Wittenborg Brings Milestone Week to a Close with Annual Staff Dinner

23.02.2026

Over 100 Colleagues and Partners Gather in Apeldoorn for an Evening of Celebration

On 6 February, Wittenborg’s annual staff dinner returned to the Bilderberg Hotel De Keizerskroon in Apeldoorn — marking the third time the event has been held at the venue. What is fast becoming a tradition provided the perfect setting to conclude a significant week for the institution.

The dinner followed Introduction Week, Wittenborg’s Winter Graduation ceremony and the Advisory Board meeting earlier that day, with the International Academic Advisory Panel (IAAP) convening in Apeldoorn the following morning.

Together, these milestones reflected the full scope of Wittenborg’s mission: celebrating student achievement, evaluating strategic direction, and strengthening academic quality.

With more than 100 attendees, including staff, guest lecturers, Advisory Board members and IAAP representatives, the evening offered a valuable opportunity to connect beyond formal meetings and ceremonies. Colleagues from across departments and study locations gathered in a relaxed atmosphere to reflect on progress, exchange ideas and enjoy each other’s company.

A professional photography session once again added a special touch to the evening, allowing attendees to capture portraits and team photos.

Reflecting on the evening, Sopha Faraji, External Relations & Events Manager, shared:

“It was such a great opportunity to connect and really enjoy being together as colleagues. The energy in the room was fantastic, and seeing everyone engage so openly made all the effort worthwhile.”

Looking Ahead with Confidence

During the dinner, President Peter Birdsall addressed the room, reflecting on both the wider landscape of international education and Wittenborg’s long-term development.

He observed that “there does seem to be a growing recognition that internationalisation — and English-taught education in particular — is not something to be rolled back, but something to be managed sensibly and valued.” For Wittenborg, this remains central. “Students choose not only an institution, but they choose a society, a country,” he noted, underlining the importance of the Netherlands’ international reputation and openness.

Recognising the collective effort behind the institution’s progress, he told attendees: “Everybody in this room contributes daily to international education.”

Reflecting on the recent panel visit from AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), he described it as “an exceptional AACSB panel visit.” He reminded colleagues that AACSB accredits only around 6% of business schools worldwide, and that the professionalism, openness and academic maturity demonstrated during the visit were exactly what one would expect at this stage of Wittenborg’s journey.

“Wittenborg presented itself with confidence, credibility and integrity,” he said, adding that this “matters enormously, both for now and in the long term.”

Looking beyond accreditation, he highlighted long-term institutional thinking, particularly Wittenborg’s sustained commitment to student accommodation. Referring to the Randerode project in partnership with Zorggroep Apeldoorn and real estate intermediary De Kabath, he emphasised that the initiative reflects the institution’s broader philosophy.

“We’re not only educating students,” he said. “We’re building the conditions in which they can live, belong and succeed.”

He stressed that such developments are not short-term gestures but signs of careful, responsible planning: “These are not short-term gestures, but signals of an institution that is planning carefully, investing responsibly and thinking well beyond the next academic year.”

Closing on a strong and optimistic note, he added: “I can say without qualification that I am profoundly confident about Wittenborg’s future, for our students and our academic mission.”