About Hanze University of Applied Sciences

The International Business School (IBS) is part of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, the Netherlands. IBS holds the prestigious position of being the first international business school in the Netherlands, based at a university of applied sciences since 1988. Our mission is to prepare business professionals, with a global mind-set, who are ready to add value to international business and society.

IBS offers a three-year and a four-year international business bachelor’s programme in English. The bachelor’s programme is a full-time, undergraduate programme, which is formally accredited by NVAO (the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders). IBS prepares its students for international careers, by delivering a broad understanding of international business and intercultural cooperation. Core subjects include marketing, sales, finance & accounting, organisation & people management, operations & supply chain management, strategy, entrepreneurship & innovation, and intercultural competence/the global mindset. During the penultimate study year, our students spend two semesters abroad; one semester with a partner university and one semester with a placement company. This experience provides a solid platform for a student’s professional and personal development. Upon completion of the study programme, graduates receive an internationally recognised Bachelor of Business Administration degree. IBS graduates are well prepared for (trainee) management positions in the key specialisations of international management, international marketing, international strategy & business development and international finance & accounting.

Key staff for the project:

Diederich Bakker, PhD, is the Professor of International Business and Head of Internationalisation at the Hanze International Business School in Groningen, the Netherlands. Of German decent, Diederich has worked in France, the USA, Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands. He is involved in the leadership group of the European Association of International Education (EAIE) and serves on the board of directors of NIBS, the Network of International Business Schools. Diederich teaches marketing and international business and his research interests lie in branding, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship all within international dimensions.

Daniela Naydenova is a marketing lecturer, researcher and the coordinator of the Bachelor Graduation project at the International Business School, Hanze UAS. She holds a Research Master degree in Economics and Business from the University of Groningen, with a profile in Marketing. During the last two academic years Daniela has actively participated in the redevelopment of the IBS curriculum with strong focus on implementation of Innovation workplaces, as IBS is strongly oriented towards providing opportunities for students to practice their business knowledge by working with real company cases. She has been coaching students working for real companies on market entry projects and also digital strategy projects, as part of the Marketing minor at IBS.