Given that WUAS has committed to raising its faculty qualifications to a ratio of 60% of teaching staff having a PhD/Doctoral qualification by 2021, this does not mean that the quality of teaching and learning by business practitioners will be limited. A continuous growth of teaching staff is foreseen, and WUAS will continue to attract Practice Academics, further developing a policy of engaging teaching staff that have a proven record in research and have clear links with the professional field.
Faculty - Practice Academics
Teaching Faculty / Practitioners
 | Dadi Chen, PhD, is Associate Professor of Applied Sciences and Programme Coordinator at Wittenborg's Amsterdam study location. He obtained a PhD degree in Education from Leiden University, the Netherlands, and received his master’s degree in Foreign Linguistics & Applied Linguistics from Xi'an Jiaotong University in China. He is a highly motivated educator,… read more. |
 | Fahad Shakeel, MBA, PhD, Assistent Professor of Applied Sciences, completed his PhD from Radboud University, the Netherlands, in 2021. His research focus is on leadership, ethics and sustainability. He teaches multiple modules associated with his research interests and domain. Fahad supervises bachelor and master thesis and has interests in qualitative research methods. He… read more. |
 | Lasantha De Silva, MBA, MA, DIMM, originally from the banking sector, had a career change to Education in 2008. He comes with a strong managerial background in South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. An alumnus of Wittenborg and University of York St. John, UK, he qualified with an MBA in Finance from the former and MA in Leadership, Innovation and Change… read more. |
 | Adeyemi Banjo, MSc, MBA, comes from a multidisciplinary background. He first graduated from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1991, with a BSc in Psychology. After working for a couple of years, he decided to further his studies and was able to obtain degrees in informatics and engineering management from Saxion, the Netherlands, a master’s in Business Administration (MBA… read more. |
 | Myra Qiu, MSc, FHEA, is an Executive Board Member at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, where she is responsible for internal processes, HR team management, international collaborations, external locations and transnational education agreements, internal and international events, as well as recruitment and sales. Her educational background includes a focus on… read more. |
 | Daniel O'Connell, MM, BMSc, Dipl. TEFL, Head of English Dept & Foundation Programme, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, moved to California in the 1970s and worked as a graphic designer for the now defunct Ananda Publications. In the latter part of the 1970s, Daniel returned to London and entered a 3-year course in Homeopathy and Flower Remedies of Dr Bach in London. To finance… read more. |
 | Gábor Molnár, PhD, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, is an academic with research interests in high-tech innovations, (big) data-related policymaking, and applied Artificial Intelligence. He is also a business development professional with over twenty years of experience in the high-tech industry. In addition to teaching for Wittenborg, Dr Molnár is an Associate… read more. |
 | Muhammad Ashfaq, MBA, PhD, Senior Lecturer of Applied Sciences, is widely recognised as an outstanding and experienced business and finance expert with more than 16 years of international experience. He is also a regular visiting faculty member at LSI Business School Cambodia, and the international MBA program at Coburg University, Germany. His research interests include… read more. |
 | Gilbert Silvius, PhD, is an experienced lecturer, researcher and consultant, with a focus on project management and information management. He has over 20 years’ experience in organisational change and IT projects and is a member of the international enable2change network. Gilbert has published over a 100 academic papers and several books, and supervises academic research at… read more. |
 | George Bosire, MBA, is a highly analytical, adaptable and result-driven individual who believes in cross-border business integration and linkages that promote shared long-term advantages amongst players in an increasingly connected global business. He attained a certified Public Accountancy qualification in Kenya, Financial Management in Dublin, Ireland, Finance and Control in… read more. |
 | Emmah Muchoki, MSc, studied Leisure, Tourism and Environment at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and attained her BSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2007. She became a lecturer at Hemland College, Kenya, in Hospitality and Tourism in 2010, and from 2014 to 2016, she was Head of School of Hospitality, Tourism and Foreign Languages at Hemland College. Emmah is… read more. |
