Tio Chat EN - Semester 1 - 2022/2023

A look back at the first semester

A brilliant start to the new academic year

From celebrations, guest lectures, and project work to international trade fairs, masterclasses, and study trips, it’s truly impressive to see how much our students at Tio thrived during the first semester. Armed with an entrepreneurial outlook, they take the initiative in realising their dreams and discovering their talents.

Our students know how to roll up their sleeves and get to work better than anyone else. They are friendly but also have an eye for business and they can organise inspiring events. Take the Stayokay hostels, for example. These were run by Tio students during the hotel and event week. We also kept our classrooms packed with inspiring stories from lecturers from industry (page 26 & 27) and guest speakers like Anne-Marie van Leggelo (page 31).

In summer 2022, we made our message even clearer with new branding and a new logo: at Tio you can go further and develop as both a person and a young professional. This was reflected in the Dutch Higher Education Guide. The fact that our study programmes came out on top for the twelfth year running was the cherry on the cake. We can all be proud of this achievement.

It’s a great pleasure to look back on the first semester and share our news with you.

Kind regards,

Katinka Reuling, Managing Director

A fantastic pre-semester trip to the Ardennes and athletic prowess in the Tio Lympics. Last semester was a roaring success in every way.

5 Off to Cape Town

10 Welcome new Tio-studens!

16 The Education Fair

36 Project weeks: learning by doing

14-15

Interview: Chenna combines highlevel horse riding with Tio

20-21

Interview: Rutger wholeheartedly opts for the MBA

40-41

Interview: Former student Naomi founds her own travel company

Are you curious about what Tio has in store for you?

Follow Tio (@tio_international) on Instagram!

Internships all over the world

Last summer, Tio students completed internships across all corners of the world.

Marketing in Los Angeles, a fantastic sales internship at skydiving company Paracentrum Texel, front office at Novotel in Phuket: Tio students were everywhere!

Read about Fabiënne’s internship at KLM in the interview on page 6 & 7.

“It’s great that at Tio you can choose the country and the company where you want to do your internship. There are no limits!”

Roos, Hotel and Event Management

Front Office – Novotel - Phuket

Skip, Commerce Economics and Entrepreneurship Sales & Marketing - Paracentrum Texel

Eva, Bachelor in Law Paralegal - Nieuwstaete Advocaten

Off to Cape Town

From Cape Town to Crete: wherever students go for their internships, their study coaches come to see how they are getting on.

Cindy van Driel-Vis (Rotterdam) set off for Portugal, Hermien Heeres (Groningen) went to Greece, and Walter van der Klugt (Amsterdam) went to visit interns in South Africa.

“It’s incredible how much personal development students experience during an internship. And getting to visit the students on Crete is even better!”

“Ten students completed their internship in Cape Town. I could hardly turn down the chance to visit! Nor could I say no to seeing the rugby final!”

Hermien Heeres, study coach

Walter van der Klugt, study coach

The sky is the limit

She got her career off to a flying start after scoring an internship in the finance department at KLM this summer. “It’s so cool to be able to complete an internship at such a large and international company!”

Financial Business Management student Fabiënne spent the summer in the Financial Accounting Services department at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. In the Quality Assurance team, she worked alongside financial experts on data, analysis, and reports.

“My work was very varied as I worked with different data and reports every day,” Fabiënne adds with enthusiasm. “No day was the same and it was at times challenging. I was involved in lots of processes and was always allowed to have my say in certain decisions. I had quite a bit of responsibility which made it really fun.”

Analysing data and creating reports

“My work mainly involved preparing and updating daily, weekly, and monthly reports for various departments at KLM and Air France,” Fabiënne explains. “I got the data from systems like SAP and SAPCO and then analysed it. I also attended meetings and updated dashboards that were presented in management meetings.”

