On 15 and 16 October, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, together with the other partners of the Center of Expertise Creative Innovation (CoE CI), is hosting the annual Society 5.0 Festival. This festival focuses on creating a human-centered digital society in which technology serves as a means to enhance the well-being of both people and the planet. This fourth edition is themed “Shaping Hybrid Realities” and will take place at The Social Hub Amsterdam City. Admission to the Society 5.0 Festival is free for Inholland students and staff: registrer via the CoE Ci website.

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Due to digitalisation, our lifeworld is becoming increasingly hybrid. The world as it appears to us – how we see it, understand it, and navigate it – is a blend of digital media technologies and physical environments. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive experiences (IX) are set to deepen this fusion in the coming years.

This shift to hybrid realities has far-reaching implications for our everyday lives and our democratic society. How does this impact our shared sense of reality, mental well-being, relationships, and how we shape and experience public space?

At the Society 5.0 Festival, we explore new ways of working to shape a desirable future society. During this two-day festival – filled with workshops, performances, installations, and talks – creatives, researchers, citizens, technologists, educators, designers, students, and (policy)makers come together to access, generate, sense, and reclaim our hybrid future.

Find out more about the Society 5.0 Festival en register via the CoE Ci website to claim your free tickets.

Starting Monday 12 May, the interactive game YOUR TURN will be visiting the Inholland locations. Organised by Inholland in collaboration with Art Partner, this event invites you to pause and reflect on your own choices, beliefs, and the world around you — in a playful and accessible way.

• Play with cards, dice, and curiosity.
• Discover patterns, spark conversations, or just join in for fun.
• On your own or with others - it's up to you.

YOUR TURN invites you to explore, connect, and reflect. Because creating a safe, inclusive learning and working environment is something we do together – step by step, roll by roll.

Everyone is welcome! Drop by anytime between 10.00 and 15.00:

• Haarlem – Monday 12 May 
• The Hague – Wednesday 14 May 
• Amsterdam – Monday 19 May 
• Delft – Tuesday 20 May 
• Alkmaar – Wednesday 21 May
• Rotterdam - Thursday 22 May 

How do we make international students feel at home at Inholland University of Applied Sciences? This was the theme at the most recent Community of Practice (CoP) for Diversity on 30 January. Many international students find it difficult to find their way in the Netherlands and at Inholland. This lack of a sense of belonging can have a negative effect on their well-being and even lead to them dropping out. The CoP focused on initiatives that contribute to a smoother transition to – and a stronger sense of belonging at – Inholland. 

One inspirational initiative was suggested by Imani Hooi, an International Creative Business student and founder of Caribbean United in The Hague. Two years ago, she founded this community to bring together students of Caribbean descent or with an affinity for Caribbean culture. ‘Putting accommodation issues aside, I noticed that many Caribbean students are often treated like Dutch students. This in spite of the fact that they often encounter specific challenges, such as uncertainty about correct language use and unfamiliarity with practical issues.’ 

Cultural recognition 
Caribbean United organises low-threshold events for students to meet and share experiences. ‘We want to give students a sense of home, among other things with Caribbean food and music.’ In addition, Imani is completing a graduation research project on how to provide better support to Caribbean students. ‘A key finding was that cultural recognition is crucial. There are also differences within the Caribbean community. It is essential to be mindful of this as a university of applied sciences’, Imani explains.  

Another speaker at the CoP was Sheovan Deira, founder of the Surinamese student community SUHolland in Amsterdam. She recognises the challenges faced by international students, having moved to the Netherlands to study herself in 2022. As she speaks the language and has family here, she thought she was well prepared. ‘Although I started making preparations well ahead of time, I still faced many challenges, from applying for a citizen service number and opening a bank account to finding work. Companies actually had to apply for a work permit to hire me, and many didn’t want to. Many processes are unfamiliar to international students, which makes matters difficult.’ 

Workshops and guidance  
Her own experiences prompted Sheovan to take action. ‘I saw that many students were facing the same obstacles. If we share information earlier, we can make it easier for everyone.’ Thus was born SUHolland, a community where students can find practical information as well as conviviality and recognition. ‘Not only do we organise cultural events, like Keti Koti and Surinamese Christmas celebrations, but we also offer workshops and guidance. Our goal is for students to feel at home.’ 
 
