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Wittenborg University Winter Graduation Ceremony

There was special cause for celebration at Wittenborg University’s Winter Graduation Ceremony this year: The university presented its first group of Master of Science graduates to the world and, in addition, two of its Bachelor students, Maike Nuyken (Germany) and Marius Zürcher (Switzerland), graduated with honors.

Guest speaker, Johan Kruithof who is the Apeldoorn deputy-mayor, told the graduates they have not only learned academic skills at Wittenborg. You have also learned the courage to stand up in front of a room full of people and make a presentation. You have learned to speak to the stranger next to you from Germany, from China, from the Congo. You have learned to work together in groups and motivate yourself and each other. You have discovered how strong you really are. “

According to  him the Apeldoorn Municipality is proud and excited about having a growing contingent of international students (and staff from Wittenborg) in its midst, enriching the city with their different cultures. “As we all know, economic growth and recovery needs innovation. It needs high level human capital. It needs out-of-the-box thinking.”

Wittenborg director, Peter Birdsall, said graduates were only a student for a short time of their lives, but will be alumni of Wittenborg forever. “We want you to look back and be proud of where you studies which is why we invest in the name, programmes and reputation of Wittenborg. As alumni you can help our reputation by becoming successful politicians, captains of industry, academics.”

Almost half of today’s Bachelor graduates are from the Netherlands.

Marius Zürcher from Switzerland is one of two students who graduated with an honors-degree. Together with the other honors-student, Maike Nuyken from Germany, he wants to start a small hotel in the Netherlands. He was described by his tutor as a “very focused” student who anyone will feel proud to have supervised.

Lilian Awuku did an IBA in Marketing and Communication. She stayed in multicultural beehive, Amsterdam, while studying and will pursue a career in the Dutch corporate world. She says a tendency to skip school was one of the challenges she had to overcome! “You have to set your priorities straight if you want to achieve your study goals! I chose Wittenborg because I was interested in the programmes they offered and the friendly atmosphere.”

Joost Heerkens, a Dutch student, was described by his tutor as “a very good salesman” who is considering an international career in business. Joost did his internship at a company in China.

Maike Nuyken from Germany was the top student in the group. She plans to start a hotel in the Netherlands and was described as someone who always performed excellent in her modules

Zimbabwian graduate, Bekezela Edmore Punungwe, said he had to stop his studies in his home country because of his involvement in student politics. Thereafter he was awarded a scholarship by the Dutch government and plans to do a Master degree in Management from March. 

Dutch student Jan Herman van Dijk, who studied Economics and Management, says he chose Wittenborg because of its international culture. His future plans? “I am working as an international account manager at Rubitech in Steenwijk. Rubitech is a specialist in aluminum high pressure die-casting with production facilities in Malaysia and Romania. I am active in the lighting market, especially in the LED highbay lamps which are used in industrial buildings with high ceilings.”

Serge Gwabene from the Congo was described as a strategic thinker who is always planning ahead.

Dutch student, Rens Klein, who studied Economics and Management, plans to save money and do volunteer work outside Europe for 6 months.

WUP 6/2/2015

©Wittenborg University Press

by Anesca Smith