Plenty of challenges

Nothing ventured, nothing gained Fabiënne had always been interested in the aviation industry, but never expected to get to see inside a company as large and dynamic as KLM. “But I just thought nothing ventured, nothing gained. I sent my cover letter to KLM and got a positive response right away. It was so cool. I really learned a lot from this internship. And not just about financial matters and data. The international environment was also beneficial for improving my English skills, for example.”

One day you’re in a class room, the next you’re completing an internship with a view of the runway for KLM private and business jets. Too good to be true? Not for Tio student Fabiënne van den Berg!

“ I had quite a bit of responsibility which made it really fun.”

A super fun study experience at Tio

“ I sent my cover letter to KLM and got a positive response right away.”

Fabiënne is now in her second year studying Financial Business Management at Tio Rotterdam. “I was really interested in the economics side of things and working with numbers and data. I was attracted to this programme right away, plus the personal teaching experience at Tio appealed to me. I absolutely love it. In just one year, I’ve been able to build up a huge amount of practical experience, not only at KLM, but also through various different projects. And last but not least, it’s super fun at Tio. It’s small so everyone knows almost everyone else on campus.”

Ready for take-off

And finally, what are Fabiënne’s goals for the future? “Aviation is a really fun and dynamic world, but I’d like to keep my options open. I’d really like to use my other internships to find out what I’d like to do. Fortunately I’ve still got some time. But working in the finance department of a huge company like KLM has definitely given me a taste for more!”

Off to the Belgian Ardennes

That’s right! The first-year students boarded buses headed for the Ardennes in Belgium.

There was a great atmosphere from the start, and they all got to know each other well during abseiling, mountain scooter, shooting, and archery sessions. In the evening, there was time for a party with a barbecue and student DJ Noah.

Marjo, Hotel Management student

“You really bond with the group and that’s a perfect start to the new year.”

“You get a bit of a head start. You get to know everyone before the first day.”

Noah, International Business Management student

“You get a lot out of it.”

Tommaso, International Tourism Management student

Ready? Set. Go!

Our first-year students are at the starting blocks for their first academic year. As usual, Tio invited industry professionals to inspire the students.

Among others, we welcomed defence lawyer Wim Anker, event expert Sjoerd Weikamp and Young Sales Specialist of the Year Nikusia Kooijmans.

“I’ve always followed my heart and that’s what I want to pass on to you. Freedom allows you to find yourself.”

Chris Zegers, presentor

“Hard work, a sense of humour and engaging with people is the recipe for success in hospitality.”

Milo Berlijn, owner of Trainmark

“I learned that your future is full of opportunities. Nothing is fixed. You can always try something new if it makes you happy.”

Javier, Hotel management student

“Work hard, learn fast, enjoy life, conquer the world! And make the difference!”

Erwin van Lambaart, CEO Casinos Austria

The MBA: A two-day kick-off

During the two-day kick-off, he gave the MBA students a business case to solve in just a couple of hours: which countries should Casinos Austria expand to, and which experiences go well with a visit to the casino? “Combine creativity with business sense!”

The next day, the students presented their ideas based on strategic analysis, facts, and figures to the jury. The prize - a dinner at the live music restaurant Pasta e Basta in Amsterdam - went to the team that would combine a casino in Portugal with an amusement park.

Priyanka was on the winning team:

“Gambling is a game, it’s got to be fun,” Erwin van Lambaart, CEO of Casinos Austria explains his area of expertise.

“We won thanks to our robust analysis and well thought out plan. It’s a great start to the year.”

“I need insight into strategic management in order to achieve my goals. That’s why I chose the MBA.”

Rutger, MBA student

A new look for Tio

A new academic year with a new logo and a new look.

Develop your talents and be the best version of yourself. At Tio it’s all about you. Have you already spotted our new branding?

Curious about our bus shelter posters, campaigns and new videos? Scan the QR code and see the result!