Community building coordinator 
Jurio Maduro, lecturer in Social Work in The Hague and recently appointed as community building coordinator at Inholland, is equally aware of the problems that international students face. He himself came to the Netherlands from Aruba when he was 19. ‘It was exciting and new, but also a culture shock. Everything was different, from the education system and public transport to the way people interacted. I was lucky to have family here, but many students are on their own.’ 

His own experiences made him aware of the challenges awaiting international students. ‘I see students going through the same things as I did back then and running into the same problems. I often ask myself: what guidance would I have wanted when I was a student? How can we support these students?’ 

Jurio’s new position is all about building a community. ‘A community means not just a group of students who seek each other out, but an environment where they feel welcome. At Inholland, we want to create an ecosystem where students feel recognised and supported, and where they can and are allowed to be themselves.’ 

Why take part in the CoP? 
Both Imani and Sheovan stress the importance of meetings such as the CoP. ‘We often work in our own bubbles, but by coming together, we can learn from each other and strengthen each other’, says Sheovan. ‘At SUHolland, for example, we learned how important it is to contact students coming to the Netherlands in advance. This is already being done for Caribbean students, but not yet for Surinamese students. That’s something we have to address.’ 

Collective responsibility 
In addition, Jurio sees a broader responsibility: ‘A sense of belonging should be at the core of how we support international students. The figures don’t lie: since 2010, only 9% of Caribbean and Surinamese students have graduated. That means we have a collective responsibility as a university of applied sciences to improve this.’ 

The CoP provides a valuable platform to share knowledge and experiences and to seek solutions together. Would you like to contribute to a more inclusive environment for students and colleagues as well? Make sure you attend the next CoP! 

Contact
If you have any questions and/or ideas on how we can support Caribbean or Surinamese students, please contact Jurio at jurio.maduro@inholland.nl or call  06 1527 9398.

The Student Success Centre Amsterdam introduces a meditation innovation: in the brand-new simulation lab, you can let your daily worries slip away from you even better, as you are completely immersed in a different environment.

A crowing rooster, a moped in the distance, a gong, views of a volcano, a subtle citrus scent. You imagine yourself in Bali. Meanwhile, a quiet voice guides you through a meditation and 15 minutes later you are back outside relaxed, recharged for the rest of your day. The first meditation sessions in the simulation lab during Mental Health Day were a great success. Reason enough to repeat them monthly with different themes and meditation facilitators.

Where do we go?

• On Monday 25 November, we will revisit Bali, for some summer vibes in this bleak month.
• During the Christmas party on Tuesday 17 December, you can unwind at one of three sessions - including one at the North Pole (the rest is a surprise 😉).
• Monday 20 January we dive into the underwater world during Blue Monday.
• Thursday, 13 February, you ca feel the love while enjoying a Thai sunset (because: almost Valentine's Day).

Practical

•        For whom                                            Students and teachers of Inholland UAS
•        Dates                                                     25/11, 17/12, 20/1, 13/2
•        Time                                                       12.00 & 12.30 - except on 17/12 then 16.30, 17.00, 17.30
•        Location                                               Simulation lab 03.150
•        Meditation guides                          Karin Hoens, Natalie van Gils, Kristel Hartog.
•        Language                                             Depending on participants: Dutch/English
•        Experience with meditation     Not required
•        Registration                                       Not necessary, you can just walk in!

Treat yourself to this experience, see you then!

Derrick Kammeron (42) is a Communication student in Amsterdam, moved from Suriname to the Netherlands two years ago and is now setting up his own Media and Communication agency. 

Driven and creative mind
“I see myself as a driven and creative mind who makes purposeful choices to bring myself and teams to a higher level. I love to support people and am very empathetic. Empathy helps with good collaboration. When I enter somewhere, I start by observing. This is my way of gaining people skills. After that, I know exactly how to cooperate. I have the ability to assess others' feelings well. Usually my coming into a team leads to better cooperation. I don't want to dwell on things for too long and look for things I can do. There has to be movement. My creativity drives me in this, sitting still is not an option for me. Where it stops, I push boundaries and go further.” 

The story has to impress 
“That's why I started my own Media and Communications agency. I would like to work business to business to support organizations in the field of communication. I can do this in two ways. With a good communication and content strategy for brand awareness or a good campaign, for example. But I am also a video and photographer. I make videos and photos with a unique story where there is room for emotion and growth. The story has to impress. So not a boring corporate or promo video, but something that really sticks.” 

