Campus

​DUWO sets up international platform

DUWO and a German student-housing corporation have together set up an international platform that should make it easier in future for students to find accommodation abroad.

Last week, preparations began at TU Noord for construction work on buildings including an International Student House. (Image: DUWO)

Apart from student-housing corporations such as founders DUWO and the German-based International Campus AG, universities and service providers are also welcome to join the platform, which is known as Network Cum Laude (NCL). Parties in Spain, Italy and the UK have already shown an interest.

The collaboration should make it easier for students to find suitable accommodation abroad. Concrete agreements have yet to be made about the exact form the collaboration will take, but the hope is that the contact between student-housing corporations and other stakeholders will generate new ideas for housing solutions. In addition, the parties involved will also share knowledge.

Jan Benschop, CEO of DUWO, hopes that this will produce added insight into aspects such as the future growth in international student exchanges. ‘That will enable us to anticipate and prepare for the future.’ He also thinks that the platform will make it easier to decide whether it is necessary to diversify the supply of accommodation and, if so, to what extent. ‘Some students want furnished rooms, but others prefer to buy recycled furniture.’

The NCL is a non-profit alliance. According to Benschop, the network is also of interest to companies who want to reach students: ‘We can bring students and potential future employers into contact, or present brand offerings to an attractive target group’, he says in the press release.

Asked to say more about this, he continues: ‘We have contact with tens of thousands of students in Europe. If they give us permission, we can arrange for companies in their own countries and abroad to approach them directly.’ Benschop believes this will help them to find a job more quickly.

In addition, there are all manner of service providers that would be of interest to many students, he says. ‘International students in Delft usually want to know where films are showing, or where they can find inexpensive sports facilities. Many Chinese students do not speak English very well, so a course to brush-up their language skills can be of use to them. You could think of consulting or tutoring services in a whole range of areas.’

Benschop emphasises that it is not the network’s aim to earn money from bringing international companies and students into contact with each other. He wants to help students by catering for their needs, whether these relate directly to accommodation or not. ‘Why not focus on other areas too? I don’t define our task so narrowly.’

Editor Redactie

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