“At Tio I can combine my studies with my sporting career”

High-level horse riding or business studies? Chenna does both. The entrepreneurial show jumper has managed to combine studying for a degree in Commercial Business Management with her other goals. Tio is the right place for her to make the most of her skills across all areas.

Chenna has been riding horses since the age of ten. She trains four to five times per week and competes nearly every weekend. Last year, she took part in several international competitions. Chenna is also interested in moving into motorsports and recently completed several training days. How does Chenna combine her sporting career with her full-time studies at Tio?

Choosing the right study programme

Before Chenna came to Tio, she pursued an equestrian sports programme. But it wasn’t right for her: “The programme wasn’t what I was looking for. The curriculum didn’t suit me, and the teaching style didn’t work for me. I did enjoy the business part of the studies though, so I decided to go further in that direction. I knew that Commercial Business Management at Tio was the programme for me as soon as I heard about it.”

Entrepreneurial ambitions

Chenna was right. The business programme at Tio was exactly what she had been looking for. “The curriculum is a good match for my goals as I’d like to start my own company one day. I also really like the personal and close-knit atmosphere at Tio. Every morning people say hello to me by name. Where else do you get that? Tio Eindhoven is a lovely and welcoming campus. I’ve also established a really great group of friends.”

“And everyone at Tio really takes my sporting ambitions into account.”

Balancing sports and studies

“And everyone at Tio really takes my sporting ambitions into account,” Chenna continues with enthusiasm. “My lecturers are aware of just how passionate I am about sports including horse riding and how much time this demands. They always try to accommodate me where possible. Sometimes I attend classes from home or take a test at a different time. It’s ultimately my responsibility, but my lecturers are always happy to consider different solutions. It’s great.”

Plenty of practical experience

Chenna has built up lots of practical experience during her study programme, not only through study projects and internships, but also as a committee member. She is secretary of the student association Cognatio at Tio Eindhoven. “The committee meets every week. As secretary, I contribute my opinion, take minutes, keep everything organised, and jump in where necessary. I love being able to play a part in this way. And it’s really fun too!”

Continuing studying at Tio

Once her Commercial Business Management programme is complete, Chenna plans to continue studying. “Afterwards I’d like to take the bachelor’s degree in real estate at Tio. I’m really interested in this world. My father owns a holiday park business in Zeeland and various real estate projects abroad, so it’s really in the family. I’m still working out what exactly I’d like to do, so continuing my studies is a good option. This degree is also a good match for my background in business.”

Making dreams a reality

Once she has completed both study programmes, Chenna is keen to set up her own business, most likely in the world of real estate at home or abroad. “Last year we took classes in personal development. We learned how to identify our personal qualities and skills. The study coach helped us to work out where we would like to develop ourselves further and how we could achieve that. It was really interesting as I always want to get the best out of myself. This course was definitely a big help. I don’t know what it’ll look like yet, but I know I’ll have my own business one day!”

“It’s ultimately my responsibility, but my lecturers are always happy to consider different solutions. It’s great.”

The Education Fair

Are you looking for the right study programme for the next stage of your career? The Education Fair is a good place to start. And it’s a great chance for new students to get to know Tio.

On an average day at the fair, around 1,000 prospective students visit our stand. Students, lecturers, and study coaches from all campuses are there to speak to everyone, hand out bags with study guides, and tell everything about Tio and it’s study programmes.

“We spoke to 6,500 prospective students in total across all four fairs. About a thousand more than last year!”

Alex, event marketeer at Tio

This is Holland

Our exchange students took the ferry across the IJ in Amsterdam on a late sunny summer’s day. Their lecturers, study coaches and the International Office came along for the ride. This is Holland: a spectacular 5D flight experience over the country’s must-see sights.

Together they floated over the Netherlands, over tulip fields, the Kinderdijk windmills and choppy seas. They also enjoyed snacking on croquettes and fries at the Eye Film Museum, followed by a city tour through the oldest part of Amsterdam. A warm welcome for our exchange students!

