Inside Wittenborg’s 2026 Student and Staff Representation Conference Day

06.03.2026

Students and Staff Discuss Career, Community, and Wellbeing for 2026

On 24 February, Wittenborg brought together students and staff for its annual Student and Staff Conference Day in Apeldoorn and online, sparking discussions on student experience, staff initiatives and plans for the year ahead.

The day began with student and staff representative meetings alongside programme committee discussions, followed by an afternoon plenary where the outcomes and suggestions from the morning were shared with the wider community.

Reflecting on Progress from 2025

The morning discussions looked back at action points raised in 2025 and how they have been implemented over the past year.

Vanessa de Oliveira Menezes, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, and Fahad Shakeel, Deputy Head of School of Business, highlighted several developments. Type 1 exams moved to a digital format starting in Block December 2025, tentative grades are now available online, and a Handling Aggression training session for staff took place on 1 May. Meeting agendas were introduced to improve discussion structure, and classroom conditions, including building temperatures, were also addressed.

Workplace safety and wellbeing were also part of the conversation. HR Manager Maike Zürcher spoke about Wittenborg’s mandatory Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E), which tracks workplace health and safety risks. She reminded staff about fire safety procedures, emergency response and the importance of reporting accidents.

“Everything you need to know about this is in Wittenborg’s Academic and Operations Guide (AOG),” she explained.

Senior Lecturer and Guest Lecturing Coordinator Fjorentina Muco then moderated discussions around employee experience, communication, workplace policies, feedback and future goals. Staff mobility was also discussed, reflecting Wittenborg’s ongoing collaboration with academic partners.

Building on These Ideas for 2026

Looking ahead, De Oliveira Menezes suggested informal knowledge-sharing gatherings where colleagues can exchange updates on projects, courses and training activities. Clearer communication of staff roles, faster responses to internal emails and additional training opportunities were also discussed, including courses such as Wild Years by Cha-Hsuan Liu.

Further ideas included creating a news board to keep staff informed about key updates and deadlines, alongside initiatives that promote wellbeing through partnerships with local gyms and organised activities.

Student Perspectives: Career, Wellbeing and Community

Most of the student representatives, including Jasmine Shaw and Arshia Baharloueiyancheshmeh brought forward student perspectives, focusing strongly on sustainable career development.

They highlighted the importance of continuous learning, strategic adaptability and aligning career goals with long-term success while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Reflecting on student life, Shaw noted how social spaces remain important for building connections.

Alongside broader discussions about wellbeing, students also raised practical questions about navigating academic processes such as Project Week registration, Moodle and other administrative procedures. Many of these questions are already addressed through Wittenborg’s FAQs, a concise version of the EEG, which provides step-by-step guidance on processes like registering for Project Week.

Students also discussed the importance of strengthening social connections on campus. Suggestions included mental health workshops, reading sessions, mindfulness activities and sports opportunities.

Wittenborg already supports student wellbeing through initiatives such as discounted padel and squash memberships in Apeldoorn, including single-court discounts and free equipment for those without memberships.

Student-led initiatives also continue to play an important role in campus life. Programmes such as Night Chats and the SWIFT Team, which organises student events and clubs, give students opportunities to build community while developing organisational, communication and teamwork skills.

Career Development and Practical Skills

Career development remained a key theme throughout the day.

De Oliveira Menezes encouraged students to take Wittenborg’s Work Experience Preparation Module, which focuses on practical skills such as CV creation, improving LinkedIn profiles, understanding job opportunities in the Netherlands and networking strategies.

“This course is a great opportunity to enhance your CV, strengthen your professional profile, and learn how to find job opportunities in the Netherlands. You will find it very interesting and valuable.”

Additional workshops covering these topics are organised regularly for students in both Apeldoorn and Amsterdam.

Students also proposed further ways to strengthen industry connections, including real-company projects, guest lectures, partnerships with local organisations and real-life case studies within MBA and MBM modules.

Practical Learning and Employability

Discussions also explored ways to strengthen practical learning opportunities.

Shakeel encouraged students to take an active role in their studies:

“Students should take responsibility and be at the centre of their own learning process.”

Deputy Head of School of Business Dadi Chen spoke about developing incubator-style learning opportunities where students can test ideas and scale projects using tools such as AI simulations.

Senior Lecturer and BBA Programme Coordinator George Bosire also suggested the idea of a student-led application where students could propose and organise events themselves, further strengthening community engagement and student initiative.

Alumni involvement was another idea raised during discussions, with suggestions for workshops or TED-Talk-style sessions where alumni could share their professional experiences with current students.

Mental Health Remains a Priority

Peter Birdsall, President of Wittenborg, noted that it is “interesting to see that mental health discussions are back on the agenda. Resilience is something we always focus on, and it is good to see students and staff engaging openly about it.”

Wittenborg takes a proactive approach to mental health and wellbeing. Confidential support services are available for students who need guidance or have experienced unacceptable behaviour. Students are encouraged to reach out early and make use of these resources to support their personal wellbeing.

The day concluded with a clear set of actions and proposals from both students and staff, building on achievements from 2025 and setting a positive, practical agenda for 2026.