Student Numbers at Wittenborg Expected to Jump with Almost 40% as University Starts New Academic Year with a Bang

28.08.2015

WUAS is gearing up for another exciting academic year, anticipating an almost 40% increase in the number of new students for 2015 while raising its international profile even higher.
As one of the most diverse institutes of higher education in the Netherlands, the university’s student and staff component now represents 70 different nationalities!

On Tuesday, Wittenborg’s Chair of the Executive Board, Peter Birdsall, welcomed academic and support staff back at school while giving a brief overview of new, exciting plans in store for the university this year as well as changes and challenges that lay ahead. Birdsall started off with thanking Wittenborg’s Admissions Team for the sterling work in ensuring continuous growth in student numbers.

The university’s Registrar, Santosh Aryal, said while Wittenborg has maintained a steady year-on-year growth of between 20 – 25%, it is this year aiming to reach an increase of 37%, in student numbers, citing a strong online presence as one of the factors driving success as well as outreach activities such as education fairs. “I am very happy about this development and am confident we will reach this target. The longer you are in the market, the more goodwill you build,” Aryal said. He also believes that when students graduate from Wittenborg they act as ambassadors for the university, leading to higher enrollments.

True to Wittenborg’s international character, the new cohort of students come from all over the world including Russia, Mexico, South-Korea, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, China, Nigeria, Brazil as well as a spike in numbers from the Netherlands. According to Wittenborg's Admission Officer, Florian Oosterberg, this year a high number of students also emerged from Russian-speaking countries.

Yesterday was a beehive of activity with new students – obviously nervous and excited (a bit of nail biting was even spotted!) – having their first taste of life at Wittenborg with various Introduction Day activities.

Wittenborg will also receive 4 EuroBA students from its partner university in Germany, ANGELL Akademie in Freiburg as well as 5 exchange students from South Korea. From this year, Wittenborg’s IBA in Entrepreneurship & Small Business will be offered at its new Amsterdam location while its British partner, the University of Brighton, recently approved the Bachelor (Hons) in International Hospitality Management to be offered at Wittenborg, paving the way for a double degree for graduates.

In addition, Wittenborg plans to start the new academic year with a bang on Friday with the Opening Ceremony of its brand new, second location in Apeldoorn, Spoorstraat 23, which will house the Admission Team, Research Center, Media and Library Facilities. It’s Master programmes will also be taught at the new facilities which is a stone-throw away from the railway station, bus terminal as well as

Wittenborg’s main campus in the Laan van de Menserechten.
Birdsall also explained changes in Wittenborg’s tutoring system and a stronger emphasis on improving students’ academic English with additional, free lessons for students who are struggling.