Sporting highlights during the Tio Lympics

This year, students also returned to the Olympic Stadium for the Tio Lympics, the Tio sports competition with a relay race, tug of war, volleyball, and archery.

The campuses, students, and employees took each other on... Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen, Hengelo, Rotterdam and Utrecht: Everyone’s eyes are on the prize! And this year, the cup went to Tio Amsterdam!

“Tio prepared me well for an international career”

Rutger was still at high school when he decided that he wanted an international business career. Now his dream is nearly a reality. He snagged his first job offer for a career abroad before he had even graduated.

Personal education

First Rutger completed his pre-university education (VWO). His decision to do a Bachelor programme at a university of applied sciences (HBO) was very deliberate. “The teaching style at a large university didn’t suit me. Then I heard about this more personal option at Tio, with small classes and international prospects. It really appealed to me. I immediately got a good feeling about Tio at the open day.”

Practical experience at home and abroad

Rutger quickly knew that he had made the right choice. “I got the opportunity to build plenty of practical experience right away. I did an internship at a 5-star hotel in Malta and a 5-star resort in Curaçao. I then worked as treasurer on the national board of the student association Cognatio. I also learned a lot from the study projects. All this practical experience has really expanded my CV.”

A versatile programme

The business programme at Tio provides a good foundation in business and economics with a particular focus on finance and e-commerce. “International Business Management gives you a broad education and the foundation in business and economics serves you well in many different sectors,” Rutger explains. “I personally find

“All this practical experience has really expanded my CV.”

“When I heard about this more personal option at Tio, with small classes and international prospects. It really appealed to me.”

the hospitality world extremely interesting and my background in business is a good match for it. This became clear to me during my internships. Thanks to this business programme I am widely employable and that’s pretty great. At Tio you are well prepared for a career at home and abroad.”

Straight on to a Master’s

Rutger decided to continue studying after his bachelor in business. He wanted to develop his knowledge of business processes further. “I compared various different Master’s, but the Master of Business Administration at Tio was the ultimate one for me. The MBA programme really appealed to me, and the teaching style really suits me.”

Identifying and implementing business processes

Rutger is now half-way through the Master’s and continues to be happy with his choice. “I absolutely love it, it’s all so interesting. You learn how to make business processes as effective and efficient as

possible. And you get an even better opportunity to develop a sort of bird’s-eye view, you learn how to keep an overview of all processes within a company and how to make strategic decisions.”

Ready for the working world at home and abroad Rutger now knows what he wants. He has his sights set on managing a 4- or 5-star international luxury hotel. “I’ve learned so much over the past few years at Tio. Now I have the knowledge, experience, and skills to be a good manager. At Tio I learned how to present myself on the national and international job market. I got an open job offer from the 5-star resort in Curaçao where I did my internship. But maybe I will go for a hotel in the Netherlands instead. Who knows, I’m keeping my options open!”

“The study programme really appealed to me, and the teaching style really suits me.”

The I stands for International

The International Admissions team is always looking for opportunities on the international student market. “We visit international and private schools in countries where there is a strong interest in studying abroad,” says Yolanda Huijts of International Admissions. “Last semester we were in thirty countries around the world.”

“Last year, Tio was active in Latin America and South America in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru. At the education fair in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, we spoke to an incredible number of motivated students who are keen to come to the Netherlands and study at Tio.”

Did you know?

Students come to Tio from 35 different countries. From Australia to South Africa, Zambia, Denmark and Mexico!

Tio students come from everywhere. More and more international students hear about Tio as the place to complete an bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Tio degree courses rated best in Dutch Higher Education Guide for 12th year running

Tio is a school where young talent are given the opportunity to bring out the best in themselves. As a private educational institution we are able to invest more in the quality of education and offer more personal attention. This is reflected in the results of the Dutch Higher Education Guide 2023.

