German ambassador visits Enschede: borderless encounters and euregional education under the microscope
Ambassador Cyrill Nunn travelled from The Hague to Enschede last week to speak to Dutch and German young people and learn more about euregional education. The visit was the start of a multi-day bike ride along the Dutch-German border.
Ambassador Cyrill Nunn: “Young people are the future of our border regions. I was here last week to hear about the experiences and challenges faced by young people from Enschede and surrounding area. The conversations demonstrate the close nature and importance of cross-border exchange. We will make an even bigger commitment to borderless cooperation in the future, for example by bringing young Dutch and German people together.”
Young people from the border region in town hall debating game
The ambassador started the afternoon with a group of Dutch and German young people in the Council Chamber in Enschede. They debated the subject of international talent in the border region and adopted different roles during the debate. This helped the young people learn more about challenges and cooperation in the border area. After the game, they discussed this with the ambassador.
Look at our international week, in which German pupils and Saxion students work together on projects, and the exchange program for trainee teachers.
Cross border education initiatives - Saxion Project Market
After the debating game, the ambassador went to Saxion to learn more about cross border education initiatives in our region. We presented a variety of initiatives in the fields of education, the labour market and healthcare at the Interreg Project Market. Including the project ‘Euregionale doorlopende leerlijn’ and ‘Smart Solution Labs’. The ambassador got a comprehensive overview of cross border projects that contribute to the cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany in the field of education.
“It’s great that the German ambassador is visiting us. Even more so because Saxion is situated just a few kilometres from the border and also has German students,” says Anka Mulder, President of the Saxion Executive Board. “We cooperate with German educational institutions and German SMEs. For example during our international week, when German and Saxion students work together on projects, as well as the exchange programme for trainee lecturers. Great opportunities for students and businesses. And there are also opportunities for German SMEs in relation to applied research, as we are always very keen to work with them.”
Evening discussion at the University of Twente
The day was concluded with an evening discussion at the University of Twente, where the ambassador spoke to Dutch and German students. This informal conversation provided the opportunity to delve deeper into themes such as student life in the region, what it is like to study in two countries and international students’ feelings on the discussion concerning internationalisation at applied universities and universities.
Ambassador Cyrill Nunn's visit to Enschede highlights the close cooperation and importance of cross border education initiatives for the future of the border region.