Information for future exchange students 2009-2010
Contents Introduction to INHolland University 3 of Applied Sciences How to become an INHolland 4 exchange student Teaching methods 6 Your stay in the Netherlands 7 INHolland exchange locations 8 Did you know that 9 Contact 10 2
Introduction to INHolland University of Applied Sciences INHolland University of Applied Sciences is an ambitious institution of higher education in the western part of the Netherlands. Studying at INHolland means being part of one of the largest and most modern institutions of higher education in the Netherlands in 11 different cities. In addition to programmes aimed at Dutch native speakers, INHolland also offers professional Bachelor degree programmes in English in the fields of Economics and Business, Communication and Marketing, Greenport Business, Aeronautical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Information Technology and Tourism. Internationalisation is one of our core values at INHolland. In order to develop the quality of all our higher education programmes, the university has many strategic partnership agreements with educational institutions both within the Netherlands and abroad. Currently, we have agreements with approximately 250 universities and higher education institutions abroad. Every year around 450 INHolland students go on an exchange to one of these universities. Another 450 international students are warmly welcomed on their exchange visit to INHolland. INHolland is an open, multi-cultural institute which offers students an environment that is not only innovative, demanding and high-quality but also caring, professional and academic. 3
How to become an INHolland exchange student? Grants for exchange students If you are interested in following an exchange programme at INHolland University of Applied Sciences the first step is to ask your own institution (the International Office or Study Co-ordinator) if a partnership agreement exists. If so, find out about when your home university carries out the selection procedure, and what it entails. If you are selected, your university will inform us of your name and e-mail address. Then we will send you an application form plus all the information you need to prepare for studying at INHolland. Complete the form and return it to us before the given deadline. If you meet all the requirements set by INHolland and follow our application procedure, you will receive an acceptance letter before the start of the semester. Then just pack your bags and be prepared for an amazing international experience! Learning agreement All exchange students need to fill in a learning agreement, specifying the courses they want to follow during their exchange programme abroad. Your home university should provide you with a learning agreement before you depart. Make sure you complete and sign this. You also need to get it signed by your home university co-ordinator and by the co-ordinator at INHolland. This guarantees that both universities agree with the courses you selected. When you successfully complete your study programme (as approved in the learning agreement), you return to your home institution, and your credits are transferred. Exchange students are guest students at INHolland. Their home university has a bilateral agreement with INHolland. Since you pay your tuition fees to your home university, you do not have to pay to study as an exchange student at INHolland. However, not paying tuition fees in the Netherlands means you are, in principle, not eligible for any grants provided by the Dutch government. Please ask your home university if a grant is available to support you while studying at INHolland. If you are an EU/ EEA student, your home university can tell you how to apply for an Erasmus Grant. 4
João Viana, 21, Portugal When we arrived at the beginning of the semester, the university introduced us to student unions. We also had an orientation programme and we were given student mentors, so we immediately met a lot of other students. We felt really welcome! Areas of study This is an overview of the areas of study offered to exchange students by the various INHolland locations. For detailed information about the programmes and courses available, please visit our website: www.inholland.com Alkmaar Amsterdam Diemen Delft Haarlem Rotterdam Communication Economics Education Health Greenport Business Law Social Work Technology 5
Teaching methods INHolland s education is organised in line with the major-minor system. In the majors, we teach broad and general professional competences. In the minors, we offer our students the opportunity to specialise in specific professional competences. Our educational model focuses on competence-based learning. This means that all teaching and learning activities concentrate on the professional competences you need to acquire. A competence is a combination of knowledge, attitude and skills required in the specific professional field for which you are being educated. Our approach to education combines theory and practice with learning activities, so that you can put into practice all the things you have learnt in the classroom (including projects and practical assignments). This system requires an active and interactive attitude from both students and teachers. Credits and assessment Assessments take place in various ways: individual exams, essays, reports or presentations, but also through individual and group activities. You will receive a list of grades after each period of study. Grading and workload assessments use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). In the Netherlands, student workload is expressed in terms of credits. 1.5 ECTS represents 40 hours of work. Each year of study represents an academic workload of 60 ECTS. Individual modules usually represent a workload of between 1.5 and 5.0 ECTS. If you fail an exam, there is always a chance to re-sit in the same academic year. Credits are awarded only if the course has been completed and all the required examinations have been successfully taken. Students participating in the exchange programme will receive credits for all successfully completed academic work, and they can transfer these credits from one participating school to another, based on a previously approved learning agreement. Academic year The academic year runs from the end of August until the beginning of July. The year is divided into four periods (terms) of ten weeks. Each period of ten weeks consists of seven weeks of lectures and group work activities, one week of self-study, one week of exams and one week of projects. The first (fall) semester (terms 1 and 2) runs from the end of August until the end of January; the second (spring) semester (terms 3 and 4) runs from the beginning of February until the beginning of July. 6