Best study programmes: for 12 years running

For the twelfth year running Tio’s study programmes have received the highest ratings in the Dutch Higher Education Guide 2023. We have also been awarded the quality mark ‘excellence in this field’ again and were voted the best university of applied sciences in the Netherlands that offer more than three study programmes. Celebrations at the campuses couldn’t get more Dutch with ‘pepernoten’!

Former student Ben:

“Tio has a unique offer. The degree opens doors, enriches you as a human being, and stands you in good stead for the rest of your life.”

Tio students are everywhere

Company visits are one of the best and most educational aspects of studying at Tio. The world of work is the place to get a taste for different jobs and discover your future career.

Our bachelor students have visited large companies like TUI, Rabobank and Preston Palace. Sampling fine foods at top hotels, looking around a courthouse or an airport or exploring the business district of Amsterdam. The real world is where it all happens!

Challenging and educational

MBA students were tasked with creating a strategic HR advisory report for the Human Resource Management course. Diversity and inclusivity had to be central. But how do you achieve this? Time for a company visit!

Tours, guest lectures and workshops

Armed with best practice knowledge from Ahold

Delhaize, practise with a business case from Linxx and a candid talk about doing business at the refrigeration company IJskoud. It was time to try it out for themselves!

“ It was super informative, and I really got a good understanding about how the HRM processes run in a multinational environment.”

“It’s so nice to welcome the MBA students from Tio and exchange aspirations and ideals”

José Komin-Bras, IJskoud

‘At Tio there are lots of opportunities for growth’

Atika’s interest in research methods was sparked by a similar subject, namely research methods and techniques. She therefore decided to do a research Master’s after her Master’s in Corporate Communication at the University of Amsterdam. This second Master’s would be solely focussed on academic research.

“I remember hearing about research methods as a subject in my first or second year,” Atika reflects. “I went into the session thinking it would just be two super boring hours, but the lecturer presented the material in such an enjoyable, easy and funny way that it sounded so much more interesting. That’s the moment I was inspired. After my second Master’s, I looked for a research-related career. That’s how I came to Tio in Utrecht.”

Teaching with confidence

Atika began as a graduation supervisor at Tio in Utrecht. Soon she was asked to teach in front of a class. This was pretty nerve-racking. “All my life, having to stand in front of a group of people has made me nervous. Teaching a group of students was a hurdle that I had to overcome. But I also found that I had to challenge myself in order to get over my fears. So that’s what I did. Now I feel truly comfortable in front of a class. Beating my stage fright changed my life.”

Lots of opportunities for growth

Atika has now been at Tio for nearly eight years, primarily as an examiner, though she is still active as a lecturer and thesis advisor. And it suits her perfectly. “Tio is perfect for me. The other lecturers, the freedom, and the flexibility at Tio Utrecht are all important plus points. There’s a good atmosphere. And there are plenty of opportunities for growth at Tio. I have had lots of chances to grow as a person. I’ve been able to teach all kinds of programmes and training courses, I mentor various colleagues and have also developed and coordinated programmes. For the past year, this has included the Master of Business Administration at Tio. I also took part in the lecturer exchange programme. All of a sudden, I found myself teaching at the University of Agder in Kristiansand, Norway. Tio offers so many opportunities. If you want to grow, you will.”

Atika Aafar was always destined to be a lecturer. But her stage fright nearly got in the way of making that dream a reality. Now Atika has been a research skills lecturer and thesis advisor at Tio for years. And she still enjoys her job. “It has taught me so much. I have undergone so much personal growth thanks to Tio.”

Tio offers so many opportunities. If you want to grow, you will.”

Personal and small-group teaching

Teaching at Tio is personal with small class sizes. “I feel that many students can benefit from such a personal approach. There’s lots of room for personal attention and guidance. I find it nice too. You get to know your students and can offer them the guidance that they need. Over the course of their studies, you really get to see how they grow into confident, capable young adults who are ready for the working world. It’s wonderful to see.”

