ICEF 2015 - Wittenborg University talks to the world at the Higher Education Fair in Glasgow
Wittenborg was this year again represented by at the ICEF Higher Education Workshop, which was held this week in Glasgow. The workshop is aimed specifically at bringing together quality agents from around the world and higher education institutes. Around 100 educators and 130 agents were represented.
Wittenborg Director Peter Birdsall, who leads the international recruitment and marketing team, says that he held around 46 meetings over the two days, speaking to a diverse selection of agents from around the world. "Our policy has been to continue to increase our diversity at Wittenborg over the past two years, and we have managed to achieve around 70 nationalities in the University this year. The fact that around 85% of the +/- 500 students at Wittenborg this year are from outside the Netherlands, makes us by far one of the most international and culturally diverse higher education institutes in the Netherlands!"
According to Birdsall, the 'hot courses' were seen as the Bachelor in Entrepreneurship & Small Business, offered at the new Amsterdam campus since September this year. Wittenborg's six intakes per year was seen as especially interesting.
Another interesting programme for many of the agents was the Bachelor in International Hospitality Management, leading successful students to an additional degree from the University of Brighton on completing the full WUAS programme. This double degree option, especially the EuroBA exchange programme was welcomed especially by agents from Russia and CIS countries, who have seen a dramatic swing to more affordable European hospitality programmes, due to the economic malaise and the weakening strength of the Ruble to the strong Swiss Franc and the UK Pound.
According to many agents, the top reasons for students to choose the Netherlands seem to be affordable programmes, and importantly the permission for graduates to stay for a year in Holland to work and look for an opportunity to gain a year contract and lengthen their stay.
WUP 18/9/2015
by WUP and James Wittenborg