Wittenborg Hosts First Fully In-Person Event Since Pandemic Began
Erasmus+ INFURI First Living Labs Session a Success
https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-hosts-first-fully-person-event-pandemic-began.htm
On Thursday, 29th April, 2021, Wittenborg hosted its very first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The event “Living-Labs”, user-centered co-creation session, was organised on behalf of Wittenborg’s Erasmus+ project INFURI. The aim of the session is to spread innovative and sustainable circular business models in the furniture industry contributing to enhance its competitiveness.
Apeldoorn furniture company adopts ‘zero-waste’ approach
The event was co-hosted by the Apeldoorn-based company Brummel, which specialises in the manufacturing of furniture with a “zero-waste” approach. Brummel is a family business, characterised by a huge passion for design, recycling and sustainability. One of its most popular products is Circulock, modular lockers with multiple colours and a modern digital locking system
Wittenborg Accounting & Finance Lecturer Publishes Article on Corruption
Research Article on 'Corruption' published
https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-accounting-finance-lecturer-publishes-article-corruption.htm
Wittenborg scores another credit in the research & development arena with the publication of a peer-reviewed journal article by its Accounting and Finance lecturer, Dr Muhammad Ashfaq. The article, entitled ‘Corruption and its diverse effect on credit risk: global evidence’, was the result of research done by Dr Ashfaq and Dr Rashedul Hasan, a lecturer and researcher from the School of Economics, Finance and Accounting at Coventry University, UK. Dr Ashfaq, one of Wittenborg's active researchers, is also an established writer of several books on the topic of Finance, Ethics and Islamic Banking, and his extensive international background in the same field spans over 10 years.
COVID-19: Wittenborg Receives First Batch of Self-Test Kits for Students and Staff
Students Can Now Test Themselves at Home after Ministry Distributes Kits at Universities
Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences has received its first shipment of corona self-testing kits, which will be available from this week to students and members of staff who want to take the test. Wittenborg will return to hybrid teaching in two weeks, on 17 May, which means lessons will be offered in-person as well as online.
The Dutch cabinet announced at the start of April that it will make self-testing kits available to students and staff at universities as part of a wider introduction of these kits to society as a whole in the fight against COVID-19. The Netherlands intends to get everyone who wants to be vaccinated their first shot by at least 1 July – including international students.
Up to now, Wittenborg has received 1,375 kits. Vikram Athavale, coordinator of student support, facilities and student housing, said they will be distributed between Wittenborg's two campus locations in Apeldoorn and the one in Amsterdam.
Wittenborg MBA Student Opens Online Business-to-Business Food Shop
Practicalities of Importing to Europe a Struggle, says Indonesian MBA Student
https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-mba-student-opens-online-business-business-food-shop.htm
It was with great pride that Wittenborg MBA student Linda Setiawati recently opened her own online shop, Tokopoint, selling Asian food supplies both to other businesses and directly to consumers. But she said her struggle to find information about the practicalities of importing to Europe points to a gap between what international entrepreneurs like her learn in theory and the realities of actually starting an import business.
Setiawati first came to the Netherlands in 2005 to do a bachelor's degree, went back to Indonesia in 2009 and worked for a while in the Philippines. She returned to the Netherlands in 2019 to do an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Wittenborg Amsterdam. "Although it is not hard to find a job in Indonesia, salary levels often do not reflect your education. I found that it is the university you attend which determines your salary. In Europe opportunities are better and more equal. That is why I decided to further my studies in the Netherlands."
Wittenborg Entrepreneurial Students to Host 'Top Entrepreneurs' Free Masterclass in Amsterdam
Masterclass for Graduates of Afterschool Programmes
On May 6th, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences will host a masterclass for graduates of two afterschool programmes in Amsterdam Zuidoost, Ala Kondre and Swazoom. The event, entitled ‘Top Ondernemers’ (Top Entrepreneurs), is designed for 16 to 24-year-old alumni who are interested in learning more about pitching, investing, and starting their own companies.
Participants will receive an introduction from three third-year Wittenborg EBA (Entrepreneurial Business Administration) students from the Amsterdam Campus. Each student will talk about their own journey to studying entrepreneurship in the Netherlands and what inspires them. Wittenborg lecturer Dr Isaac Acheampong will then give the group a presentation on start-up strategies and support for local entrepreneurs. In the afternoon, the participants will have a choice of one of three workshops: Investment and Wealth Psychology, Self-development and Pitching for Investors.