“What’s also great about Tio is that they keep track of the latest developments,” Atika continues. “Technology develops at such a fast pace. We hope to future-proof our students with the right knowledge and skills.”

Drawing on young people’s own experiences

Atika loves to pass on her enthusiasm for research skills to her students. How does she make generally less popular research topics fun? “It’s a true challenge for me and I’m happy to take it on. I connect the material to the personal experiences of my students and use a little humour. I’m also very interested in what the students spend their time doing. I invest in connecting with the students before introducing the subject. I also try to make clear the importance of research skills, not only during their studies, but also in their lives afterwards. Especially today. In the first lesson, students often still see it as ‘super boring’.” Atika has to laugh. “But at the end of the semester, I often hear that they’ve secretly found it really fun. That’s when I know my mission is accomplished.”

“Tio keeps track of the latest developments. We hope to future-proof our students with the right knowledge and skills.”

Eurovision and guerrilla marketing at Tio Amsterdam

Who wouldn’t want to be able to consult experts? Students have the opportunity to do so during guest lectures at Tio Amsterdam. In October, they got the chance to attend guest lectures about two different subjects: Event Management at Eurovision and everything there is to know about guerrilla marketing.

Backstage at Eurovision

“The show must go on,” says Richard Rouwendaal, owner of Rauw Events & Productions. Richard has worked for years as a stage manager in the Netherlands and abroad for mega events like Formula 1 and company events for Transavia and Sixt.

He tells us about the grand finale of Eurovision and what went wrong during Greece’s performance. “By working together and communicating clearly, we were able to come to a quick resolution. The show could go on and the audience didn’t suspect a thing.”

Richard’s most important tip? Build your network. “You get much further in life with the help of others, and you can also help others get further in their own careers!”

Be daring

Guerrilla marketing: what is it and how does it work? Alexis Verschueren from Raul & Rigel explains the ins and outs of this exciting type of marketing.

People often think that marketing is just about costly advertisements on TV and online. But with a big dose of creativity, guts, and a well thought out plan, you can get your message across in a completely different way. And with a much smaller budget!

From marketing campaigns for Playstation and the reopening of the Rijksmuseum to a campaign for Oxfam Novib: guerrilla marketing is all about creating a buzz. Make sure that people will talk about you and your campaign to garner interest in your product or service.

A tip from Alexis: Be daring and creative. Ensure that your message stays with your public. “Make it stick!”

“Normally you only get to see this kind of event as a finished product on TV. It’s really cool to be able to work behind the scenes here”

Max, Hotel and Event Management student

First MBA diplomas awarded

“The cherry on the cake for students”

Champagne, caps & gowns, and beautiful speeches at the graduation of the first Tio MBA class with an internationally recognised Master of Business Administration and plenty of practical experience.

During the MBA, students work on their analytical and strategic skills and apply them in practice. They also carry out research and advise the sector, work on their personal development, and go on study trips.

Further development

Top student Ilse at the Utrecht campus completed the programme with an average of 7.98 and 9 for her defence. “A big advantage of the MBA is that you can completely focus on your projects as there are no exams.” Ilse enjoyed it so much that she will continue her studies at university after her MBA. Other students will start looking for the right job or begin a traineeship.

A beautiful ending

Alumnus Ben from Amsterdam says, “Our graduation was a beautiful way to end the MBA and our studies. Wonderful speeches from our beloved lecturers, a spectacular ceremony, and the company of our classmates, friends, and family made it a special evening. It was the cherry on the cake for our time here.

“You all had to be very flexible and look at the results of your research from all points of view. It was hard work, but you did it!”

Mirjam Arnoldy, Lecturer and MBA coach

RTL Boulevard, Blauw Bloed, and Tio: etiquette expert AnneMarie van Leggelo makes regular television appearances with advice on etiquette and manners. Students at Schoevers Executive Office Management got a masterclass on why etiquette matters and the importance of making a good first impression in the world of business.

