President Highlights Key Activities & Challenges for 2022-2023

Wittenborg’s faculty members gathered for the first time since the summer vacation to kick-off the start of the new academic year 2022-2023. The half-day meeting was held on Tuesday, 23rd August 2022 at Wittenborg’s Spoorstraat campus in Apeldoorn and streamed online for faculty members who were not able to attend in person or who were outside the country. During the meeting, President of Wittenborg, Peter Birdsall gave an overview of Wittenborg’s upcoming activities as well as the challenges ahead. Highlights for the coming year include the Opening of Brinklaan 268 campus & BBQ on 26th August, EuroCHRIE Conference in October and Wittenborg's 35th-year Gala Celebration in November.

Besides the above highlights, academic-wise, Birdsall briefed members of preparations for the upcoming Accreditation and Interim Check by FIBAA, NVAO as well as AACSB accrediting agencies. Getting accredited or reaccredited by these agencies are important milestones for Wittenborg as it ensures the level of quality and standard of Wittenborg's bachelor and master programmes. Birdsall also emphasized that Wittenborg's ultimate aim is to achieve a unique approach to positioning our business school. "We aim to show how 'the school', not just specific programmes or modules, is portrayed through a balanced representation of its internationalisation, its diversity, and its commitment to ethics, and ethical practice. And at the same time showing how it is committed to teaching, learning and applied research within the framework and themes of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Integration of Wittenborg Values and the UN SDGs in the Curricula

As for the faculty challenge, Birdsall also reminded teachers to continue integrating their module contents to Wittenborg's three values of internationalization, diversity and ethics as well as UN's 17 SDG via classroom discussions or debates, case studies and assignments. He said that infusing these relevant global issues in the curricula will help to keep students' abreast of current global issues and prepare them to face the ever-changing challenges in the real world.

Theme for Academic Year 2022-2023

He finally unveiled the theme for the new academic year for Wittenborg which is 'Good Health & Well-Being'.  He clarified that the theme was chosen not because of the COVID-19 experience only but also because Wittenborg wants to provide an overall support system for both staff and students and encourage them to take care of both their physical and mental health as well as their social and family well-being.

Positive Vibe Among Teachers

The meeting proceeded with other updates from the Head of School of Business, Dr Rauf Abdul, followed by vibrant discussions among faculty members about issues related to module delivery, assurance of learning and quality of teaching and learning. Overall, there seems to be a positive vibe among the teachers for the start of the new academic year 2022-2023.

WUP 2/9/2022
by Hanna Abdelwahab
©WUAS Press