Saxion welcomes a big group of new international students with the Onboarding Programme
At Saxion, we prepare our students for an international world. International students play a crucial role in this. They enrich education, bring new perspectives into the classroom, and help Dutch students develop valuable intercultural skills. In addition, they contribute to solving regional labour shortages, especially in technical fields, and help keep smaller study programmes sustainable through their enrolment.
Also this year, a large group of international students has joined all three of our campuses.
To support a smooth transition, Saxion’s International Office (SSC) offers an onboarding programme. This includes practical arrangements such as BSN registration at the city hall, residence permit collection, and tuberculosis check, as well as social activities designed to help students feel welcome and connect with one another.
The first major event of the academic year, the Kick-off Onboarding Afternoon, was held in the central halls of Saxion’s campuses in Enschede and Deventer, with over 400 new international students attending.
The programme began with a welcome presentation covering essential topics like registering with a family doctor, navigating public transport, and other practical matters. After the informative session, students participated in interactive games to break the ice and build connections. The event concluded with a campus scavenger hunt, ending at a Dutch food tasting where students tried traditional Dutch treats such as liquorice, stroopwafels, and herring.
With initiatives like these, Saxion not only promotes academic accessibility but also fosters a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for students from around the globe.
This inclusive approach contributes to a steady international student population, enriching our multicultural learning environment. Diversity in education strengthens the overall quality of education and equips students with intercultural competences that are essential for their future careers.
Welcoming international students also benefits the region: by offering them opportunities to work after graduation, Saxion helps address the shortage of qualified professionals, especially in technical fields, while students gain better career prospects locally. A true win-win for both students and society.
Before arrival, international students already have the opportunity to join a range of webinars covering important topics related to the start of their studies at Saxion. These webinars are hosted by the IO to inform students and answer all their questions. They are offered from March to August and accommodate different time zones to ensure students from around the world can participate in these online sessions.
International students can also join the WhatsApp community, which is specifically designed for new and current international students to stay updated on upcoming webinars, events, important announcements, and fun content. In addition to the WhatsApp community, students can connect with one another via the GOIN app and join chats based on shared interests. These groups via GOIN include both current Dutch and international students, allowing everyone to get to know each other before the academic year begins.
Besides the Kick-off Onboarding Afternoon, many other activities are organized from September through December. If you're interested and want to learn more about the onboarding programme and scheduled activities, feel free to visit Saxion’s onboarding page.