 | René Rijnders, MSc, has worked for the Dutch Board of the Hotel and Catering Industry for many years, focusing on Labour Market Research, Food Safety and Future Hospitality. He has participated in a number of publications on using the Design Thinking approach in concept development in hospitality. In 2013, he entered into teaching at Saxion Hospitality Business School, the… read more. |
 | Fjorentina Muco, MSc, Lecturer of Applied Sciences & Guest Lecturing Coordinator, has taught business communication and academic English at WUAS since 2016. Having 20 years of experience in teaching as well as coming from a multicultural and business environment have enabled her to best combine the theory and the practice, offering international students a complete view of… read more. |
 | Marjon van Opijnen, MSc, MA obtained her MSc in Business Science from Radboud University, the Netherlands, in 1996 and took a second MA in Applied Ethics in 2009 at Utrecht University, also in the Netherlands. Her main professional focus is social sustainability and justice… read more. |
 | Alexander Bauer, PhD, has more than a decade of international sales and management experience. Before he joined academia in 2014, he worked as an International Sales Manager – leading global sales teams, conducting negotiations on a global level with customers and suppliers in North and South America, Europe and Asia. He studied Business Management with a major in Marketing… read more. |
 | Andreas Ooijer, MSc, graduated from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He is a passionate lecturer, who develops and teaches courses and in-company workshops based on 15+ years of business experience. Developing and teaching bachelor's and master's courses, academic supervision of bachelor's thesis projects, developing course manuals, designing exams and… read more. |
 | Peter Saes, MA, graduated from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with an MA Ling, from the University of Nottingham, UK, with an MA Eng. Studies, and from Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (TTC), the Netherlands. Peter has two businesses of his own in language acquisition and services and develops language learning courses. He also has an army background as a… read more. |
 | Lucinda Douglas works in the field of sales, and is an inspirational speaker and talkshow host. She is often hired by companies to conduct Sales Symposia, and also hired by entrepreneurs and networks to speak on Yes You Can achieve your goals. Lucinda also helps entrepreneurs with visibility. Lucinda has written various books, from bestsellers in the US to… read more. |
 | Ingmar Niemann, MA, has more than two decades of teaching experience at different universities in Germany and Europe and as a speaker at companies, political foundations and political parties. He holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Japanese Studies and Law from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, and a Diploma in Political Science from Hochschule für… read more. |
 | Alexandra Holub, MBA, BA, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, has an MBA in Marketing Management and a BA in Information and Communication Management. She has been working in the field of marketing communications for almost 10 years. Her professional journey started in the solar energy industry in Germany, leading her to a brewery business in China and then back to the technical… read more. |
 | Georgia Pazarzi, PhD, Lecturer, is an academic with research interests in integrated reporting, sustainability performance and financial performance, the quality of accounting information, and the predictability of accounting numbers. She has extensive experience in academic teaching in the areas of accounting and auditing. She has published her research in academic journals… read more. |
 | Alberto Forte, PhD, is a senior lecturer at Wittenborg and an adjunct Professor at the University of Bologna where he teaches Tourism Economics in the Economics Department. His career in teaching and research at HE level started in 2004 when he embarked, as a recipient of the School of Sport and Service Management (University of Brighton, UK), on a PhD research project in… read more. |
 | Zijian Wang, MSc, Senior Lecturer of Applied Sciences, is a generalist in international business. His teaching has reached over 2,500 students from 100+ nationalities. Alongside his academic career, he runs a tech company, Honey Badger Technologies, in the city centre of Amsterdam, which focuses on state-of-the-art cloud computing. Zijian's research interests include… read more. |
 | Angela Pizarro, PhD, Lecturer, has over fourteen years of experience in International Health and is a licensed Pharmacist. She has engaged in education, research, quality assurance, operations planning and auditing on a global scale. As a researcher, she has been published in indexed journals and has participated in scientific events worldwide. Angela has held… read more. |
