"Let's Update Each Other about Activities in and around Apeldoorn"

https://www.wittenborg.eu/student-column-what-do-apeldoorn.htm

"I don't know what to do or where to go in Apeldoorn."
This is one of the complaints that I’ve heard from my friends.  We just don’t know what to do in Apeldoorn, when we have some spare time or when we are bored and need to do something to perk us up.  

Travelling to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Germany is sometimes out of the question as it takes too much time, effort and money.  Most shops and entertainment centres here are closed by 8 or 9 pm.  There seems to be nothing much to do in Apeldoorn - or so we thought.

For international students who speak little or no Dutch, it can be difficult to find information about the activities that are happening in and around the town.  Though the I AM EXPAT website is really useful and full of information in English, when you want to know more about a place or event,  you are often re-directed to websites that are only in Dutch with no alternative language or with French or German translations.  It is really frustrating to use the “translator” tab at the top of the browser to translate the whole webpage, as most of the times the links do not work from the translated page or the whole page just freezes. Copying and pasting and toggling between the page and the Google Translate webpage is a challenging, time-consuming and irritating process.  

"In These Situations We Must Put Nationality and Religion Aside and Humanity First"

https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-student-recalls-horror-utrecht-shooting.htm

Wittenborg student student Varsha Punj was close by when a gunman opened fire on a tram in Utrecht on Monday which killed three people and injured five.  The final-phase hospitality student lives about 500m from where the incident took place in the Kanalieland neighbourhood and was at a close-by supermarket when the shooting started. "We were kept inside for an hour and a half and the air was filled with helicopters and the sound of sirens. I was not afraid, but it was terrible to see."

However, instead of being paralyzed by the incident, Varsha, joined a team of 11 people who are paying tribute to people who lost their live and offering reassurance to those affected by the tragedy. "I felt I had to do something - even if it is as small as offering a cup of coffee, giving a hug or offering reassurance to those who grieve the fallen at the site. In these situations we must put nationality and religion aside and do something for humanity."

Varsha also volunteered for Wednesday's two elections - the Provincial Councils Election and the Dutch Water Board Election - and educated herself in Dutch politics. People who have a Dutch residence permit - even for a short term like studies - are allowed to vote in the Water Board Elections. She is proud of the fact that she voted and does not mind divulging for which party - the Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren).

On election day she helped with parking cars and guiding people in the neighbourhood to the voting stations. She is fiercely political and studied Political Science before joining Wittenborg as a student doing an IBA in Hospitality Management.

About 3,000 OV-Chipcards Issued in Trial with International Students

https://www.wittenborg.eu/travel-card-international-students-horizon.htm

The Dutch are considering a travel card for international students to give them a discount on public transport after a successful trial in 2018 involving five universities and four universities of applied sciences. About 3,000 of these special OV-chipcards were issued. Another test run across the country will be done next year, a report from Nuffic states.

It is believed the card might help to alleviate the acute shortage of accommodation in student cities, giving them the option of living outside these cities and commuting to classes at a discounted fare. "It will also be handy for students doing internships who have to travel to their place of employment," according to Floor van Donselaar from Nuffic. In addition, the organisation believes it will help with integration as students will be able to explore more parts of the Netherlands.

In contrast to international students, Dutch students enjoy free or discounted travel on public transport to and from their classes. They can apply for the product through the department of education and load it on their OV card. According to Nuffic international students in other countries already benefit from discounts.

“Are you patient or impulsive? Is there a litmus test?”

Patience  can be defined as the ability to endure pain or suffering when faced with affliction or provocation.  It basically means remaining calm and steadfast without resorting to impulsive reaction or action.  A patient person is as tenacious as steel or tar, which means tough and not easily affected by an external force.  Patience does not just mean the ability to restrain yourself from fighting or hitting another person, or going berserk and breaking things.  It goes beyond that.  Many people would claim that they are patient and humble. But are they?

So how do you know if you have patience? What is the litmus test?

Imagine this.  Your boss comes to you and starts shouting at you for a job badly done.  Do you shout back at him, defending yourself, or do you wait until he’s finished and then tell him, "let’s discuss the matter" when he’s calmer?  

