Participants as co-creators
The co-creators went on a journey together through the world of internationalisation. They defined this world in both words and images. Among other things by means of images of people connected to each other and young children from diverse backgrounds. Words that came to mind among the participants included a ‘rich and diverse learning environment’ and the ‘global professional’.

During their journey, the co-creators also used the Inholland professional's ‘praatplaat’, which they enhanced from an internationalisation perspective. All the input from the co-creators was then brought together in a common definition of internationalisation.

"It can help people find where they belong and find which environment helps them shine."
Larisa Dima, Creative Business student

Upcoming co-creation sessions
All the insights gained on this first journey will be taken into the next two co-creation sessions. In these sessions, we will continue to develop the vision of internationalisation together. The following sessions are scheduled:

Session 2: Movement
Tuesday, 12 October from 09.00 to 13.00

This session will focus on the following: What are we working towards when it comes to internationalisation? What is our dot on the horizon? And to get there, which movement do we need to make?

Session 3: Output
Thursday, 4 November from 13.00 to 16.00

In this last session, we will work towards what we need to get internationalisation started, make it feasible and take action?

If you want to know more, please email whyinternationalisation@inholland.nl.

The Why internalisation project team: Danielle Leentjens (Domein Techniek Ontwerpen en Informatica), Kathelijn Rijkels (Onderwijsbeleid en Juridische Zaken), Nynke Moens (Domein Creative Business), Francis Lagendijk (Centrale Studenten Administratie), Brigitte Spa (Centrale Studenten Administratie), Jannerieke Hommenga (Domein Creative Business) en Veerle Desmedt (Communicatie & Human Resources).

The ‘Why internationalisation?’ online co-creation sessions will allow you to speak to colleagues and students about internationalisation within Inholland. The results will subsequently be included in the 2022-2028 Strategic Plan. Your voice has an impact – so sign up now!

Collaborating through co-creation
Together, we will be developing a widely supported vision on internationalisation in an innovative and co-creative way. We will be holding three online half-day sessions focusing on the basic question of ‘Why internationalisation?’ We will be working in groups (using breakout rooms) with professional supervision. The sessions will take place both in English and in Dutch. The format we will be using will allow you to truly make your voice as a participant heard. There will be plenty of freedom to brainstorm, explore and think outside the box!

Colleague of student? All are welcome
Naturally, we are looking for students and colleagues who feel this topic is important and/or have new ideas and who are interested in all the possibilities – preferably people with a critical eye. With regard to the composition of the group, we would like to see a group of students and staff members that is as diverse as possible – from various locations, faculties and departments.

Got any interesting ideas about internationalisation you would like to share as an Inholland colleague or a Dutch or international student? Be sure to sign up!

When are the online sessions?
There will be three online co-creation sessions of half a day. Ideally, you should attend all three sessions. However, if you can attend only one or two sessions you're also most welcome!

Sign up now!
Your voice has an impact: sign up for the sessions using the registration form now.

If you have any further questions, please send an email to whyinternationalisation@inholland.nl.

The project team Why internalisation: Danielle Leentjens (Domein Techniek Ontwerpen en Informatica), Kathelijn Rijkels (Onderwijsbeleid en Juridische Zaken), Nynke Moens (Domein Creative Business), Francis Lagendijk (Centrale Studenten Administratie), Brigitte Spa (Centrale Studenten Administratie), Jacqueline van Rennes (Domein Gezondheid, Sport en Welzijn), Jannerieke Hommenga (Domein Creative Business) en Veerle Desmedt (Communicatie & Human Resources).

Together with colleagues and international students, Alexander created a translation of the brand story which retained its essence. One of the fundamental aspects for Inholland is viewing diversity as an asset. Alexander: 'A brand story should never be some vacuous story written by a communication department. We really create the brand story together.'

Taking on challenges

Because there are seven international degree programmes, the desire existed to translate the brand story into English as well. 'This way, we hope to create a stronger connection with the international students coming here. We were aware of the fact that you cannot simply provide a literal translation because of the intercultural differences. Together with Loo van Eck, a brainstorm session was organised with international students and lecturers', Alexander says.

The brainstorm sessions revealed striking differences. Alexander: 'Our brand story in Dutch talks about "daring to learn" and "daring to make mistakes". This notion was a real no-go to our international students. There was no way that they could explain to their parents, who were paying for an expensive degree programme abroad, that making mistakes would be involved. So in the English version, we used "taking on challenges" instead.'

Personal & community-based

The students were honoured to have been asked. Alexander: 'It really made them feel that their opinion was being valued and appreciated. They felt that they really had a say, which is just what we wanted. As we claim to be "personal and community-based", we naturally want our approach to reflect that sense as well! For the next degree programme on our schedule, Mathematical Engineering, we will be taking this approach as well.'

If you would like to know more about the approach taken by Alexander and Inholland, you can download the entire Loo van Eck interview at the top right of this article (in Dutch).

