School Representatives Forge New Connections and Attend Inspiring Sessions

By participating in EAIE Rotterdam – one of the world’s most important events in the field of higher education – Wittenborg has gained valuable insights and solidified its position as the most international business school in the Netherlands. The 33rd European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference and Exhibition took place between 26 and 29 September, with the theme 'Connecting Currents', being attended by thousands of academics, professionals and scholars from all over the world. 

EAIE 2023’s programme featured a great variety of activities including workshops, presentations, networking events, panels and guided visits to the campuses of higher education institutions. One of the highlights for Wittenborg was the beautiful stand set up by the school in the Exhibition Area. In addition to increasing the institution’s visibility and further building brand awareness, this was also a way to promote team bonding between Wittenborg’s representatives as well as networking opportunities. 

According to Associate Professor and Programme Coordinator Dadi Chen, the conference provided participants with a pleasant atmosphere and many opportunities to obtain up-to-date information about international higher education from various universities and researchers.

“Among other activities, I attended seminars on intercultural competence and international education as well as one campfire session about ChatGPT and higher education, and I also talked to some poster presenters about their research and exploration. I was amazed by one of the seminars about innovative education based on project-based learning, and benefited a lot from one of the posters regarding self-assessment tools for teachers. For all of us at Wittenborg, participating in this conference was a way to learn from colleagues worldwide and search for more opportunities of international collaboration.”

Head of Education Development and Quality Management Kriszta Kaspers-Rostás described EAIE as an intensive and inspiring educational experience, highlighting that it is a great way to connect with professionals and peers in the higher education sector, exchanging ideas and experiences. “For me personally it also works motivationally, and after such a conference I always get new energy for my work, and also new insights and ideas that I want to put into practice.”

She added that the visitors to Wittenborg’s stand asked questions on a variety of subjects. “In my experience, they were mostly interested in Wittenborg’s Erasmus research project collaborations, student and staff mobility exchanges, and also wanted to know more about what kind of business school Wittenborg is in general. Through our participation in various sessions and networking activities, we have created and enhanced brand awareness for our business school both internationally and nationally, among Dutch higher education institutions.”

Head of Executive Affairs Myra Qiu pointed out that the school’s stand was visited by people from many different parts of the world, including countries such as China, Brazil, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sweden, Germany and Colombia. For Qiu, attending the conference was also a way to reconnect with old friends and meet new people. “Face to face contact can bring relationships closer, more so than just meeting online or contacting via email. What I liked the most about the event was its positive atmosphere and the motivation that all participants had to exchange knowledge related to international higher education, as well as the spirit of the conference, which encouraged people to stay connected after EAIE.”

Senior Communications Manager Sinem Dosdogru commented that Wittenborg’s booth design at the EAIE conference consisted not only of visuals but was also a strategic approach to make a lasting impact. “Our backdrop, which included a huge picture of our staff and students in front of our main campus, was carefully selected. We wanted to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it seem as though our booth was an extension of our study location, and give visitors the feeling of being part of our Wittenborg family, instead of being just observers. It was incredibly rewarding to see visitors reacting with enthusiasm and curiosity to our stand. It showed us that good design can bring people together and be a stepping stone to making new connections and meaningful conversations.”

Senior lecturer Zijian Wang compared EAIE Rotterdam to a family reunion of international schools and universities, where participants have the opportunity to have fun together, connect and collaborate. “Networking is the key driver of the event, so I went to all the receptions and dinners that I could, and met with many like-minded educators and leading professionals in the sector. I enjoyed the exhibition mostly because it felt like wandering through a global village, where another culture is just a few steps away. I took home more than 100 business cards, and behind each of them, there is a potential partnership to be forged. The most significant takeaway from EAIE for me is the wonderful people I met during the conference,” he concluded.

WUP 27/10/2023
by Ulisses Sawczuk
©WUAS Press