Promoting career opportunities for international talent in the Apeldoorn region 

On 1 June, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences proudly hosted the first edition of the Job Fair Central Netherlands which took place in the Spoorstraat building in Apeldoorn and which marked the official launch of the Expat Centre Central Netherlands, a platform dedicated to supporting and empowering expats and internationals in the region.

Wittenborg was delighted to welcome Mayor of Gemeente Apeldoorn Ton Heerts to the Job Fair to officially launch the Expat Centre Central Netherlands, which is proudly supported by local and regional businesses and initiatives including Oost NL, VNO-NCV Midden, MKB Deventer, Bedrijvenkring Apeldoorn, Provincie Gelderland, Regio Stedendriehoek, Aventus, Apeldoorns Business Collectief and Apeldoorn LONKT. In his opening speech, Mayor Ton Heerts praised Apeldoorn as a region of entrepreneurship and innovation which is attractive and beneficial to international talent.

The Job Fair, coordinated by Sophia Faraji, Wittenborg’s External Relations & Events Coordinator, attracted over 360 visitors from all over the Netherlands to learn more about the various job, internship and study opportunities offered in English by the national and international exhibitors. The event was free of charge and open to all, including current students and alumni of Wittenborg and other higher education institutes, expats/internationals in the Netherlands and local Dutch residents interested in English-speaking working environments. There were approximately 20 exhibitors representing different companies and organisations from a variety of industries, such as West Coast Supply Group, EURES, Divitel, JAWA Corporate Real Estate Solutions, B Futurist B.V., Ario, TeamViewer, ATOSS, and Here2Work.

Wittenborg also exhibited at the Job Fair with two stands. One was manned by Rauf Abdul, Head of Business School, Maike Nuyken, HR Manager and Mahesan Suntharesan, HR & Immigration Administrator, who were there to speak to visitors about career and study opportunities at Wittenborg. Wittenborg Research Centre also had a stand where Selina White, Education & Research Administrator, and Arman Toni, Research Assistant Intern, provided information to visitors on the various Erasmus+ funded projects managed and disseminated by the Research Centre.  

Jeroen Lubbers from Jawa Corporate Real Estate Solutions commented on his reason for participating as an exhibitor: “The main reason is to find international talent and WUAS with its diverse pool of international candidates was arguably the best choice for me to take a look at. It is also a good opportunity for me to network and to get familiar with what is really driving the students here at WUAS and how a company can benefit from that.” He also highlighted some of the traits of a good job candidate: “Be resilient, outgoing, eager, and direct (a winning style here in the Netherlands), these are the driving forces or qualities that I am looking for, and most of all a willingness to be successful.”

Matin Rouhipourfard, a BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management student, shared what he wished to gain from attending the Job Fair: “As a student, I hope to communicate with employers from different industries here in the Netherlands, such as hospitality and business, who hire international students and to expand my connections.”

The inaugural event concluded with an evening networking during the walking dinner for the exhibitors at NETT Drinks & Soulfood, Spoorstraat. Wittenborg staff, students, and alumni, as well as exhibitors and visitors eagerly await the next instalment of Job Fair Central Netherlands on Friday 7 June, 2024, in Apeldoorn City Hall!

WUP 10/06/2023
by Selina White
©WUAS Press