Can you read my mind? 
“In Suriname I worked in television for eight years from video editor to programmer. In 2010, I switched to the government. In the Surinamese government, I contributed to the innovation of government communications. I was also behind the creation of the National Information Institute which I co-managed. In 2022, I left for the Netherlands. I gained practical experience in Suriname and now I am studying here to develop my strategic skills even more. So that soon I will have a complete offer in my Media and Communication agency. My previous work experience helps me with this. I take more time for the deeper layer in a story. I am not a screamer. I listen, observe and consult. Afterwards, I often hear “Can you read my mind? This is exactly what I had in my head'. Then I know: we have a match!” 

Build relevant portfolio while studying 
“For a school project 'Children's Resistance and Friendship' we were asked to create and execute a communication strategy around an event. I also made an after movie. I consciously choose school projects that also tie in with my business. We are currently making an advisory report and accompanying corporate story for an eco-holiday destination in Suriname to attract more Dutch visitors. Thus, I am already working on a relevant portfolio and focused practical experience. 

I am also part of SUHolland, a community of students with Surinamese roots studying at Inholland. For this community, I want to produce a documentary about the student life of Surinamese students. Recently we met the district chairman of Amsterdam Southeast and I also made a video of that. These are great opportunities, which I approach with both hands.” 

Turn your talent into your business 
“In February 2024 I started at Start Up Campus Haarlem. Because of the program I now know where to start, how to turn my idea into a business model and what values are important to me. Doing business in the Netherlands is new to me. It is a unique opportunity and I love participating. My advice to other students who want to do business? Try to make your talent your business. If you have passion for something, you'll find that it goes much easier and that money is not the driving force. I feel more comfortable with people who are happy and proud of my work, rather than what they paid for me.” 

I prove it will work 
“I want to gain enough experience in the Netherlands so that when I go back to Suriname, I can make an impact there. I came here to investigate what needs to be different in Suriname, in terms of communication. I found that answer during my studies. So you have to base everything on research. Measuring is knowing. You have to do a lot of testing and ask for feedback. That's also going to help with politics. What do people want?  What are they sitting on? What's going on in their minds? That's the foundation. And from there you tune your communication. Then you start noticing a different movement at the political level as well. Because you respond to people's needs. I'm so convinced. Give me a team and I'll prove that it's going to work!” 

Justin Buscher is a Food Commerce & Technology student at Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam and is now graduating with his own company WheyFreeze. With which he markets a delicious and responsible protein-rich water ice cream.

Getting straight to work
“I am an enthusiastic entrepreneur with a focus on nutrition. If there are healthier food choices out there, that has my attention. That's why I'm so driven to create this for consumers. But healthier choices, while maintaining taste.”

"I'm very goal-oriented. Doing something that doesn't benefit you in the end is not for me. I prefer to get straight to work to get as many results as possible in a short period. This may sound a bit impatient, but I'm not. I am a go-getter. I like to work together but I usually suggest a solution or course of action."

Healthier flavorful food choices
“WheyFreeze originated from a project during my education. In which we were allowed to develop a nutritional product in a project group. Among other things, we talked to people who exercise a lot and go to festivals. I got so excited about this that I decided to develop this company further and now graduate from it. We make protein-rich water ice with WheyFreeze. A healthier choice or alternative to, for example, the well-known rocket or pear ice cream. Protein is a very important building block for our body. For muscle recovery or growth. We often link it to fanatic athletes, but it is also essential for recovering after surgery or for elderly people with malnutrition. With our product, we combine enjoyment and proper nutrients. I think that's a win-win."

Alternative to protein intake
“Ever since I was young, I have been interested in diet, cooking, and a healthy lifestyle. I am vegetarian and exercise a lot. That makes me feel good. You can find me in the gym, on the padel court and running in the park. At a young age, I got into sports nutrition. Many products contain protein, but I didn't really like it. Think of those thick shakes or cottage cheese. I try to look at alternative ways to get protein without realizing it and still enjoy it. On average, healthy people need 0.83 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. That works out to about 58 grams of protein for someone weighing 70 kilograms. But as soon as you do strength or endurance sports, this increases to 1.2-2 grams per kilogram of body weight. So then it becomes interesting to look at other ways to consume protein.”

