In line with BUas’ programme portfolio, international cooperation has always been part of what we do. In 2023 Academy for Leisure & Events (ALE) had 18.6% incoming international students (of 547 students in total) which compares favourably to 2017 when we had 11.8% incoming international students (of 493). This is the number of students who do their entire study programme (bachelor’s or master’s) at our academy, named ’degree- seeking students’ in formal terms. We also welcome incoming exchange students, who only come to study for one semester.

The first encounter with it was through language – the realisation you might find yourself incapable of relating due to the lack of the necessary ’words’, context, culture… and this happened as early as at the age of three (with the Russian comrades we had in kindergarten) or from what I clearly remember somewhere around the age of four or five, when the ’secret’ (due to the communist restrictions at that time) family friends from Germany (DDR) visited us when they came to enjoy the Black Sea in Bulgaria.

In 2017 I arrived in Breda as an international student from Italy, now I have already been working as a lecturer at BUas for 18 months. When I first moved to the Netherlands, I was all set for a cutting-edge, open-minded environment. I had never been here before, and all I knew was the image of the Netherlands as a progressive and innovative country. However, what I found was a whole new level of culture shock - from different social habits and norms, while also realising that cracking into Dutch social circles was tougher than expected. This mostly had me hanging out with other international students who were also trying to find their way, creating our own little bubble of shared experiences.

With classmates we have often enjoyed drinks in the city or shared a meal tog...

I am originally from Brazil, a country known for its rich culture and warm people, and my international journey began in 2013 when I moved to Ireland to study English. Living in Dublin for almost a year was my first taste of living abroad, and it sparked a desire in me to explore the world.

Within my role as account manager, I am involved in developing strategic partnerships and collaborations with companies. Such collaborations include not only work placements, minors, and graduation projects, but also guest lectures, company visits, research, projects or networking initiatives. This is in line with BUas' strategy, with the theme of ‘Connection to Industry’ to be precise. An important question here is: how can we enter into more international partnerships to develop relevant education for industry while creating business and social impact? In my daily work, I deal with internationalisation from different perspectives. Here’s a little insight into what is going on and what challenges lie ahead.

Hello dear reader, my name is Anastasiya, I’m a passionate producer of live music events from Kyiv, Ukraine. For 11 years I have been bringing a high-class music experience to people through artist booking, show production, project and marketing management, programme management, and team leading. I used to organise 365 shows per year, programming two iconic venues in Kyiv, Ukraine, promoting live music shows in Europe.

ESN Breda is one of over 500 sections that are part of the Erasmus+ programme, present in more than 40 countries. As a smaller branch of ESN Netherlands, ESN Breda is working towards a more inclusive community for international students in the city of Breda. The core values of this section are unity, diversity, cooperation, and integration of international students in their new community by creating fun events for them to enjoy and meet new people. ESN Breda is partnered with BUas and Avans, having close relations with Breda Internationals as well, making it one of the most international-friendly and student-friendly organisations in Breda.

Welcome to the wonderful world of placemaking – where urban spaces are transformed into vibrant, engaging hubs that celebrate community, creativity, and connection! Placemaking is a people-centred approach to urban planning and design, with a focus that goes beyond the physical structure and functional purpose of a space. It aims to create places where the people who live, work and play in them can thrive. Imagine a place that you ?nd beautiful and meaningful, a place where you feel a sense of belonging and where every corner tells a story that resonates with you and your community. That is the essence of placemaking, and it is what Placemaking Europe aims to promote on a global scale.