This year, another 60 international students will be added. They will follow the ITESS course. Also an international PABO, only for secondary education. Also unique. “For Europe, I dare to say that we are the only ones who offer this,” says Ton Gelmers, Stenden branch manager in Meppel. “I know of two other places in the world where something similar is given, also something for international education. But that is certainly not the same as this. It is really special that students from all over the world come to Meppel for these courses.”
That also entails a puzzle. Where do you put all those students. A student campus was opened a few years ago for this purpose, where students are housed. But the number of students is only growing. The student campus is no longer enough. Emergency classrooms have been built to house students. There are several locations in Meppel where students are taken care of, and there are also students in Nijeveen and Kolderveen. “And then there are private initiatives,” says Gelmers. “No, Meppel is not yet an international student city. But by Meppel standards and also by Drenthe, it is.”
For the new course, a new building has been occupied for accommodation, a former office that has been empty for years. “But for next year it will be another puzzle,” predicts Gelmers. So now it is only the first-year course that is given in Meppel. From next year, the other three years will also be added. This is accompanied by 150 extra students. “Not everyone would immediately look for a place here. Some will stay in their room in Groningen.”
Stenden started training in Groningen five years ago. “The housing is problematic in Groningen and it is far away from ITEPS,” says Kristien Koning, director of ITESS. “Here everything is super organized with accommodation. And we now have two very nice study programs together here.” The American student also sees this as an advantage. “ITEPS students are interested in ITESS and vice versa.”