Enjoying our ice cream at a festival
“Right now, external partners have joined WheyFreeze to speed up the production process and move to initial production. Soon we will run a first trial batch. That's incredibly cool! We are still optimizing the product development. Of course, it really has to do what we promise. I find that an important value is being reliable. We are open and honest about what it contains, what it does, and why it is there. For the average consumer, reading an ingredient declaration is complicated. I want to avoid that.”

"My dream? To be at a festival myself and see other people enjoying it. That's why I like to get in touch with festivals or catering companies that want to run a pilot with me."

Even if you have doubts, just do it!
"Through my teacher Annemiek Hollander, I was tipped off to Start Up Campus Haarlem. I was working at an Open Day for Inholland and told her I wanted to continue with the project. It was perfect timing. SUCH helps tremendously in expanding your network. Not only the fellow students but also the trainers are helpful. Even outside the programme. During my education, the focus was on nutrition, but now I'm learning entrepreneurship from a completely different perspective. That is very valuable. If you are considering entrepreneurship, I would say 'Just do it'. Even if you have doubts. Just like helping out at an Open Day at your college, just do it. You will meet new people and have different conversations. Because I did, I am now participating in SUCH and have already learned so many new things. I recommend everyone to stay curious and grow their network."

Derrick Muluya (33) is an Aeronoutical Engineering student in Delft and moved to the Netherlands from Uganda. He is a swimming coach and started his own business as a personal coach.

I can’t stop till I find the solution
I see myself as someone who is good at solving problems. I can’t stop till I find the solution. As a student I work with analytical problems and technical solutions and use my brain. That’s what I call my ‘brain side’. My head understands it and just does it. But that is not my biggest passion.

People are my biggest passion. They fulfill me as a person. I just love helping people. Listening to them and thinking of how I can help them to become a better person.  

The part of finding a solution is also about having people around you, where you can all sit together and find the solution together. I like to facilitate that process. My role has always been to get people on board and motivate them to continue. Learning is a process, and it takes perseverance. At the beginning of the process everybody is excited but halfway some of them are down. I attend to help them to finish the other half.

The hard way
I was born and raised in Uganda. I met my Dutch wife there and moved to the Netherlands six years ago. I come from a challenging country where business development is not that easy. If you want to reach somewhere, you really need to put yourself out there and keep on trying. There is nobody knowledgeable enough and willing to help or guide you. I started more than 5 startups back home. All of them failed. The process was hard and painful. I learned it the hard way. The learning part is unavoidable and necessary, but the pain isn’t. If you could have somebody who holds your hand and gives some direction, it would be so much easier and perhaps less painful. Then I realized: that’s my role!

Swimming club in Uganda
When I was 22, a friend invited me to swim. I didn’t know what it was. So, I got there and jumped into the water. Then I realized that, even though I was scared, I was actually enjoying it. My friends and I were all over 20 years old. Nobody could swim. And continuing this hobby was also very expensive. So, we faced a new challenge, we decided to start a swimming club by ourselves. Can you imagine? Three boys without any swimming experience or money started a club. We split the roles and we decided that I would be the coach. And so, I learned swimming by doing and by teaching others how to. I fell in love with this sport. That was the start of my passion for coaching and swimming.

In the Netherlands I started swimming right away and nowadays I am a swimming coach at GoSwim in Houten. They asked me to become the head coach of the club in the near future. Big shoes to fill and I am proud of that.

I need to give it out
Every year people set goals which comes with a to-do-list. The problem is, they don’t reach it. I asked myself ‘why? And then I found out that it is all mental. Its all about being the better version of your mental self so that you can do what must be done to have the goals you set.

I started a business where I can coach people to really reach their goals. I take it from a holistic point of view. Most importantly it’s not about ‘how to’ but mainly about the ‘being’ part. I want to help you to ‘be’ who you can be, so you can reach your goals. If you don’t work on the things outside of reaching your goal, you are never going to achieve the actual goal. I work with a sport mentality in my coaching sessions. So, do you rest enough, eat good food, sleep enough, do you show up on time? Maybe we first need to solve other problems before we can work on your actual goal. It truly makes a difference. Your being is mostly mindset, and I am there to guide you into this process. I have this gift of helping people and of solving problems. I feel that I need to give it out. I can’t stop myself.

Found my missing pieces
I was still looking for some missing pieces in my process of starting up my own business.

A fellow student recommended me to join the Start program of Start Up Campus Haarlem in September 2023. I can tell: I found my missing pieces. Now I can clearly see it. I know what I need to do, who I need to call and what I need to put in my business plan in order to make it work.

