And Why you Should Join as a Student Volunteer

https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-student-sets-apeldoorns-first-unicef-student-team.htm

Iranian student Niloufar Abouheidari has barely been in the Netherlands for 6 months, yet she has already set up a student team for UNICEF  in Apeldoorn. UNICEF is the United Nations Children's Fund responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.

The children's activist is now campaigning for more students to join the Apeldoorn team, regardless of which institution they are studying at. Its aim will be to involve students from Apeldoorn to further UNICEF's mission, namely, to help children so that their basic needs are met and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potentials. Those who are interested can email Niloufar at s1124137@student.wittenborg.eu.

"Our activities might be delayed because of the coronavirus, but we fully intend to go ahead once it is possible." She foresees that most of the volunteer work for those who join will involve spreading awareness and creating fundraising and other events under the auspices of the Dutch branch of UNICEF.

Dream Job

Niloufar joined Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences in August 2019 as a direct-entry student, initially signing up for its IBA (Bachelor) programme in Logistics and International Trade, but quickly switched to an HBA in Event Management. "In Iran I did a degree in Agricultural Engineering, and plan to combine that knowledge with event management and create my dream job."

"Expertise" Guidebook for Entrepreneurship Students

https://www.wittenborg.eu/bestselling-book-entrepreneurship-includes-review-wittenborg-senior-lecturer.htm

A book review from Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences senior lecturer Bert Meeuwsen is included in the 4th edition of the bestselling textbook by Paul Burns, Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Burns is considered an expert on the subject of entrepreneurship.

Meeuwsen is one of only a handful of academics from around the world to be approached by the British publishing house Macmillan to review the 2020 edition of the book, and the only Dutch national.

“They met me during a visit to Wittenborg to address a diversity of business studies textbooks  offered by them,” Meeuwsen explains his involvement.  “They realised that I am in charge of a number of modules related to entrepreneurship and corporate strategy, as well as leading and managing organisations. I also have extensive applied international business experience, with both an MBA and MEd, and studying for a PGCert Higher Education culminating in FHEA. Wittenborg was using the previous Corporate Entrepreneurship editions (2013 and 2016) by Burns, and I was the module lecturer at that time.”

New Timetables, Online Courses in Moodle, Office365 and Teams and Video in Stream - Life at Wittenborg Continues Online - Wittenborg Equips Students and Staff to Keep Education Going amid Global Coronavirus Crisis

https://www.wittenborg.eu/new-timetables-online-courses-moodle-office365-and-teams-video-stream-life-wittenborg-continues.htm

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences has shown its agility by quickly moving its education to online delivery, even for new students who were supposed to arrive for the March start, and who cannot yet travel. Within a short period of time, since the announcement to 'work from home' on March 14th, WUAS has published new timetables for block 6, implemented a link between the online material in Moodle with Office365 and Teams, and increased its support for the online delivery of its modules in Block 6.

Teachers are able to upload videos and online material through the usual Moodle interface, and also through Teams and Groups in Office365. Students remain in their classes and groups, online, however same-subjects will be delivered across multiple programmes to multiple groups at the same time. Students are following their modules either from their homes in the Netherlands, but also from countries such as China, Nigeria, Vietnam and Iran.

Complexities of working from home

Staff and students are discovering that working, teaching and learning online are much more complex than the normal daily routine at Wittenborg, with a constant flow of information, instructions and questions as the system is geared up to cope with the current global crisis.

Business as usual, online working and learning and social distancing

https://www.wittenborg.eu/all-hands-deck-wittenborg-ensures-continued-education-its-1000-students.htm

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences will continue offering its programmes online until  at least 17 May, which is the end of block 6, and is already making preparations to deliver the last block of the academic year online (block 7). The university has taken extensive, pro-active measures to make sure the education schedule is not disrupted, and that both students and staff are fully informed and equipped to continue as normally as possible in an abnormal global situation created by the coronavirus COVID-19.

No lockdown yet but enforced 'social distancing' - 1.5-metre rule enforced

The Netherlands has not yet adopted the 'lockdown' social and economic policies of surrounding countries; however, so-called 'social-distancing' is now being enforced, and everyone in the country has been commanded to keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Locations still open this week (23-27 May)

Meanwhile, some good news was welcomed on Friday afternoon when Wittenborg CEO Maggie Feng announced one of Wittenborg's locations in Apeldoorn, the Aventus-building, will be open again from next week on weekdays 07:30 - 17:00. This will give the

Its Spoorstraat campus in Apeldoorn as well as its campuses in Amsterdam and Munich will remain closed until further notice, in line with urgent measures announced by the Dutch government more than ten days ago.

Netherlands Puts Temporary Halt on Collection of New Student Visas from Embassies in Fight Against Corona - Embassies Closed until at least 6 April

https://www.wittenborg.eu/dutch-embassies-worldwide-suspend-collection-student-visas-until-least-6-april.htm

The Dutch government has suspended the collection of all long-stay visas (MVVs), needed by international students who wish to study in the Netherlands, until at least 6 April. It has also put a hold on short-stay visas, "forced by COVID-19" to temporarily close all its consular desks of embassies and consular generals, as explained on the IND website.

Wittenborg continues to apply for Student Visa's as normal for Block 1 September and Block 2 October Intakes.

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences will continue to process student applications as normal and apply for the MVV student entry visa's for the  September (Block 1) and October (Block 2) intakes. The university Admissions Team is operating as normally during this time and the Immigration Service is accepting Visa Applications.

