From Albania to Kazakhstan: Wittenborg Connects with Students Worldwide

A Recap of Wittenborg’s Global Engagement in 2025

In February and March 2025, Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences attended various education fairs across Albania, the Baltics, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, meeting hundreds of prospective students interested in studying in the Netherlands.

Tirana, Albania

Kejsi Hoxha, Study Location & CRM Manager, represented Wittenborg in Tirana, Albania, on 21 February at the Open University Stands Day - Career Week, organised by Turgut Ozal Education Company.

More than 650 high school students visited the event, eager to explore their future study opportunities abroad. Hoxha engaged with students, answering their questions about Wittenborg’s different programmes and its international environment.

She said: "The purpose of this event is for high school students to be introduced to university opportunities on both a national and international level. By the end of the event, the final-year students should have identified at least 10 top universities they would like to attend after graduation."

When asked about the most enjoyable aspects of the event, Hoxha noted: "The students were really motivated. I liked how the event was organised."

Reflecting on the overall outcome, she shared: "Students are very keen to study abroad. The top countries they were interested in were the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands, with a noticeable increase in demand for the Netherlands compared to last year. What stood out to me was that most of the participating schools were offering business programmes, highlighting the strong interest among students in business degrees. Some of the most popular Wittenborg programmes were the MCI in AI & Cyber Security, IBA in Real Estate Management, and EBA in Entrepreneurship & FinTech."

When asked if she interacted with any interesting individuals or gained any key insights, Hoxha said: "I spoke with several students who were particularly interested in studying in the Netherlands, many of whom found Wittenborg’s programmes very appealing. Most of them had siblings studying in the Netherlands, which motivated them to join as well. However, their main concern was accommodation, and they were relieved to hear that we offer accommodation on-site."

The Baltics

Michael Sheppard, Recruitment & Sales Representative, and Marlon Birdsall, Customer Relations Administrator, travelled to the Baltics from 28 February to 2 March for Kalba’s Education and Career Fair 2025. They visited Riga, Latvia’s capital, and Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, meeting students at different stages of their educational journey.

Birdsall noted that the majority of students they met were between 16 and 18 years old, with some recent bachelor graduates also expressing interest in Wittenborg’s master's programmes.

Reflecting on the fair, Birdsall said:

"What I enjoyed the most was the facilities around the event, they were really good. We had the Scantact app, where we could scan students' QR codes and directly import the leads. In Lithuania, we met a lot of young students who would only start their studies in about two years. In Latvia, there were some really good students and interesting potential candidates." 

Central Asia

Mykhailo Huba, Regional Admissions Manager, represented Wittenborg at the Central Asia Education Fair in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 22 February, followed by the WoExpo Fair in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 26 February.

Sharing his experience, Huba provided unique insights into the cities he visited.

Astana, Kazakhstan

"Astana is a modern capital built just over 30 years ago. Located in the middle of the steppe, it experiences harsh winters, with temperatures dropping to -30°C. The city serves as a hub for work and study rather than leisure, offering a unique blend of Soviet-era influences without the propaganda. It is also home to Nursultan Nazarbayev University, the largest university in Central Asia."  

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

"Bishkek is a Soviet-era capital with architecture that has not aged well, as many buildings were originally designed to be temporary. However, it is a haven for gastro-tourism, offering some of the best and most affordable food in the region. Just outside the city, Issyk-Kul, a stunning high-altitude lake, provides an ideal destination for hiking." 

WUP 26/03/2025 
by Erene Roux 
©WUAS Press