready to come to the Netherlands.”
“I do enjoy the fact that I can cycle here and see ducks and birds. That’s something you will not find in Vietnam.”
The adaptation to Apeldoorn took a little longer. Having travelled to The Hague and Rotterdam before, Chinh was used to Dutch citizens speaking English. Here in Apeldoorn she sometimes finds it difficult to speak to people because most of them prefer to speak Dutch. She also believes it would be great if Apeldoorn had a student community where students could meet each other and show each other around. But above all she has started to feel at home here.
Chinh lives with two other students in Apeldoorn Zuid. It’s a multicultural house with a Vietnamese, Brazilian and Indonesian student. All three of them are studying different specializations and phases. Chinh is currently in the final phase and is studying hard for her research methodology classes. “Research Methodology is a tough class, I would advise other students to revise what the lecturer has discussed right after class.”
After she graduates, Chinh would like to stay in the Netherlands for one or two years. She hopes to find a job here in an international company. After that she wants to return to Vietnam she wants to be close to her family after all.
“Wittenborg is like a family. It’s easy to get to know other students and everybody is friendly.”
WUP 25/4/2013
Interview by Nicky van Riggelen, Final Year Marketing and Communication Student
Related Content: International ClassroomHospitality ManagementApplyTickerText: Behind the scenes at Wittenborg University with student Chinh HaWittenborg students embark on Social Media Project.
At least 6 times a year, Wittenborg’s IBA students are challenged during the Project Week, by a real life, real time project organized by Wittenborg in cooperation with various companies. The students, divided in project groups, receive an assignment which has to be dealt with in a short period of time, usually a week. This means working with deadlines, under pressure. In short: a stimulating and educational experience that prepares students for the reality of their future careers.
Last Monday students had the kick off meeting for a Social Media Project: young entrepreneur Menno Both of Both Social introduced the students to the specifics of this week’s project: how to use social media in order to generate traffic on a travel blog.
Menno is the owner of Both Social, a consultancy company situated in Enschede, in the east of Holland. Started in 2009 as a spinoff company of the University of Twente, Both Social grew to become a social media professional with clients in B2B, B2G en B2C. Both Social is a specialist in developing, creating and executing successful social media campaigns. Their mission is to connect brands and people through social media.
In a captivating slide show he discussed the evolution of media in general and social media specifically, introducing the students with the topic of their assignment: Both Social exploits a travel blog. Both Social wants to earn from the ads on the website and wants to double the numbers for Facebook & Twitter.
The students are supposed to go through a kind of consultancy cycle: come up with a concept for the use of various Social Media, make an operational plan, execute their ideas, do follow up on the results and adapt the concept if necessary. According to Menno 60% of the ideas in the concept plan are actually working, 40% have to be adapted afterwards because of the results.
This particular project week is one that will take actually more than one week. The consultancy cycle takes more than one week and the students will have to hand in several reports and a short film in which they deliver a sales pitch for Both Social.
Client and project week teacher together assess the results and appoint the best team as winner, often with a prize!
WUP 25/4/2013
Related Content: Event Project ManagerProject WeeksApplyApplicationTickerText: Wittenborg students embark on Social Media Project.Education Update - Universities in the Netherlands to raise tuition fees for their "top programme"!
WUP 24/4/2013 - Education Update - Universities in the Netherlands to raise tuition fees for their "top programme"! The Socialist Party of the Netherlands has called for a stop to a difference between high quality programmes for which students have to pay and the mass-education programmes for which "normal students" are foxed to study. The comments were made by socialist Dutch politician Jasper van Dijk, on the even of a debate in parliament about an Act of Parliament that will allow state funded Universities to charge 5 times the normal fees for their excellent studies!
(around 8000 euro). According to Dijk "This will lead to American style higher education in the Netherlands, with excellent education for those who can afford it and normal education for the rest!"
The current Minister of Education, Jet Bussemaker (Labour), has tabled the motion for this aspect of the Act, as part of her move to make Higher Education more affordable for the state, by liberalising University College fees.
link
http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3429436/2013/04/...
Related Content: ApplyApplicationMaster Hospitality ManagementIBA Hospitality ManagementTickerText: Education Update - Universities in the Netherlands to raise tuition fees for their "top programme"!New Bachelor EBA Accredited!
Wittenborg University's Bachelor Entrepreneurial Business Administration accredited by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)
Wittenborg was pleased to receive a positive decision of accreditation from FIBAA last Friday for its Bachelor of Business Administration focused on entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in business. The programme, which opens in September, is completely geared towards on the entrepreneurial student - the student who wants to combine study with setting up and running their own company! Teachers include entrepreneurs from the Netherlands, Europe, North America and Asia and from the start students are asked to take on business projects that include sales and product development.
This bachelor degree has 6 entry points per year and also allows credit transfer from other programmes.
The programme aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop their innovative and entrepreneurial skills alongside the knowledge and competencies learned in a broad business administration programme. The programme aims to stimulate communication skills in a multicultural and multilingual environment and develop qualities of leadership to an extent that business graduates can either feel confident to start their own business ventures or find employment supporting new business and innovative projects within organisations.
“The FIBAA panel members see the strength of the programme in its positioning in the educational market, the internationality of teaching staff, the use of languages in the programme, the cooperation with enterprises, the selection procedure for applicants to the programme, in the additional learning opportunities, in the consideration of teamwork and conflict handling in the curriculum, the use of practical projects and guest lecturers, the business and teaching experience of teaching staff, coaching and support of students and teaching staff, in the facilities at Wittenborg, and with regard to external evaluations.”