 | Roy Mouawad, PhD, is based in Barcelona, Spain and is a lecturer at Wittenborg. He holds a PhD and Master of Research in Management Sciences. He collaborates with several universities and business schools such as ESADE Business School, Toulouse Business School, ESB Business School and Geneva Business School. Roy teaches courses related to Leadership and People Management,… read more. |
 | Dr Cansu Tor Kadioğlu, Lecturer, currently holds a postdoctoral research position at the University of Twente and is a supervisor at Erasmus Rotterdam University, ESE Business Economics and Marketing. Her research interests are focused on consumer behaviour, social media marketing, digital marketing and green marketing. Currently, she lectures at Wittenborg on the subject … read more. |
 | Jan Martijn Broekhof, MBA, Lecturer, is a Dutch entrepreneur with extensive experience in IT security and management. Currently, he serves as CEO of Guardian360, a company specialising in continuous security monitoring and vulnerability management. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Jan Martijn has held various leadership roles, where he honed his skills in… read more. |
 | Amy M. Abdou, MA, MA, Senior Lecturer of Applied Sciences, teaches at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences and IES Study Abroad. She is also a PhD candidate in the department of Science Business Innovation at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Amy’s research focuses the impact of subsidised social entrepreneurship on migrant communities in Amsterdam Zuidoost. She is… read more. |
 | Mohammad Mahdi Jalili, PhD, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, is a lecturer of Civil Engineering. He teaches Geotechnics and Soil Mechanics, Principles of Structural Design, Construction Technology, Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics, Mathematics, Sciences and Materials as well as Civil Engineering Technology. Upon completing his PhD thesis at the University of Edinburgh under… read more. |
 | Egon Zank, MBA, has more than two decades of professional training, teaching and coaching experience. He guides global acting engineering, pharmaceutical and car manufacturing organisations on their operational and organisational development journeys. |
 | Enara Pagola, MA, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, is a Spanish teacher from San Sebastian in northern Spain. She studied Hispanic Philology at the University of the Basque Country. During this period, she also did an academic year abroad, studying in BUAP (Puebla de Zaragoza, Mexico) where she got in contact with different Spanish dialects. Her education continued with a Master'… read more. |
 | Taoufik Samaka, DBA, is a procurement and operations professional who, since 2001, has held managerial positions in the renowned telecom corporates sector with assignments mainly in emerging markets. He is Adjunct Professor for MBA programmes at Webster University. At Wittenborg, Taoufik holds the position of Senior Lecturer. He holds DBA and EMBA degrees from Toulouse… read more. |
 | Nikita Pahwa, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Applied Sciences at Wittenborg. She holds a PhD in Economics. She is an academic with a decade of teaching and research experience. In 2012, she embarked on her teaching journey and has taught various bachelor's and master's subjects. Before joining Wittenborg, she created content, managed a team and taught research, economics… read more. |
 | Natália Leal, PhD, MA, Lic., Assistant Professor of Applied Sciences, is an Executive, Career and Life Coach. She has over 20 years of work experience across different countries and sectors, from academia and research, to policy making and international non-governmental organisations management. She is the former Chief Executive of WFTO and a former Lecturer at the University… read more. |
 | Vanessa de Oliveira Menezes, PhD, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, holds a bachelor's degree in Tourism from UNIOESTE, Brazil, and continued with a specialisation in Human Resources Management at the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. She earned a master’s degree in Tourism and Hotels Management at Universidad de Extremadura, Spain, and a PhD in Business Management… read more. |
 | Marcus R. A. Endres, SE, is a lecturer with a background in German business development and communication. With over two decades of consulting experience… read more. |
 | Bojan Georgievski, PhD, earned his doctorate in Economic Sciences from the University of St Ciril & Methodius in Macedonia, in 2011. He is an assistant professor and researcher at several different universities both in Macedonia and Kuwait. He has a combined teaching experience of 6 years, and a combined professional experience in 3 different industries of over 15 years… read more. |