Travel Restrictions and Entry to the Netherlands

On Thursday, the Netherlands tightened conditions for people who want to travel to the country after Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte stopped just short of announcing a total lockdown in the Netherlands earlier this week. The authorities said they would make "no exceptions for students".

This measure does not apply to:

Wittenborg Well-Prepared to Ensure No Lessons Missed

https://www.wittenborg.eu/chinese-student-survives-isolation-deventer-thanks-kindness-others.htm

When Chinese student Lee Cui came back to the Netherlands in January after a visit to his hometown, Wuhan, he didn't think twice about quarantining himself for two weeks in his room in Deventer.

The 27-year old Wittenborg student from Wuhan, where the Corona Covid-19 virus first broke out, told his story of living in isolation to Dutch regional newspaper De Stentor. He survived on the kindness of others - a neighbour and friends who made sure he had enough food to eat - and Netflix! "They would deliver my food at the door. I find it really sweet that so many people were concerned about me," he told the newspaper.

His biggest worry was his family and friends back home in China where his mother, an uncle and several aunts work as doctors in hospitals. "When you are locked up in your room, isolated from everyone, you tend to brood over things." Having video contact with them every few days helped. First thing he did after coming out? Buy kibbeling - a much-loved Dutch snack of battered fish chunks

He thinks the Chinese culture of obedience was an advantage in the case of corona. "Everyone followed the instructions of the government, which meant we have been able to contain it to some extent."

After his studies he plans to start a business in the Netherlands - hopefully one which forms a link between his region and the Netherlands. "The Netherlands is a beautiful country to start a business - trade is in their blood."

Bachelor's Students Given Behind-the-Scenes Look at Fintech to Understand Impact of Technology on Value Chain of Financial Companies

https://www.wittenborg.eu/going-high-tec-high-impact-week-munich.htm

The theme of the March 2020 Project Week at New European College (NEC) - Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences' partner institute in Munich, Germany - was "High Tech". Bachelor's students spent a week looking into how technology impacts the value chain of companies in the financial sector. To bring this theme to life, NEC welcomed a series of guest speakers who could present in-depth on the various aspects of financial technology.

The week commenced with guest speaker Al Lakhani, founder and CEO of IDEE GmbH. With a long and dynamic career in finance, his most notable project includes the winding down of Lehman Brothers. Lehman was the 4th biggest investment bank in the US before it filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and is thought to have played a major role in the unfolding of the financial crisis of 2007-08. Al guided students through an introduction to blockchain technology and spoke about the fundamentals of cryptocurrency.

Lakhani was followed by Brendan Todd, a Munich-based financial advisor and insurance/mortgage broker with significant professional experience in finance and banking. Brendan guided students through the concept of financial technology and Fintech’s role within today’s market, along with Chancellor Sascha Liebhardt, who shared an academic perspective on the subject.

The second part of Project Week engaged students in a case study about equity research, led by Artur Kampik, the Managing Director at LeanVal Investments GmbH. A specialist in digital wealth and asset management, Artur spoke with students about digital disruption in the financial markets.

https://www.wittenborg.eu/corona-covid-19-virus-update-13032020.htm

This is an important message to all students and staff at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences regarding the delivery of education in the coming period, as a result of the COVID-19 virus situation in the Netherlands.

The Coronavirus (or COVID-19) outbreak crisis around the world is continuing. The WHO has named the outbreak a pandemic (global epidemic).

Students and Staff are kindly requested to please read this document fully and carefully before raising questions. Please take your time – it’s a lot of information. There is a specific section below for Bachelor and for Master students.

Thanks for your continuing support in this difficult time,

Peter Birdsall
President of Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences

Corona COVID-19 Virus Update 12/03/2020

https://www.wittenborg.eu/corona-covid-19-virus-update-12032020.htm

The Coronavirus (or COVID-19) outbreak crisis around the world is continuing. The WHO has named the outbreak apandemic (global epidemic).
The welfare of our staff and students is WUAS’ highest priority. We are continuously monitoring the situation, on a day to day and sometimes hour to hour basis and liaising closely with the public health organizations  GGD (regional health authority) and National Institute for Public Health (RVIM) acting in line with their latest advice at all times. Now the Dutch Government has also come with advice.

Based on this advice the university is operating within the guidelines of the Dutch government and making its own decisions regarding Education Delivery. There will not be any freeze in education – arrangements for education delivery will be outlined in a Policy Update tomorrow (Friday 13th March).

Mixing Business (Education) and Pleasure at New European College

https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-partner-munich-nec-hosts-meet-greet-alumni-wine-bar.htm

A genuine and holistic business education where the student can fully exercise his or her entrepreneurial thinking must be underpinned with… fun. This is the belief at Wittenborg's partner institute in Munich, New European College (NEC), where a Meet & Greet between students and staff was recently organised. In the spirit of the values the college holds dear, the event was held at GoodWine Bar – a cosy wine bar in downtown Munich that was founded in 2019 by NEC Alumni Ekaterina Kuzmenko and Vladislav Anisimov.

When you ask Chancellor Sascha Liebhardt about his approach to business education, he will tell you that it should be “entrepreneurial, sustainable and fun. The quality of our teaching staff at New European College and content of our academic programmes is as important to our students’ education as is their enjoyment of the subject matter and experience on campus."

At NEC it is believed social events like last Saturday’s Meet & Greet are as essential to a New European College student’s experience as the industrial visits, guest speakers and networking events that are on offer.