Christmas Message 2024

20.12.2024

Dear Students, Faculty, Alumni and Friends of Wittenborg

It has been a tumultuous year internationally, with many governments in Europe turning towards populism, a war grinding on in the East, and continued turmoil in the Middle East. Many other parts of the world have suffered in different ways, with climate change probably leading the scoreboard. Our neighbours across the pond seem to have been taken over by a combination of populism and unbridled BigTech, with all the possible implications for our world.

However, through all this mist and fog, Wittenborg has continued to provide its brand of quality international higher education to business students from around the world in a safe, equitable and harmonious environment, with locations in Apeldoorn and Amsterdam, and at its partner NEC in Munich.

2024 also saw the continued rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Discussions on how to move forward within this technological climate dominated many meetings of staff, faculty and students.

It is possible that GenAI and other forms of artificial intelligence will transform not only our own higher education but education in all forms in the coming decades. Of course, this is something we will have to wait and see on, and such sweeping statements cannot be verified at the moment, but our gut feeling is that this is certainly not just another ‘calculator moment’ in history.

The calculator was never as (geo)politically divisive, economically impactful, potentially exclusive, and certainly not as exciting. Roll on 2025.

On behalf of all our amazing staff, faculty and students, we wish each other and everyone else connected with our business school a wonderful festive season in 2024 and a great start to the New Year in 2025.

Peter Birdsall