Student Column

To work or not to work while you study? That’s the big question most university students ask themselves. In the Netherlands, students from outside the EU/EEA are allowed to work 16 hours a week alongside their studies. Making a decision on this is quite challenging as there are many pros and cons to both sides of the coin. Wittenborg MBA student Hanna Abdelwahab made a cost-benefit analysis.

Everyone gets stressed out from time to time, but the question is, how to manage it? A study done by the Dutch Student Union revealed almost three quarters of students in the Netherlands are "emotionally exhausted", while 1 in 4 has a higher risk of burnout. MBA student Hanna Abdelwahab has some tips on identifying and managing stress.

Do you know the difference between hard and soft skills? Hard skills are job-specific skills and knowledge which is quantifiable, like web design, accounting and programming. These skills are needed by you to perform a job. For example, an architect should possess hard skills, like drawing the plan of a building, or a carpenter should posses the hard skills of woodworking or soldering. Hard skills can be gained through education, training programs, through reading and practice.

Many of us feel that learning a foreign language is not important and that it is really a waste of time. But multiple studies reveal that knowing multiple languages has cognitive, social and health benefits. The World Economic Forum states that learning another language could improve your all-round cognitive ability, hone your analytical skills and spice up your soft skills. Some studies even link multilingualism with fending off the onset of dementia.

Practising positive psychology does not mean all life's problems will disappear. It does, however, mean taking control of how you respond to those problems. MBA student Hanna Abdelwahab offers some tips on changing your perspective on the curve balls life throws at you.

With its unique rolling entry system, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences welcomes a new group of students every few weeks. So how do you overcome all the jitters of a newcomer to Wittenborg? MBA student, Hanna Albdelwahab, has some tips.

You'd be surprised how creative thinking can help you solve complex and simple problems. The good news is, it's a skill you can learn, writes Wittenborg MBA student Hanna Albdelwahab in her latest column.

Moderation is the idea that we should always strive to lead a balanced life and avoid all kinds of extremism. We should always be moderate and balanced in all aspects of our lives. Every admirable trait has two ends responsible for it. For example, generosity is the mid-point between miserliness and extravagance, while the mid-point between cowardice and recklessness is courage. We should always aim to find the centre of everything.

Making friends in a new country can sometimes be a challenge for international students, as a recent study in the Netherlands has proved. What can be done? MBA student Hanna Abdelwahab has some suggestions.

When problems unsettle your life, have you ever asked yourself: "Why is this happening to me?" Don't be so quick to bemoan your bad luck, argues MBA student, Hanna Abdelwahab. Sometimes personal growth and evolution requires change and hardship.