Co-founder tuktukrental.com about the collaboration with Tourism Management
Hendrik Wietse Sennema is the Co-founder and Head of Partnerships at tuktukrental.com, a social enterprise in sustainable tourism. With a long-standing connection to Saxion University of Applied Sciences, he collaborates through internships, research projects and the Smart Solutions Programme. Hosting students in Sri Lanka, Hendrik supports hands-on learning while benefiting from their fresh perspectives and contributions to the company’s international operations.
What motivated your organization to collaborate with Saxion University of Applied Sciences?
"My connection with Saxion goes back to my own time as a student. During my third year, I started my first business in the events space and was already collaborating with Saxion through projects involving second-year students in the Event Management course. So I’ve been involved with Saxion in one way or another from early on.
After moving to Sri Lanka and starting tuktukrental.com, I reached out to Saxion again to explore new forms of collaboration. That led to a Smart Solutions Semester project focused on expanding our TukTuk Tournament to new countries. Around that time, my friend Leon Ripperda, who now teaches at Saxion, invited me to speak in an online interview about social entrepreneurship. During the session, I mentioned that I would be open to hosting interns.
Not long after, I was contacted by Rico and Isa. They became the first Saxion students to travel to Sri Lanka for internships at our company. They supported a wide range of projects, mainly in customer-facing roles and by helping to organise the TukTuk Tournament. That experience kick-started an ongoing collaboration that has now evolved to include research opportunities as well."
How would you describe your overall experience working with Saxion so far?
"It has been a very positive experience. In general, we prefer students to be based here in Sri Lanka because the immersive, multicultural environment is such an essential part of the learning process. Being physically present enables students to experience the day-to-day operations of an international tourism business firsthand.
The Saxion students we’ve worked with have shown great professionalism and eagerness to learn. They’ve integrated well into the team and adapted quickly to both the culture and the pace of the work. What has stood out most is how both the interns and our existing staff learn from one another, creating an exchange that benefits everyone involved."
What qualities or strengths have you observed in the Saxion students you have worked with?
"The students bring a strong sense of initiative and professionalism. They are adaptable and quick to engage with both the tasks at hand and the people around them. We’ve seen them work with confidence in unfamiliar environments, ask smart questions, and contribute meaningfully to the team. Their combination of practical thinking and a curious mindset fits well with how we operate."
Saxion students bring with them knowledge of Western travel behaviour, service design, and hospitality standards, which helps elevate our internal processes.
How well do the skills and knowledge of Saxion students align with the needs and expectations of your industry?
"Very well. Sri Lanka has experienced rapid growth in tourism since the end of its civil war in 2009, and businesses here are still adapting to international tourism expectations. Saxion students bring with them knowledge of Western travel behaviour, service design, and hospitality standards, which helps elevate our internal processes.
At the same time, the students benefit by experiencing the fast-paced realities of tourism in a developing context, where adaptability and on-the-ground learning are essential. This two-way exchange has been mutually beneficial for both parties."
From your perspective, what makes Saxion a valuable and reliable academic partner?
"Saxion’s approach to applied sciences and practical learning makes it easy to engage in real partnerships. The university has clear processes for internships, project-based learning and research, and the students arrive well-prepared to work in a professional setting. The communication and follow-up from staff members are also consistent and helpful, which makes collaboration smooth."
Would you consider collaborating with Saxion and its students again in the future? If so, what would be your main reasons?
" Yes, without hesitation. The students bring fresh perspectives, academic knowledge and different ways of approaching problems. Often, they introduce ideas or processes we hadn’t considered internally. It’s not just about the extra capacity, but about inviting in new thinking that pushes us to reflect and improve. That’s what makes the collaboration valuable."