Commission Guarding Interest of International Students Meets with Wittenborg Students and Staff

Members of the National Commission guarding the interests of international students in the Netherlands paid an informal visit to WUAS on Wednesday morning. Almost 90% of Wittenborg's students are international.

Wittenborg is a signee of the Code of Conduct regulating these interests. The independent commission ensures compliance to the code which obliges signees to offer good, quality education to international students. Equally important, the code allows Wittenborg to apply for student visas and residence permits.

During Wednesday's visit, the commission was led by its chair, Joris van Bergen. He was accompanied by the secretary, Jolanda van den Bosch, and commissioner, Jan Albert Dop. They were welcomed by Wittenborg's chair of the executive board, Peter Birdsall, and its manager of strategy and policy, Karen Penninga. The commissioners were given a tour of Wittenborg's Apeldoorn locations and they also enjoyed coffee and lunch with students and staff.

Penninga said it was a friendly visit requested by the commission to get to know students and staff who were encouraged to share their experiences at Wittenborg and in the Netherlands.

The code guarantees the quality of information sharing with international students, looks at the English linguistic abilities of incoming students, and the use of agents in students' home countries. The commission ensures institutions of higher education that have signed up adhere to the code, instigating investigations, following up on complaints and making recommendations. Its website is http://www.internationalstudy.nl

WUP 10/3/2017

by Anesca Smith
©WUAS Press