 | Nicolas Aoudé, MBA, MSc, has been trained both in banking and teaching. First, he trained as a qualified banker and worked in a bank as a private client advisor. Following this, he studied Business Administration at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and gained more experience in banking through internships. Having discovered his passion for teaching, he then completed… read more. |
 | Eric Appiah Mantey, MSc, lecturer, is currently a PhD Graduate Research Fellow in Computer Science at Jiangsu University, China. He also holds an MSc in Computer Science and Technology from Jiangsu University of Science and Technology. Eric is an accomplished researcher and research reviewer for renowned scientific journals. His research work has been published in high-… read more. |
 | Hashem Zarafat, MBA, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, is a business trainer and researcher, and experienced lecturer. He teaches a variety of interdisciplinary courses at prestigious universities and business schools in Munich, Germany. These courses cover topics such as finance, investment, managerial economics, advanced finance, entrepreneurship, venture capital & private… read more. |
 | Mustafa Üc, PhD, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, received his doctoral degree in Business Administration at the Afyon Kocatepe University, Turkey, in 2009, and prior to that was a Research Fellow at the University of Bremen, Germany, via the Erasmus programme. He worked in the private and public sectors on the accounting staff and as manager and has served as a lecturer of… read more. |
 | Usman Ahmad, PhD, is a dedicated lecturer and enthusiastic researcher with a solid background in both industry and academia. His industrial experience includes proficiency in budgeting, accountancy and data management. In academia, Usman has excelled in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, module management and has played a key role in developing a new academic degree… read more. |
 | Mark Swiecicki, MA has over 25 years' experience in Programme Management, Change Management, Strategy and Consulting experience in Electronics, Embedded Computing, Government and Industrial enterprises. His experience covers many countries including the US, Germany, France and the UK. He has successfully led two in-house start-ups. He is… read more. |
 | Hind Albasry, PhD, received a BS degree in electrical and electronic engineering (communication engineering) from the University of Al-Fateh, Tripoli, Libya, in 2003; an MS degree in communication network planning and management computer from the University of Portsmouth, U.K., in 2009; and a PhD degree in electronic engineering (communication engineering) from the University… read more. |
 | Vajihealsadat Shojaei, PhD, Lecturer, holds a PhD in International Marketing from Alzahra University, Iran, with an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Tehran University and a bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology. She has dedicated her academic pursuits to understanding a Customer Brand Engagement Model in Social Networks.… read more. |
 | Selcuk Yaglikci, MBA, a graduate of Marmara University in Economics with an MBA from Maryville University, U.S, has worked in the FMCG sector for over 20 years. He started his career at the Unilever sales department in 1994, then moved to the Coca-Cola Company where he held various types of marketing roles. He… read more. |
 | Neha Basnet, PhD, obtained her doctor of philosophy degree and defended her thesis, Young rural-urban migrants' transition from education to work in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2022. Using qualitative longitudinal research methods in conjunction with timeline mapping exercises, she studied young rural-urban migrants working at call centres and their transition from education… read more. |
 | Georg Petritsch, PhD, is a Lecturer at Wittenborg and a Senior Managing Partner at Gartner Consulting in the Healthcare, Public Payers, Regulators and Certficators business in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. He specialises in IT-driven/digital transformations of all kinds. His main expertise is in the areas of IT governance frameworks, IT architecture, IT shared services and… read more. |
 | Sascha Liebhardt, MA, Campus Director for WUAS's Munich study location, gained a master’s in International Relations and also a master’s in Marketing. Since finishing his studies, he has held senior management responsibilities in several industries: Advertising and Media, Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Education. Sascha has been lecturing at university level since 2000, and in… read more. |
 | Nnamdi Oguji, PhD, MSc (Tech), MSc, is an experienced professional with more than nine years’ experience working as a Business Development Expert, Senior Business Analyst and Supply Chain Planner for KONE Corporation. He is also an international business (IB) researcher with research interests in international entry strategies, emerging markets, supply chain management,… read more. |
