Inholland University cultivates business sense and creative flair

Dutch institute Inholland University of Applied Sciences keeps one step ahead of the curve as a provider of competitive, world-class education. With the number of international students pursuing higher education forecast to reach more than 212 million by 2035, Inholland has opened an international college in Amsterdam, featuring a cutting-edge business innovation programme that was launched last month.

"The world of business has changed dramatically," says Willem Viets, international co-operation director and dean of the international college. "There is huge demand among companies for workers who can constantly improve and develop products and services. Our programme addresses that need."

Unlike traditional business management courses, Inholland's international business innovation studies programme merges two seeming opposites: business know-how, and discovery and delivery skills. The programme enables students to convert ideas into products within a hands-on, cross-cultural environment, mirroring the global setting of working in multinational corporations.

The university has eight campuses across the Randstad and a comprehensive portfolio of study programmes. Internationally, it specialises in business innovation, agriculture, information technology and aeronautical engineering. With 32,000 students representing 110 nationalities, and 2,000 students in six international study programmes, Inholland has a strong, globally oriented industry focus. The university values turning knowledge into employment by emphasising a practical approach to education.

Maintaining an extensive network of industry partners and strong institutional ties with other international universities, Inholland welcomes partnerships in Asia. As an example, Inholland collaborates with the Agricultural University of Hebei in Baoding and Shanghai Normal University on a "2+2" degree programme in horticultural studies, where students spend two years of study in China and the rest in the Netherlands to gain hands-on learning and work experience.

"We see more possibilities for co-operation rather than competition. It's crucial to create a knowledge network with different partners and develop along the lines of content and quality," Viets says. "Asia is the hub of dynamic developments, and it would be great to build further relationships there."