Saxion instils global mindset, critical thinking in students
Globalisation has opened up opportunities for university graduates and encouraged competition among the world's top talents. Responding to the demand for graduates with a global mindset, Saxion University of Applied Sciences is equipping its students with professional competencies oriented towards a global environment.
Tracing its roots back to 1875, Saxion was formed in 1998 from a merger between two Dutch universities. The institution has since played a crucial role in bridging academic research with real-world applications through its innovative solutions.
"What characterises Saxion as a university of applied sciences is how society can use the solutions we come up with for innovation - that starts with our research," says Wim Boomkamp, Saxion's president. "Our programmes and competencies for students are also internationally oriented because we recognise how globalisation is happening so quickly."
Developing programmes such as engineering for cutting-edge innovations, Saxion considers its quality of education as a key success factor.
With a strategy for operating worldwide, the university is seeking academic partners for joint programmes and other collaborative endeavours. The Living Lab in China, for example, is Saxion's hospitality-focused educational partner where students actively engage in problem-solving.
To cater to international students, a large portion of whom come from Asian countries such as Taiwan and South Korea, Saxion conducts a number of courses in English. It nurtures a proactive workplace attitude, emphasises a career-oriented education and strives to instil critical-thinking skills in its foreign students to prepare them as they join the talent pool back home.
"If you want to make a difference in the world, come and study with us," says Chris van den Borne, director of Saxion's international office. "You will get an education that is focused on solving problems, creating innovations, honing your entrepreneurial skills - and we'll find you a way in the world."
http://www.saxion.nl
