HAS University of Applied Sciences holds several Open Days each year. This year, there will also be the first Online Open Day: on 3 December at 12.00 hr. This Online Open Day is in English and is aimed primarily at international students.
During the programme, which will be streamed live on YouTube and Facebook, lecturers and students will not only be outlining the English study programmes but will also be explaining what it’s like to study at HAS University of Applied Sciences and of course to live in the Netherlands.
Reach international students
“Organising a separate Online Open Day is new for HAS University of Applied Sciences,” explains Rutger van der Aker, student recruitment officer at HAS University of Applied Sciences. “It’s not always easy to reach international students, so an Online Open Day is a great way of coming into contact with them. And, of course, it’s important for us that potential international students are able to get a sense of the unique atmosphere at HAS University of Applied Sciences. Because it’s quite difficult for international students to attend one of our standard Open Days, this new approach offers a new opportunity.”
Round Table discussions
The Online Open Day will last 1 ½ hours. It is based on a Round Table discussion led by Marnix Wolters, a lecturer in International Food & Agribusiness. He will be speaking to both lecturers and current international students about their English study programmes. In addition to International Food & Agribusiness, HAS University of Applied Sciences also offers English bachelor degree programmes in Horticulture & Business Management and Business Management in Agriculture & Food. Marnix will be discussing the curriculum, the quality of the education and career opportunities, for example. He will also explain to prospective students what’s important for HAS University of Applied Sciences, namely personal contact, dedicated lecturers and students, and strong ties to our professional field.
Student life
The Online Open Day will also include input from reporters at the sites in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Venlo, who will be wandering through the building to give participants a live look at what’s going on in the lectures. The programme will also include items about student life in both cities. Students will be talking about the differences between life in the Netherlands and their home country. Because the event is live, participants will be able to ask questions. It will also be possible to watch the different parts of the event again later.
Europe
Officially, HAS University of Applied Sciences is aiming the Online Open Day at prospective students over the whole world. However, according to Rutger van der Aker, the expectation is that participants will be mainly potential students from European countries. “Internationalisation is an important aspect of degree programmes at HAS University of Applied Sciences,” he explains. “This is reflected in the compulsory international internships, fulltime English study programmes and international minors. The reason for this approach is the international market in which the agrifood sector operates. There are currently 140 international students at HAS University of Applied Sciences, from all over the world.”
Top university of applied sciences
This year, HAS University of Applied Sciences was once again named 2nd best medium-sized university of applied sciences in the Netherlands, in the Dutch ‘Keuzegids’ (the Dutch rankings guide for universities of applied sciences) and best Specialised university of applied sciences in the prestigious Elsevier guide of Best Study Programmes.