On Thursday 22 March, over thirty Information Technology students from Amsterdam (VU University Amsterdam and University of Amsterdam), Diemen and Haarlem (Inholland) met up at the Start Up Campus Haarlem (SUCH) premises. The first cups of coffee were immediately downed, the laptops flipped open and they got straight down to work. Ten hours to complete your project might sound like enough, but it really isn’t. Danuta Lapina, Information Technology student at Inholland Haarlem and one of the organisers of InHack 2018, explains: ‘A hackathon usually lasts several days. We wanted to have this time too, but it wasn’t possible to use the Inholland building overnight. In order to still achieve high-quality demonstrations at the end of the day, the team were allowed to do a lot of preparation. Everything in fact, apart from the coding. That really had to happen on the day itself.’

Three, two, one … GO!
InHack 2018 didn’t have a specific theme: the participating teams were able to decide for themselves what project they wanted to work on during the big day. From meet-up website for international students to time tracker, from time management app to game – the contributions were diverse. Just like the skill levels of the students. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a seasoned programmer or a newcomer in the world of apps. ‘That works out, too, because the judges take your level into account when assessing the result’, says Danuta. The projects were judged on technical complexity, originality, functionality and degree of completion. ‘And on your presentation. So here’s a tip in advance: ensure that you have enough time to make a properly functioning demo. Come on, guys, let’s get to work!’ After this starting shot, the clock began counting down and the teams got down to hacking and programming in silence.

Creative ‘abuse’ of Windows
The job was done after ten hours. For most of the teams, at least ... Here and there people were still putting the finishing touches to their demo, jittery fingers on the keyboard. Time had come to close the laptops and present the results. The Plantnation team won the prize for the most innovative idea with an app that reminds you to water your plants. The KeyboardKings were the prize-winning team. Their multiplayer reaction-based game was the best technical design. And there was a special mention for the Patrick’s Late team, which ‘abused’ Windows forms in the most creative manner. The prizes were in part thanks to the sponsors Abercrow, IT jobs recruiter and Podictive, specialist in cyber security. At the end of the event Danuta Lapina was tired but satisfied. ‘We’ll certainly be organising it again next year. But then bigger and longer. At least three days and two nights. Whatever happens then ... believe me, it’ll be really great.’

Watch the symposium (in Dutch) 

The library of Inholland has been digitalised in 2015, meaning that this university of applied sciences is playing a pioneering role among fellow institutions. Correspondingly, the Duik in het digitale studieboek! (Explore digital textbooks) symposium was mainly intended to share knowledge. How is the education sector changing? Will lessons still be given on the basis of a book in the future? Why is it that students don’t buy all books? How are publishers responding to the digital possibilities for good teaching resources?

Almost forty interested parties attended the symposium to find answers to these questions. It soon became clear that lecturers and publishers are still struggling with the changes resulting from the digitisation process. Chairman of the day Don Ropes (Inholland Professor of Learning & Development in Organisations) showed his ability to uncover the anxieties lurking below the surface.

Changes in education
Supply and demand are changing. Many choices and directions are now possible and it's not yet clear which will turn out to be future-proof. 'The education sector now needs to take the initiative of articulating the new demand, and for publishers to respond with new products. The cost aspects play a role too, especially when students are paying part of the costs for acquisition of learning resources', explains Stef. 'The role of the library is less about offering learning resources, and much more about providing access to a wide range of specialist literature. With its acquired knowledge of the market, the library can play a mediating role for education or help in exchanging knowledge.'

Open Educational Sources
Speakers at the symposium included Robert Schuwer, Professor of Open Educational Resources at Fontys University of Applied Sciences, an authority in the field of open educational resources. Stef Barendsen says that so far, little attention has been given to this at Inholland, but that it’s a question of ‘simply beginning instead of waiting to see what happens, so assuming our pioneering role once again.’

BUKU
Bertus Jan Epema, founder of the online book service BUKU, recounted how he has adapted the Spotify model to student textbooks and is focusing on collaboration between educational publishers and lecturers. Many lecturers felt encouraged to start experimenting with the free version of BUKU.

‘The success of this symposium should lead to a follow-up in which we expand the issue from digital textbooks to digital learning resources and materials’, says Stef. If it’s up to him, the event will also be opened to other universities of applied sciences, and to students as well.

A group of second-year students International Media and Entertainment Management has been working on the first edition of ‘The Hague Film Awards’, hosted by Gemeente Den Haag and Culture Clash4U at Filmhuis Den Haag on 17 February 2018.

After this step, the students planned the content of the award show together with the clients. After the submission deadline of the video contest passed, the students nominated the best videos for the upcoming award show. Contestants can win € 500, which can be spend on a future profession in this field. Besides the money, the winning film will be screened at Filmhuis Den Haag for a month! During the award show itself, short documentaries, vloggers, music videos and animations will be shown. During the show, on February 17, the IMEM-students will be working as stage managers and front runners.

More information about The Hague Film Awards can be found on the Facebook page.