 | Dr Ahmed Mehta, PhD, holds a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Green Banking Digitisation and another in Green Innovation and Strategic Management. He currently leads Pakistan’s renowned Hailey College of Banking and Finance at the University of the Punjab as its principal. He has been associated with Wittenborg since 2024 as an Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, teaching… read more. |
 | Tina Huesing, PhD, holds a PhD in global leadership and an MBA. Next to her appointment at Wittenborg, she is a senior lecturer at New European College, Germany, and senior consultant at Wyrmwood Consulting. Previously, she taught at the University of Auckland, New Zealand,… read more. |
 | Erik Jan Hengstmengel, MA, studied Public Administration at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and graduated on a field research in North Yemen. He started his career as Business Consultant at Capgemini, where he focused on Innovation and Change Management. After that, he had various roles as Managing Director, CTO and COO, especially focusing on digital… read more. |
 | Ali Özdemir, PhD, Assistant Professor of Applied Sciences, holds a PhD in Business Administration from Erciyes University, an MSc in Statistics from Gazi University and a BSc in Business Engineering from ITU. He has worked as an academic in various universities and countries since 1996. Since 2018, he has held the position of Full Professor in the field of Operations and… read more. |
 | Vijay Kochar, PhD, holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Design from Cambridge University. He is multilingual and has travelled extensively throughout his professional life. He has experience working in India, Australia, the US, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK. His key competences are in the area of customer, employee and results orientation, strategic agility,… read more. |
 | Edward (Ward) Van Duffel, LL.M, MA, Senior Lecturer of Applied Sciences, started his own advisory company Upnext Advice, after a successful International career in some of the most renowned consumer goods companies, including LEGO, Coca-Cola, Mars and GORE Wear. As part of a principal assignment for Upnext Advice, and based on his extensive customer-centric business experience… read more. |
 | Céline Dandoy, MA, Lecturer, is a business owner with a passion for the French language. She has over ten years of teaching experience sharing the nuances of the French language and culture with students from diverse backgrounds. In addition to her work in the classroom, Céline is also the founder and owner of a language school in Amsterdam, L'école de français, offering… read more. |
 | Veronica Stivala, MSc, has been teaching for almost 20 years. Her areas of expertise include Academic and Business English and Teaching English as a Foreign Language. She is also an editor and freelance journalist and writer. Veronica also performs and writes for the theatre. She has written comedy sketches for a children's puppet show and is a regular performer and… read more. |
 | Cha-Hsuan Liu, PhD, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, is a versatile and accomplished professional with a multi-disciplinary background. She has significant expertise in healthcare, education, social policy, management and innovation. She is active in both academia and the public sector. She's currently a Research Fellow at the International Institute for Asian Studies… read more. |
 | Sibylle Heilbrunn, PhD, Senior Lecturer, is a sociologist and professor, currently holding a full professor position at Kinneret Academic College on the Sea of Galilee, where she is Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. With a PhD in Organisational Sociology from the University of Haifa and extensive postgraduate studies in Business Administration from the… read more. |
 | Matthias Klaeffling, PhD, is a macroeconomist by training. Having studied economics and econometrics at the universities of Montpellier, Madrid, Bonn, and Harvard, he also was a visiting researcher at the Institute for Empirical Macroeconomics at the Minneapolic Fed, the St. Louis Fed, the ECB, ZEI, and the Finance Department at the LSE. Matthias has worked in… read more. |
 | Ilona Balcerczyk, PhD, Lecturer of Applied Sciences, received a master's degree in Administration and a PhD in Law from the University of Lodz, Poland. In addition to being a lecturer at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences, she is an assistant professor at the Jan Kochanowski University in Poland. She also works as Deputy Department Director in the civil service in… read more. |
 | Olivier Strauch, LLM, Lecturer, began his career in Boston teaching English to professionals and university students from around the world, with a focus on formal, academic and business English. He went on to become a solicitor practising in areas including telecommunications regulation, and commercial, securities, and tax litigation, with a particular focus on drafting and… read more. |