Until recently, an institution like Nyenrode Business Universiteit of the Netherlands, was quite contended to largely serve the local students and those from other developing countries. India's pre-eminence in IT and its growing economic might, however, has lured the institution towards these shores.

Nyenrode in Dutch means New Roads. And for Indian students weary of following their peers to B-schools in predominantly English speaking countries like UK, US, Australia and Canada, the university and The Netherlands, the gateway to European culture and business, could literally be a new road for Indians.

A couple of weeks ago, a large delegation from Nyenrode consisting of faculty and 80 students visited Bangalore to get a first-hand experience of the city's growth in the IT sector and to see for themselves how the education system is coping with the growth. 

The visit follows Nyenrode's agreement with IIMB (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore) to exchange students, faculties and those part of the executive education.

"In our 60-year history, we always wanted to attract smart students from overseas," Said Prof dr Bert de Groot, Dean, Nyenrode Universiteit. "India is one of the countries in the developing world that has an excellent education system. We know that the students here are also an intelligent lot. So, it's natural that we're here to establish a relationship with business and educational community." 

Being the only private university in The Netherlands, Nyenrode boasts of a large campus located in Breukelen, a village between Amsterdam, the capital city, and Utrecht. The MSc (pre-experience MBA), primarily a programme for fresh graduates; MBA, for those with a minimum of two to five  years work experience; and executive MBA, meant for business leaders, are the major programmes offered at the university. English, taught as a second language in Dutch schools, is used as the medium of instruction in classes and is the lingua franca in the campus. 
Apart from its faculties belonging to various disciplines, Nyenrode also invites CEO's to address the students. "This is a very exciting activity," said Mirjar Flers, a student of pre-experience MBA (general management) course. "As students of business, we get to learn a lot by listening to leaders who set the standards. It is also quite thrilling to challenge the leaders, as we pose questions which usually don't occur to them."

This activity, along with many others, provides a right mix of theoretical foundation and practical learning to the students. The vast campus enables students to stay and learn together. "The atmosphere in our campus is quite fantastic," said Dorothee VBanderbroeck, another student of pre-experience MBA (Marketing Management). "We exchange ideas and learn from each other. it creates a sense of camaraderie."

During their 12 day trip to India, the faculty and students had visited IT companies in Bangalore and Delhi, and the hub of India's film industry, Mumbai; apart from spending time with the faculty and students of IIMB.
The trip might have enabled them to get a glimpse of Indian education and business, but Desiree M Van Gorp, professor of International Business who has a specialisation in Business Process Outsourcing, said it would also create an opportunity for Indian students to learn about Nyenrode.

"India is a very important market for us," Prof Van Gorp said. "Much of the outsourced work is happening here. The industry and institutions in Europe have therefore started to look at this country with renewed interest. On the other hand, Indian companies and students can certainly gain a foothold in Europe through institutions like Nyenrode. So, benefits of this partnership are mutual."

To learn more about Nyenrode's programmes visit: www.nyenrode.nl