Everyone welcomes the arrival of HBO in Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn – That Wittenborg is moving to Apeldoorn is also thanks to the Johanna Donk-Groot Foundation, who will fund the move and extra costs of situating in the new building in Apeldoorn centre. This is something that Apeldoorn couldn’t do, says Alderman Hans Wegman, because the funding eventually goes to a private business school.
Wegman argues that Apeldoorn did “absolutely not” pull Wittenborg away from Deventer. The University itself was looking for a new home, said directors Peter Birdsall and Maggie Feng because the present building in Deventer was no longer suitable for their growth and image. A search for a new building in Deventer had accomplished little, when last autumn Wittenborg discovered that Apeldoorn was looking to expand its HBO capacity. There was even a readymade space, namely the building of ROC Aventus next to the Apeldoorn railway station. That area had been reserved for Kenloo, the University institution that failed to start last year and has since been abandoned.
According to Birdsall the location offers "enormous potential". Located near the station the modern building is especially attractive to students, especially since currently the majority of Dutch students come from the Randstad and travel with the train back and forth. Moreover, in Apeldoorn there is no competition for this type of education, as there is in Deventer, which will make it especially attractinve to international students, who will find more opportunities for jobs and housing. Of course the important support of the city government is a factor, and another strong argument is the increased supply of medium and large companies in Apeldoorn. Birdsall sees further growth opportunities in this city better than in Deventer.
Wittenborg has a very international character. There are 24 nationalities among the students. Almost all courses are bilingual; there is 70 percent in English, compared to 30 percent in Dutch. The international character of the staff and students is one of the strengths of the institution, in addition to the personal sphere and the "somewhat more academic approach to study”. Students receive lectures and seminars three days a week, which is good for 22 to 32 hours per week. MBO college students can gain a four-year degree course in three or even two years if they keep up with the high tempo of study.
Dries Crama, president of the Netherlands Employers association VNO-NCW in region is very enthusiastic. With Wittenborg 'structure' is created in Apeldoorn’s quest for a full-blown University. He predicts that the arrival of Wittenborg will lead to many more higher education developments for the city in the near future.
Note: HBO is Higher Professional Education (University of Applied Sciences)