To receive more information on joining Wittenborg University’s new BBA programme for Entrepreneurs please contact our admissions office at admission@wittenborg.eu
WUP 22/4/2013
Related Content: FIBAAAccrediationApplyTickerText: Wittenborg University's Bachelor Entrepreneurial Business Administration accredited by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)Make it in the Netherlands
Yesterday the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) unanimously gave its support to the advisory report "Make it in the Netherlands" and urged Minister Bussemaker of Education to quickly implement its recommendations.
The report was instigated by the Minister in December 2012 with the questions "What can we, government, education institutes and businesses and companies, do to increase the numbers of talented international students staying in the Netherlands to work after graduation?" and "What sectors in Holland have the most benefit of attracting more international talent?".
The SER highlighted that the majority of international students in the Netherlands are following economic of social science related programmes, whilst there is a great need for more technical orientated students. The recommendations of the SER include the lengthening of the so-called "Search Year" (Zoekjaar) from 1 year to 3 years, the abolition of the 10 hour a week work restriction for studying students, to be replaced with a yearly maximum, and a greater stimulation in the recruitment of international students.
The SER also describes the support mechanisms given to international students in its report, such as an increased offer of Dutch language courses to students throughout their studies and the easing of complicated regulations and procedures associated with the immigration process.
WUP 20/4/2013
Sources
The report (in Dutch) -
www.ser.nl/~/media/DB_Adviezen/2010_2019/2013/make-it-in-the-netherlands.ashx
Related Content: International ClassroomApplicationTickerText: Make it in the NetherlandsDouble Degree Programme with the IBA at ANGELL Academie in Freiburg
Today students in the final phase of the 180 credit IBA degree programme offered at ANGELL Academie in the south German town of Freiburg were informed of an interesting possibility for them to gain a double degree after completing the Final Year of Wittenborg University's IBA degree in the Netherlands. The ANGELL students are following IBA in the directions of Hospitality Management, Marketing and Communication, Real Estate and Sport and Event Management.
The German students would complete their work placement in Germany, however travel to Apeldoorn for the Final Year modules, before writing and defending their dissertation.
The benefit for the ANGELL students is that by using the ECTS (Credit Transfer System) they gain an international experience at the end of their Bachelor studies, whilst gaining another double accredited and internationally recognized IBA degree. Wittenborg's IBA is a 240 credit degree which is much preferred by many University Master Programmes, including Wittenborg's own Master Event Management, Master Hospitality Management and Master in International Tourism.
The ANGELL students are following IBA in the directions of Hospitality Management, Marketing and Communication, Real Estate and Sport and Event Management.
Wittenborg University and ANGELL Academie have been working together for a number of years, through their partnerships with the University of Brighton, however this is the first collaborative project that they have started as a separate programme.
Wittenborg director Peter Birdsall, who spoke to students today in Freiburg said that the session was extremely positive. "I presented to a group of interested students who asked a number of very intelligent and thoughtful questions. I think that we, and Apeldoorn have a lot to offer these highly motivated young people."
German students, as all EU students can gain Dutch study finance and social welfare support for housing and health insurance if they live and work at least 32 hours a month.
WUP 16/4/2013
Related Content: IBAApplicationIBA Hospitality ManagementTickerText: Double Degree Programme with the IBA at ANGELL Academie in FreiburgEntry into the Master in Event Management
Entry into the Master in Event Management at Wittenborg University generally requires a Bachelor Degree in a field from the Economics Degree domain, such as a Bachelor of Business Administration. if you study in Holland, there are two different types of University Bachelor degree - a 240 EC Credit degree from. Dutch University of Applied Sciences, or a 180 EC Credit Bachelor Degree from a Research University. Both types of Bachelor Degree in the Netherlands qualify for direct entry to the MSc International Event Management degree programmes.
Only students who do not have a Bachelor degree / or 5 years of work experience in the Events industry are required to do a Pre-Master of 6 months, stating in February prior to the start of the Master in Event Management.
If you have studied your Bachelor Degree in English in the Netherlands, at a recognized Dutch University, then you are not required to produce a cent IELTS or TOEFL certificate, however you will be interviewed. If you come from an English speaking country, the same applies. All other applicants need to show an equivalent of IELTS 6.5 level.
The Master in Event Management degree takes 1 full year if you study full time, 2 Years part time. Lectures are given by Wittenborg University and University of Brighton Professors 3 days a week during lesson weeks from September through to mid March. From April onwards, students work with their individual Tutors on their research and dissertations.
The costs of the Master in Event Management in the Netherlands are 12,600 euro for the complete Programme. There is no difference for Dutch or International students in fee levels for the Master of Event Management. Non-EU students however, must also consider the cost of accommodation and living expenses.
Graduates of Wittenborg University (present and past) are entitled to a Scholarship of 3000 euro, which means the fee for the Master in Event Management is only 9,600 Euro for Wittenborg Graduates. If you are a Wittenborg University Graduate and would like to study a Master at Wittenborg, please contact the Student Registrar, Santosh Aryal, for more details.
Interested? If you are in the Netherlands, or close by, then we would be pleased to make an appointment with you, for you to come to our Campus for a discussion with a Tutor. You are also welcome to follow a day of lessons to experience life as a student at Wittenborg. If you are abroad, why not make an appointment for a telephone chat with a tutor regarding the Programme? Contact us at admission@wittenborg.eu
WUP 14/4/2013
Related Content: International Event Management MSc ProgrammeAdmissionTickerText: Entry into the Master in Event Management