If you are walking around with a potential business idea, I would say: just start! And if you are an Inholland student? The next step would be: start with SUCH, it will fast forward your ideas. And after that, my third advice would be to design your idea in such a way that it can move without you being part of it. If you can reach that third level in your mind, then you see every piece of the puzzle. And then? Launch it!

Together with Popcoalitie, a partnership of several affiliated organisations in the Dutch pop sector, researchers from Inholland University of Applied Sciences, have drawn up a new research and innovation agenda for the pop-music industry. In it, the most pressing themes and issues that need research or innovation, are being mapped out. This new agenda was presented to the organisations affiliated with the Popcoalitie on 12 April. The next step is to be a matchmaking meeting that will be held on 6 June. Organised with the support of CLICKNL, the aim of the meeting is to form cooperatives that want to start up research or innovation projects.

Post-COVID impulse
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the music industry was clearly in need of a fresh impulse. The shutting down of live pop music during the pandemic had major repercussions for creatives, organisations and employees in the sector. It also highlighted issues that had been ongoing for some time before the pandemic, such as fair compensation for creatives, the vulnerable employment situation faced by employees and their irregular working hours. At the same time, the pandemic also forced the industry to experiment with new revenue models, such as hybrid and online performances. With the venues, clubs and festivals once again open, the industry is now having to contend with serious staff shortages, and this has further increased the already high workload on employees. And all this against the continuing backdrop of social issues, such as inclusion, diversity, climate change and digital developments.

Setting an example for other sectors
Koos Zwaan, Associate Professor of Innovation in the International Music Industry at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, feels strongly that the social impact that music has on the pop sector serves as an example for other sectors. ‘Music has the power to connect and visualise and for many people it even plays a key role in their identity,’ he insists. ‘Exploiting the power of this connection and visualisation so that it impacts social issues calls for smart collaboration initiatives between the pop sector and knowledge partners, such as higher vocational education institutions and universities. And this can be achieved through research and innovation projects that provide an impulse to innovation and collaboration in the industry.’ In the International Music Industry Lab, which is actually led by Koos Zwaan, Inholland is working with partners from the field on projects exactly like these.

Research and innovation themes
Themes in the research and innovation agenda have been developed with input collected from representatives across the whole pop sector during various working sessions. Input was also harvested from visitors at the Congress Podia Festivals Evenementen (in September 2022), No Man’s Land (December 2022) and Eurosonic Noorderslag (January 2023).
Its main themes are: talent development, professionalisation, inclusion & diversity, new digital technology & business models, mental & physical well-being, the societal impact of pop music, climate impact and internationalisation. The full agenda can be downloaded from the website. 

Speaking on behalf of the day-to-day management of Popcoalitie, Martijn Kramers says that its agenda offers opportunities for innovative solutions that will strengthen the industry and underscore a healthy and sustainable music ecosystem. ‘You need look no further, for example, than fair practices for all stakeholders, inclusivity for employees and the sustainability of activities. In fact, everything that forms part of the value chain of the Netherlands’ pop-music sector.’

Matchmaking
The next step is to bring together parties from the broader field of pop music, researchers from other universities and universities of applied sciences, as well as parties that can finance collaborative projects. To this end, Inholland and the Popcoalitie, supported by CLICKNL, are organising a matchmaking meeting. The objective of this meeting is to form partnerships that will focus on questions from the agenda and that will initiate further research and develop and implement innovations for, and with, the pop sector. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, 6 June, 2023 in the A-lab in Amsterdam.

ITEA is a career day for students and (almost) graduates who are looking for an internship or job in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. The event offers a unique opportunity to meet internationally oriented startups, medium-sized companies and multinationals at a job market. In addition, companies give various workshops and presentations and renowned guest speakers provide keynotes. The language of the event is English.

Personal advice
An attractive part of ITEA is the 'career coach cafe' where students receive personal advice in one-on-one sessions with professional career coaches about their CV, LinkedIn profile and job interviews for a good start on the international job market.

Inholland University of Applied Sciences, the University of Amsterdam, the VU and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences have been working together for ten years to make this event a success. They have handed over the organization to students of AIESEC, an international non-profit student organization.

For all students
Recently, branch director Bas van Spréw of Hogeschool Inholland Amsterdam/Diemen signed the ITEA 2023 cooperation agreement, as a partner of the Amsterdam higher education network. “I think it is very important for our students to participate,” says Bas. “And that does not only apply to the international students at Inholland Amsterdam/Diemen, but to all current students of the various locations of Inholland University of Applied Sciences, who aspire to an international career.”

