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Amsterdam Graduates Talk about Future Plans

There was a special cause for celebration at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences’ 2018 Summer Graduation Ceremony on Friday: the university presented its very first graduates from its Amsterdam campus.

Wittenborg Amsterdam opened in 2015 in the heart of the city – its second location in the Netherlands – with a handful of students. Today that number has grown to about 70.

On Friday, 7 students from Amsterdam graduated – all boasting double degrees – an IBA (Bachelor) in Entrepreneurship & Small Business from Wittenborg and a BSc (Hons) in Business & Management from the University of Brighton.

Four of the graduates are from the Netherlands: Lucas Molenkamp, Manuel Braakman, Graziella Prins and Roderick van Bekhoven. There is also one graduate from Mexico, Maria (Maru) Lizarraga, one from Belarus, Tatiana Nesterenko, and one from Indonesia, Kezia Christanti.

Lizarraga said studying at Wittenborg helped her to discover in what direction she wanted to take her entrepreneurial career. “I will start a social enterprise – with the triple bottom line: people, profit, planet as a guide – and stay in the Netherlands and Mexico. Thank you for everything Wittenborg!”

For Molenkamp one of the highlights of his study was the opportunity to volunteer in the Philippines for six months and to start his own company, though it was a challenge for him to combine studies with working. “Amsterdam is a great place to live in. I would definitely recommend it.” At some point he wants to do a master's degree abroad.

Prins plans to do a master's degree in Interior Design in Florence, Italy, after graduation. Her advice to students who are yet to graduate? “Live your dream, reach your goals and be happy!”

WUP 16/7/2018

by Anesca Smith
©WUAS Press