Networking and goodwill factor

Etiquette is about more than holding doors open for people. In the world of business, etiquette means actively maintaining networks and relations. “Etiquette is not old-fashioned, it’s an art. Knowing the rules of conduct allows you to connect with people from all walks of life,” Anne-Marie explains. “You understand people better and most importantly you get that goodwill factor.”

The goodwill factor is important on the job market, for example. The right etiquette could make all the difference when up against others with the same experience. Or when you want to leave clients with a good first impression. After their studies, the students go on to become office managers and set the tone at their own companies.

Manners

Anne-Marie’s masterclass is packed with practical tips for good etiquette both in person and online. How long should you take to reply to an email? What about a WhatsApp message? How do you leave a WhatsApp group elegantly? And how do you set the tone at a company as an executive office manager?

With all of Anne-Marie’s tips in hand, the students are inspired to start their first academic year!

“Making a good impression is an art”

Project weeks Hotel and Event Week: Getting stuck into practical experience

Imagine running your own hotel: Tio students were at the helm of four StayOkay hotels during Hotel and Event Week

First- and second-year students of Hotel and Event Management, Hotel Management, and Financial Business Management joined forces, learning to work together and finding out what it’s like to run a hotel in real life.

From clean rooms to a well-run restaurant, a welcoming ambience and accurate accounts: the Hotel and Event Week is the busiest and most enjoyable week of the year!

“Everyone is different and responds in different ways. You learn so much, including how to get along with various people.”

Lucas, student Hotel and Event Management

“A super fun week for both us and our guests.”

Kaydee, student Hotel and Event Management

Project weeks

Tio

students advise Zilveren Kruis/Achmea

How do you create top-of-mind awareness when it comes to health insurance for young people? That’s the question that Zilveren Kruis/Achmea posed to second-year students of Commerce Economics and Entrepreneurship during the E-Commerce Week.

During the E-Commerce Week, students were given five days to work on this business case. Their solution had to be implementable within a year at Zilveren Kruis/Achmea. A great challenge!

How do young people view healthcare insurance?

How can we as a healthcare insurer improve topof-mind awareness among young people (18-29 years old)? It might sound simple, but it’s tough in practice. The students were able to provide advice based on their own experience as the target group and yet... insurance isn’t something they think about every day. How do they actually go about finding healthcare insurance for themselves? And how do you make other young people aware of or enthusiastic about a good insurance product?

The winner

On the last day of the E-Commerce Week, eight groups of students each presented three

recommendations, ranging from sponsoring on sports shirts to posting fun films about healthcare scenarios on popular websites like Dumpert.

Team ‘Sjonnies Angels’ was the winner. Its solution for top-of-mind awareness? A podcast about mental health among young people. A great idea that can be implemented within a year. The team was proud to receive a prize of €500.

“Working together with Tio is very important to us as a way of gaining new insights. Knowing how young people see us enables us to improve our services.”

Zilveren Kruis / Achmea

“The value of a project week is that students get to grips with real-world problems. It’s a nice way to get some practice before starting your professional life!”

Machiel de Rooij, lecturer

Project weeks Who will be crowned champion of the Event Week?

Creativity and experience: that’s what the Event Week 2022 was all about. Hotel and Event Management students joined Schoevers Executive Office Management students to work on the Keuken Kampioen Divisie (formerly known as the Jupiler League).

Every year, guests of the first division of this football competition are invited to a dinner. During the Event Week, the students are challenged to put on a nice event for them. It demands thinking outside the box, creativity, and brainstorming as a team to work out how to exceed the expectations of the guests.

Team Eindhoven was the winner! Students of Schoevers Executive Office Management on the winning team said:

“It was fun to work together so much during this project. We could show our Schoevers skills to the other students: we work in a structured way, and you really need that in event project management!”