Dutch Higher Education "Benefitting from Brexit"
Student Housing Providers in the Netherlands and Belgium Expecting More EU Students
https://www.wittenborg.eu/dutch-higher-education-benefitting-brexit.htm
While the Dutch government is expecting more international students in the next 6 years, housing providers are also preparing for higher occupancy of rooms in the next academic year - especially students from within Europe, since the country is expected to gradually open more over the summer as it ramps up vaccination against COVID-19.
Impact of COVID-19 and Brexit on Student Numbers Still Unclear: Dutch Ministry of Education
Number of International Students in Netherlands Expected to Rise by 33% in Next 6 Years
The number of international students in the Netherlands is expected to rise about 33% in the next 6 years, according to estimates published this week by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. In general, the number of students expected to study in higher education is much higher than what the government anticipated - especially at research universities. The estimates serves as a foundation to determine the education budget.
Netherlands Starting to See the Light at the End of COVID-Tunnel
Shops and Restaurant Terraces to Re-Open as more COVID-restrictions Eased 28 April
https://www.wittenborg.eu/netherlands-starting-see-light-end-covid-tunnel.htm
The Netherlands is slowly but surely re-opening after a long period of lockdown which saw higher education move almost entirely online. From next Wednesday, April 28, the government will finally relax some of its corona measures, like the re-opening of restaurants and shops - albeit it under certain conditions.
The announcement was made this week by the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte. The controversial night curfew which currently runs from 10 p.m. - 4.30 a.m. will also fall away on the morning of the 28th. Rutte called the gradual reopening of the country a "balancing act". People are still encouraged to work from home, travel as little as possible and keeping to the basic COVID-rules such as regularly washing of hands and keeping a distance of at least 1.5 m. The most important changes from 28 April are:
Restaurants
The curfew will be lifted on 28 April at 4.30 a.m.
Visitors
After April 28 you can welcome two guests per household instead of one as is currently the case.
Measures to stay in place until at least 11 May are:
Sustainability: Selling Coffee Cups from Recycled Coffee Grounds
Wittenborg Students Help Apeldoorn Company Design a Marketing Plan
https://www.wittenborg.eu/sustainability-selling-coffee-cups-recycled-coffee-grounds.htm
A group of students from Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences recently did a project on a local business from Apeldoorn, You Lucky Bird, which reduces waste by selling coffee cups made from re-cycled coffee grounds. The students drew up a marketing plan to help the company launch a new product line: making orange juice bottles from waste orange peels.
The international student group who did the research consists of Kyle Holtzhausen, Rongai Torongo, Inga Natchkepia, Cem Albala, Sohara Patabandige and Mulenga Shebani. It served as an exam assignment for the "Marketing Plan" module taught by lecturer Bob Dyson. "During this module the students had several meetings with the management of the company, including one (Corona proof) face-to-face meeting at Wittenborg, in which all members of the group were present either in person or via video link," Dyson said.
The company was founded by Paul Van der Hulst, who is already an expert in the coffee industry. The coffee cups they make is created from coffee waste. The main vision of the company is to present the world with a circular mindset - a circle that reduces organic waste and simultaneously supports people in underdeveloped countries.
Research: How Well are Students with Learning Difficulties Supported at Dutch Universities?
Wittenborg MBA Graduate Looks at Extent of Inclusion at Dutch Universities
To what extent are Dutch universities equipped to support students with learning difficulties? This is one of the key questions Wittenborg MBA graduate Hien Nguyen examined as part of her final graduation assignment. The scope of her research included 11 universities and universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands where she conducted interviews with people who work in the management of support services at the different institutions.
Nguyen was a senior student advisor at RMIT University, Vietnam, before coming to the Netherlands to do an MBA in Education Management at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences.
Her findings point to the critical role international laws and regulations play in the support services system, the importance of collaboration and communication across internal stakeholders and the difference in service quality provided by different stakeholders. "The research also found that, while aligning with the international regulations in practice, there is a current trend towards pro-activeness in the support systems of these institutions," she writes.