Luiza Vega, 20, Mexico I like the practical style of teaching at INHolland University of Applied Sciences because they truly focus on real problems in today s society. Your stay in the Netherlands Requirements to enter & stay in the Netherlands Students who do not have a European nationality need a visa to enter the Netherlands (except for nationals from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South-Korea, Switzerland, United States of America and Vatican City). INHolland will apply for your visa using a special, short procedure. More information can be found on our website (Requirements to enter & stay in NL). Health insurance During your stay in the Netherlands it is compulsory to have good health insurance. The Nuffic advises to take out the Insurance Certificate for Students (ICS) of AON (www.allriskshop.nl/ics) or the Insurance Passport for Students (IPS) of Lippmann Insurance (www.ips-lippmann.nl). Both insurances also cover third party insurance. EU students need to bring a European Health Insurance card. Non-EU students need to take out an Insurance Passport for Students (IPS). In case INHolland applies for your Visa, the Recruitment Office will take out the IPS on your behalf. When you apply to study at INHolland, we will send you detailed information about the health insurance requirements. Social activities As an exchange student, you will have the opportunity to participate in the activities organised by INHolland. The first and most important one is the Orientation Programme, which takes place at the beginning of each semester. You should not miss the Orientation Programme, because it provides you with vital information for your studies at INHolland and for your stay in the Netherlands. You will be given the chance to become familiar with the university and the city during this week. This is also a very good opportunity to meet other students and staff in an informal way. During the semester, the International Office or your local student association may also organise activities or parties. In most of the INHolland locations, you will also be supported by the ESN (Erasmus Student Network), an inter national student organisation specialised in integrating exchange students in their country of destination. 7
Alicia Contreras, 23, Spain I chose to study in the Netherlands because it is situated in the centre of Europe and, therefore, has a lot of influences from other countries. Although English is not the official language, practically everybody speaks English! INHolland exchange locations Exchange students are welcomed in five of our INHolland locations each semester: Alkmaar, Amsterdam/Diemen, Delft, Haarlem and Rotterdam. Alkmaar Over the last few decades, Alkmaar has developed into a medium-sized city. The canals with drawbridges and its courtyards, old facades, historic buildings and narrow shopping streets create a special atmosphere in the historic city centre. The city is internationally famous for its traditional Dutch cheese market. Alkmaar offers many restaurants, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, museums and nightclubs. Numerous cultural events are organised every year. Amsterdam/Diemen Diemen is situated in the immediate vicinity of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. Its unique combination of charm, picturesque canals and canal houses, and its cosmopolitan culture make Amsterdam one of the most attractive European cities for international tourists. You can find plenty of trendy bars, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, cinemas and theatres. There is always something happening in the cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam. Delft Delft is a beautiful and charming city which has over 600 historical monuments. Most of them date from the 16th and 17th century. The historic city is famous for its pottery painted in an exquisite blue, the extraordinary paintings by Vermeer, and the assassination of William of Orange in 1584. Delft has a vibrant student community. Haarlem Haarlem is the capital of the province of North-Holland, and has a wonderful historic centre with surprising shops, exceptional museums and excellent restaurants, bars and pubs. It is only a short distance from the trendy beaches of Bloemendaal aan Zee and Zandvoort. Haarlem is the historical centre of the tulip bulb-growing district and bears the nickname Bloemenstad (Flower City) for this reason. The city of Haarlem organises many cultural events during the year. Rotterdam During the past sixty years, the entire city centre has been rebuilt, as it was destroyed in the Second World War. More recently, numerous high-rise office buildings have been added, giving Rotterdam its own unique look. Exaggerating only slightly, it could be said that the centre of Rotterdam is an open-air museum of modern architecture. Rotterdam is one of the most important trade centres in the world. It is also a cosmopolitan city offering a wide range of cultural events and excellent nightlife. 8
Did you know that? Haarlem Alkmaar Delft Rotterdam Amsterdam Diemen Although often called Holland, the official name is the Netherlands. Statistically, the Dutch are the tallest people in the world. The lowest point in the Netherlands is 6.76 meters below sea level, and the highest point is 323 meters above sea level (and called a mountain!). Amsterdam has 160 canals and more than 1200 bridges. The Netherlands longest straight-line distance is 400 km. Over 2400 km of dikes protect the low lands. A third of the Netherlands is below sea level. There are 16 million bicycles in the Netherlands; this means that there is one for every inhabitant! New York was once Dutch (and used to be called New Amsterdam!). We then swapped it with the British for Suriname. For more information about studying in the Netherlands you can check the following website: http://www.studyin.nl 9
Liudmila Pozdnyakova, 23, Russia INHolland University of Applied Sciences has an interesting atmosphere with all the international students. You have the ability to practice languages and meet a lot of people who you can travel with. Contact International Office Alkmaar P.O. Box 403 1800 AK Alkmaar The Netherlands P: +31 (0)72 518 3652 F: +31 (0)72 518 3820 E: Intoffice.Alkmaar@INHolland.nl International Office Amsterdam / Diemen P.O. Box 261 1110 AG Diemen The Netherlands P: +31 (0)20 495 1015 F: +31 (0)20 495 1924 E: Intoffice.Diemen@INHolland.nl International Office Haarlem P.O. Box 558 2003 RN Haarlem The Netherlands P: +31 (0)23 541 2209 F: +31 (0)23 541 2255 E: Intoffice.Haarlem@INHolland.nl International Office Rotterdam & Delft P.O. Box 23145 3001 KC Rotterdam The Netherlands P: +31 (0)10 439 9822 F: +31 (0)10 439 9870 E: Intoffice.Rotterdam@INHolland.nl This brochure can also be found on www.inholland.com 10
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www.inholland.com Colophon Text: INHolland University of Applied Sciences Photography and co-ordination: Marketing & Communication dept in cooperation with Department of International Affairs INHolland University of Applied Sciences Production: Jurriaans Lindenbaum Grafimedia No rights whatsoever may be derived from this content. For further questions please contact INHolland University of Applied Sciences, Marketing & Communication dept., team Informatiemiddelen. PO box 558, 2003 RN Haarlem, The Netherlands.