Wittenborg Wraps Up Erasmus+ BusyBees Project at Globalisation Forum

24.11.2025

Initiative Focused on Developing Students’ Digital and Green Competencies

On 3 November, during the second edition of Wittenborg’s Globalisation Forum, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences Vanessa Menezes delivered the concluding presentation for the Research Centre’s project BusyBees, sponsored by Erasmus+. The session was attended by approximately 250 students, as well as visitors from other higher education institutions.

The consortium included partners from four other countries alongside Wittenborg: JAC Jobs Academy (Italy), iTStudy (Hungary), Institut Escola del Treball (Spain) and Solution Based Training & Consultancy (Türkiye). The initiative was designed to bridge the gap between higher education courses and market demands in topics such as digital and green marketing.

The project sought to develop a ‘Business Game Methodology for Twin Transition in Higher Education’, where student teams competed to create a solution based on a challenge posed by a company in their specific study sector. Simultaneously, the students received training on skills related to the two areas of the Twin Transition – digital and green competencies – to develop a solution for the company’s problem.

The BusyBees project ran for two years, starting in November 2023. In the Netherlands, the activities included partners such as Het Loo Palace, where Wittenborg student teams were tasked with increasing visitor engagement while reducing environmental impact.

Reflecting on the project’s outcome, Menezes highlighted its importance in helping students develop technological and sustainability skills that are increasingly demanded by the market. “Collaborating within a consortium of institutions from various countries was a truly enriching experience. One of the most rewarding aspects was seeing the practical results delivered by students to SMEs in our region. They proposed simple, actionable ideas aligned with the Twin Transition, which companies can implement in the short term,” she said.