Or, imagine you say "Hi" to your classmate and she doesn’t even smile back at you and just walks away.  Would you feel angry and feel like shouting back at her?  Or would you tell yourself, it’s okay, maybe she didn’t hear you or maybe she’s not aware of your presence and is oblivious to her surroundings.

Collaboration Between Sport Professionals Impress Students

https://www.wittenborg.eu/trip-munster-gives-msc-students-insight-managing-sport-club.htm

Ten master's students from Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences recently visited German city Münster where they got to watch a professional volleyball match between USC Münster and Nawaro Straubing, as well as gaining valuable insight into the management of a sport club and the organisation of an event of that magnitude.

The group consisted of nine MSc students and one MBA student. They were accompanied by Wittenborg CEO, Maggie Feng.

USC Münster’s coach is Lisa Tomsen, a current Wittenborg student from Germany doing an MSc in Sport Business Management. Tomsen also gave a talk entitled “Life of a Professional Athlete”.

How did students experience the trip?

Spanish student Celeste Fernandez said: “It was a great experience and a very good complement to the regular lessons we have in Apeldoorn. We exchanged ideas with professionals working in the sport sector and enjoyed a very good volleyball match, cheering on our classmate, Lisa.

“We could also learn valuable facts for our master's degrees like the management of the volleyball club, about the sport venue and the facilities needed, the management and organisation of the event, how the athletes prepare for a game the same day, and about the life of a professional volleyball player.”

Russian student, Fatima Makoeva, said: “The atmosphere at the stadium was amazing. We also learned a lot about the challenges and responsibilities USC Münster faces, and it was nice to see how players collaborate and the high level of trust and support they provide.”

"Wittenborg aims to help students pinpoint their career paths"

https://www.wittenborg.eu/career-counsellor-sanne-de-jong-brings-paul-ginsberg-cloud-integrate-talk-about-salesforce-and.htm

It can be quite difficult to determine what career path is best for students and graduates who are currently or soon to be looking for employment or internships. Fortunately, a seminar last week hosted by Cloud Integrate's Paul Ginsberg (partners with Salesforce) presented a free platform to help Wittenborg students and graduates gain experience about Salesforce. This can then enhance employability later on.

In short, Trailhead is a learning platform that aims to assist people in identifying their career paths within Salesforce. As said by Paul during the seminar, many of these types of platforms come with a price, however, Trailhead is completely free to use. "This is a chance to shout out about it, and allow students to discover and explore something that they might not have previously considered, all with no risk," Paul states.

To learn more and join this platform, click here.

"Gelderland Province could Suffer a €25m Deficit if Britain Leaves the EU"

Brexit - a Messy Divorce  

With the UK’s messy divorce from the EU reaching boiling point this week, an executive member of Gelderland province, Michiel Scheffer, led a seminar talk at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences on Tuesday evening to shed light on the implications of Brexit for Gelderland province and Europe as a whole. 

The seminar - which happened only hours before parliament rejected British prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal for a second time - was attended by Wittenborg staff and students, including Wittenborg’s chair of the executive board, Peter Birdsall, who was born in the UK, and Irish lecturer Daniel O’Connell.

The EU asserted in March 2017 that if no agreement is reached between the UK and the EU before the exit date of 29 March, the UK will have to pay Brussels £39 billion for outstanding financial commitments.  Scheffer, who was also born in the UK, said if Britain fails to pay, companies in the Gelderland alone will suffer a deficit of €25 million.  

Wittenborg has already started discussions with its long-term education partner in the UK, the University of Brighton, to minimise any possible disruptions caused by Brexit.

Scheffer predicted a long, hard road of negotiations ahead for the UK on trade and the free movement of people, whatever the outcome of various rounds of voting this week.  

He outlined several ways the voting can go and the different models the UK might opt to emulate, including that of Norway, which he said was in a perpetual state of negotiations with the EU as it is not a member state but is associated with the block through more than 130 agreements, including the comprehensive European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. Through these agreements Norway incorporated roughly three quarters of EU legislation, but is not involved in making these laws.