Nynke Moens, ITEA coordinator from Inholland, agrees wholeheartedly with Bas: “We teach all our students international skills: presenting in English, cultural differences that you have to take into account, et cetera. So this networking event is really not just for students with an international background or Dutch-speaking students who are following an international education.”

Within Inholland, various parties are involved in ITEA. Susanne van Rodijnen-Bosch and Marije Molthoff have been involved from the International Office and the Student Success Center. The domains of Creative Business and Technology, Design and Computer Science also recognize the importance of the event and make a contribution.

Keep international talent in the Netherlands
“For international students, this event can also contribute to their well-being,” says Susanne, “because research by Nuffic has shown that they often worry about their future career. Finding a job in a foreign country can be quite difficult.” According to her, it would be great if they could find an employer in the Amsterdam metropolitan region through this event: “We have attracted international talent; our society benefits if students who have completed their studies here also stay in the Netherlands.” Inholland wants to help its students to integrate well into Dutch society. That is why the university of applied sciences has been a partner and co-organizer of ITEA for so many years.

ITEA offers students an excellent opportunity to present themselves to potential employers, including Uber, Amazon, Adidas, Catawiki, AkzoNobel, Rituals and G-star RAW. And if you start working for an international company in Amsterdam, doors to other countries will be opened!

Want to attend? Register now!
Need more information? Visit the ITEA website!

As a student you are looking for pleasant, affordable and safe housing in the city where you study. This may sound simple, but things are different in practice. If you want to get your own room in your student city, you are often dealing with waiting times, high rents and (too) small rooms at locations you would actually prefer not to live. The student housing providers want to do something about this. They are going to build affordable student housing in your city, taking your housing needs into account. To do so, they need your input. 

Survey 
We are conducting a survey to find out how many students will be living in your city in the coming years and how these students want to live. This knowledge will be used to build enough student housing to meetstudents' needs. This research is carried out by student housing providers in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Universities of Applied Sciences and Research Universities. If you really want to make a difference in housing for students, please participate in this survey. 

Participation 
To participate, please click on the following link: www.wonenalsstudent.nl 

The survey consists of about 40 questions and takes around 10 minutes to complete. You can fill in the questionnaire using your smartphone, tablet or computer. The questionnaire will remain active until April 22.  Your answers will then be processed anonymously. 

How do I stay informed of the results? 
Results will be available on the website after the summer.

Now, in 2024, I'm going to start for myself again to help young people connect with themselves and choose a direction that genuinely suits them.'

It's okay to not want to work 40 hours
'At 19, I suffered a burnout. I was living according to the expectations of others. At least, I thought it was their expectations. At the time, I didn't ask myself: What do I like?

During my studies, I found that there were so many other young people struggling with this. That's actually when the idea for the startup Wildgroei was born.

With Wildgroei, we want to help young people find their passion in life. We encourage them to live less from the expectations of society. It's okay if you don't want to work 40 hours. Just do what you love! Take control of your life.'

Working on yourself in nature
Wildgroei organizes training weeks and weekends in nature. Here, you work on yourself, your perception of the world, and your role in it. With the goal that you go home after this week full of energy and inspiration and maybe even a step closer to your mission in life. A backpack full of new insights. That's what we do it for!

During my education in Pedagogy, we went on a PTR camp (person-centered training). I experienced how valuable it is to work intensively with a group on your development. When organizing our Wildgroei training week, I draw inspiration from this part of my studies. 
Nice right?

Do something with your curiosity
‘I am so glad my teachers tipped me off to Start Up Campus Haarlem. They saw that entrepreneurship was my thing. The energy at SUCH was a perfect fit for me. I go all in on entrepreneurial energy. For students also considering entrepreneurship, I would say: “Go do something with your curiosity. Walk into SUCH and see what they can do for you. For me, a world opened up!’

What’s to come
'In 2024, Heleen will start for herself again. With the same mission but in a different form. Paths for students and starters who want to get to know themselves better to organize their lives in a way that suits them. Who are willing to look at themselves and work on questions like: Who am I? Why am I who I am? What can I do? And where do I want to go? In groups or individually, Heleen guides you in this quest.

Curious about Heleen? You can find her on LinkedIn or Instagram.