High attendance at Day of the International Student
10 Dec 2008
On Saturday 8 November 2008 more than 2100 students attended the Day of the International Student (DIS 2008). It was the third time that Nuffic organized the DIS for international students in the Netherlands, at the World Forum in The Hague.
The event, around the theme of 'Connecting Cultures', is held every year to make international students feel welcome and to show them that it is appreciated that they chose the Netherlands as their study destination. The visiting students can meet other international students following the same courses and also other students from their home country that they may otherwise never have met. There are about seventy thousand international students in the Netherlands.
Prior to the event
In the morning, prior to the event, hundreds of students visited two famous The Hague attractions: the miniature city Madurodam and the Panorama Mesdag. The international students mostly arrived by coach or by train from all provinces of the Netherlands.
Opening
The event was opened with a dazzling musical performance by Senegalese Percussion Group Sène Percu. Nuffic's Director-General Sander van den Eijnden welcomed the international guests to a packed World Forum Theatre. The look of the hall was temporarily transformed because the students were all wearing bright orange DIS T-shirts.
The Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Ronald Plasterk, addressed the students on behalf of the Dutch government and the Mayor of The Hague, Jozias van Aartsen, referred to The Hague as a city of peace and justice in his speech. Stand-up comedian Howard Beckham took his audience on a journey through Dutch culture with specific examples.
Mix of activities
After the opening the students visited the dozens of workshops, some with serious topics, others for entertainment (see Programme). Kerstin Schweighöfer, President of the Foreign Press Association in the Netherlands, concluded the afternoon programme with a lecture titled 'How to survive the Low Countries: about cheese & joints, tolerance & too much water'.
The DIS Plaza – the central meeting place of the DIS 2008 in the basement of the World Forum – presented an unparalleled arena for exchanging knowledge, experience and information with representatives of international student associations, alumni associations, the business community and educational organizations. At the DIS Plaza students were able to pre-register as a future alumnus of higher education in the Netherlands.
Fashion show and party
After the drinks, which were accompanied by musical performances from DJ Bus and international students of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, the event was closed off with a colourful fashion show by students from all parts of the world and a magnificent party, with music by cover band Blend. Upon leaving many students said: 'Sure, we will come back next year, if we can!'
Pictures and report
Online questionnaire
Did you visit the Day of the International Student on Saturday 8 November 2008?
Then we would like to know whether you had a good time!
We plan to make this a yearly event and your input will allow us to make next year’s DIS even better. Please take a couple of minutes to complete the questionnaire. Thanks in advance.
The DIS-team