Wittenborg University proud to see its female students progress as entrepreneurs.

Bertha Carolina Tanaem

Bertha Carolina Tanaem is a senior majoring in International Trade Logistics. Inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit, Bertha followed her dream of starting her own business while being a student at Wittenborg, and followed in her father’s footsteps. Passionate about design and fashion, Bertha saw an opportunity to promote local Indonesian fabrics through creating a handbag collection.

Bertha says, “Many people know about Indonesian batik but not many realise that Indonesia has a vast amount of cultures and fabrics. The idea was always there but I didn’t know how I wanted it to be done. After testing the creation process of one bag, I gained more knowledge about business processes and took it as an opportunity to start brainstorming for a business plan.” Bertha saw potential in her business idea and acted on impulse to make it happen. Bertha’s business is about the creation of handbags that promote local Indonesian woven fabrics and styles across the world.

Asked about her brand, she sums it up as: “Sustaining woven culture through modern fashion. Every pattern represents a different story and a different culture.” At the end of the interview Bertha mentions that in order to be a successful entrepreneur “collaboration is key”, and she highlights her pragmatic approach in two words: “Do It”.

Hanne Skauge Garnvik

Hanne Skauge Garnvik graduated from Wittenborg with a degree in Entrepreneurship & Small Business. Since a young age, Hanne has enjoyed make-up and skin care, and she combined her passion for cosmetics and her boyfriend’s knowledge in online marketing into a franchise of the Norwegian skin care company, Marina Miracle, in the Netherlands. The duo’s entrepreneurial spirit, paired with their specific industrial know-how, led to exclusive sales rights in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Wittenborg Makes a Positive Impact at Ukraine's Largest Study Abroad Fair

https://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-promotes-studyinholland-ukraines-largest-study-abroad-fair.htm

The largest education abroad fair of Ukraine ‘Study Abroad’ held last week at Fairmont Grand Hotel in Kiev, Ukraine. Thousands of prospective Ukrainian students attended this fair which was organised by one of Wittenborg's official representatives in Ukraine, 'Study.ua'.  

There were present over 60 international universities, including Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences.

Wittenborg was represented by Iryna Bernatska, Support Officer & Communication Coordinator at Wittenborg Amsterdam. Iryna, herself a 'Study in Holland' graduate was assisted by one of the Study.ua representatives, Alexander.

Iryna received positive comments from the visitors about Wittenborg's unique block system and the team's transparency about Wittenborg's expectations regarding entrance requirements, .to study, and visa requirements, the cost of living in the Netherlands and student housing.

Visitors to Wittenborg's stand showed most interest in the various three-year Bachelor of Business Administration degree programmes however also the new Master of International Management Programmes (MIM). These are a variant of the current business administration master , however do not require work experience.  

During second day of the fair, Iryna gave a seminar on “Study in Holland. Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences” where she covered all the positive aspects of choosing the Netherlands and the university.

The majority of the prospective students visiting the study abroad fair knew exactly which programme they would like to study and came prepared with specific questions.

Do you have the appropriate habits to succeed in college, career and personal life?

https://www.wittenborg.eu/integrating-habits-mind-college.htm
 

Since Dr. Arthur L. Costa and Dr. Bena Kallick came up with the 16 Habits of Mind framework in 2009, school administrators all over the world have tried to implement them in their schools.  Teachers are encouraged to redesign and restructure their curricula and lesson plans to include these habits of mind together with a plethora of other initiatives, such as thinking skills, 21st century skills and the like. Implementation has been successful in some schools but waned off in others.  Colleges, universities and other higher-education institutes try to follow suit but at a lower scale.  So how far has it been successful?

College students nowadays might have been exposed to these 16 habits of mind in one way or another - through their elementary, middle or high school education.  But are any of the 16 habits still prevalent in the students? Have any of the habits become their habits now? Are they using those habits in their lives now, so that they have become a norm?

Whatever the case, in my opinion, it is really important for college students to start learning (if they have not done so) or continue developing these 16 habits of mind or part of them. The best way to develop these habits is through practice in their daily lives.