China

Following on from a visit to China last year, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences has entered into an inter-institutional agreement of cooperation with the Weifang University of Science and Technology in Shandong, China.

The common goal of the agreement is to promote academic exchange between the Netherlands and China, to enhance mutual education performance, and to strengthen collaboration in areas of mutual interest, so as to develop academic and research cooperation.  

Weifang was represented by two delegates, Mr Jianping Wang and Mr Yanhui Chengh. They were welcomed by Wittenborg CEO, Maggie Feng, and the chair of the executive board, Peter Birdsall.

“I don’t want to leave!” Chinese student Zhang Yutong exclaimed, as she and her fellow students from the Shanghai Business School enjoyed their last day at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, after a weeklong visit to the Netherlands. They fly back to Shanghai on Saturday.

The group were treated to a luscious, specially designed cake with their photo on, as they said farewell to Wittenborg students and staff. Wittenborg’s chair of the executive board, Peter Birdsall, invited them to come back any time, whether for a short or longer study period. “The aim of this visit is cultural exchange. It is about our students going to China and you coming here.”

Beijing Dongcheng Vocational University, based in the Dongcheng district of China's capital city is predominantly focused on adult learning and also hosts the local Community College as well as the local branch of the Beijing Open University.

With a population of over 1 million, Dongcheng district covers the eastern half of Beijing's urban core, the 'Old City' (around 40 km2).

Wittenborg University directors Peter Birdsall and Maggie Feng (CEO) were given a tour of the facilities of its main campus building, before having a discussion on possible collaboration with the institutes President, Professor Zhang Yannong, and Associate Professor Jin Yan.

In a recent trade mission to China, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences made agreements with no less than 5 institutes of higher education, and played a major facilitating role in opening more doors for cooperation between China and the Netherlands.

One of the big talking points was about establishing a train connection between Hubei province in China and the Gelderland province in Holland using the Betuwe route, a double-track freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany.

The weeklong trade mission focused on education and sport. Wittenborg was represented by its CEO, Maggie Feng. The trade mission consisted of Michiel Scheffer, D66 member of Gelderland’s provincial executive, Apeldoorn councillor Alderman Johan Kruithof and representatives from the Full Sports Group (FSG).