Project weeks Finance Week: from start-up to scale-up

Identifying opportunities for growth for start-ups: That’s what Tio students got up to in Finance Week.

They independently worked out which company best suited them before approaching the organisation and writing an engaging pitch to attract investors and help the company grow.

This year, the winning team was from the capital. Tio students from Amsterdam had a crystal-clear pitch for the grocery delivery service Didiyo to prepare for its next phase!

Project weeks Legal advice in a company crisis

During the Company Crisis project, bachelor of Law students took on the role of a legal advisor to advise on what happens when a company director passes away.

The students got to work armed with a hefty client file. Good advice demands knowledge of matrimonial property law, inheritance law, corporate law and tax law. And, last but not least, it needs to be communicated to the client in an effective way.

Students from Tio Eindhoven wrote a comprehensive and well-worded advisory report at a university level. With this, they were rightfully crowned the winners!

“This project is the best preparation for real (working) life where nothing is handed to you on a silver platter.”

Jeffrey Beijnon, lecturer

Project weeks Tourism Business Innovation

International Tourism Management also had a full-on week. Students were given an assignment from no other than TUI Netherlands: they had to create a holiday concept for young people that would fit in with TUI’s assortment.

It seemed simple. After all, the students belonged to the target group of the assignment themselves. And yet... coming up with a concept that’s interesting to as many young people as possible requires serious research. What do young people actually want when it comes to their holidays?

A plan for bus trips for young people around Europe was the winner. Tim, Isabel, Emma and Anouk won thanks to their ideas for gamification and a strong plan for a loyalty programme.

“It’s really great to let yourself be challenged by future generations. Each pitch gives us an idea for the future.”

Arjan Kers, Managing Director TUI Netherlands

Former Tourism student founds her own travel

company

Naomi Jansen, a former student of International Tourism Management at Tio Rotterdam recently set up a travel company with her father: Christoffel Travel. Travelling is really in the blood for this entrepreneurial duo. Christoffel Travel offers trips to undiscovered gems in northern and eastern European countries. Her studies were an enormous help in taking this step. Read about her company and time at Tio.

“I never thought I would do business in the travel industry, but Tio inspired me to do it! I recently founded Christoffel Travel with my father. It’s a travel company that offers trips to undiscovered gems in Europe. We both love travelling and discovering unique destinations around the world together. That’s why our slogan is Knowing the best local secrets. Christoffel Travel aims to stand out by offering trips with a dash of unique local flair. We have developed unique tours that you can only find at Christoffel Travel in collaboration with our local partners.

Starting your own business involves a lot of different things and you have to have a wide range of general knowledge about business (business plan and strategy), marketing, tourism, social media, and finance. I learned a lot about this during my studies and this came in very handy when starting my own travel company.

At Tio you really get to apply theory in practice. That’s what led me to set up several pretend travel agencies during my studies. I was really excited by potential of these projects, and I always felt it was a shame that they weren’t real companies. Once I even received a job application through one of these projects. It was amazing!

Our initial plan is to grow the brand awareness of Christoffel Travel and provide as many customers as possible with an unforgettable and beautiful experience. We only offer destinations in eastern and northern Europe at the moment. But we plan to extend our list of destinations over the next few years. We can’t wait!”

“ I never thought I would do business in the travel industry, but Tio inspired me to do it!”

“At Tio you really get to apply theory in practice. That’s what led me to set up several pretend travel agencies during my studies.”

Getting to know yourself

Beautiful autumn weather on Texel was perfect for the outdoor project. The first-year mbo students had three days packed with activities to look forward to. They tore through the forest on Segways and skateboards and enjoyed archery on the beach.

The outdoor project was a chance for students to get to know each other and themselves better. This enabled them to develop their leadership skills, motivate each other, and learn to have faith in each other.

“Great fun, amazing atmosphere and the chance to make friends with students from all the different programmes!”

Eva Maria, student

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