{"id":54888,"date":"2026-08-24T11:51:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turner.nl\/uncategorized\/the-story-of-nhl-stenden-and-turner\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T11:52:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:52:17","slug":"the-story-of-nhl-stenden-and-turner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turner.nl\/en\/education\/the-story-of-nhl-stenden-and-turner\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story of NHL Stenden and Turner"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Story Behind the Achievement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Story of Turner and NHL Stenden<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This year, we can call ourselves the number one strategy consulting firm and have the highest customer satisfaction rating of all consulting firms. What lies behind this achievement\u2014both on our part and on the part of our clients? In the series \u201cThe Story Behind the Achievement,\u201d we speak with Erica Schaper, chair of the Board of Directors at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. How does this top executive view the collaboration between Turner and NHL Stenden? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Story of NHL Stenden<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Erica and Turner\u2019s story begins with the merger of NHL University of Applied Sciences and Stenden University of Applied Sciences in early 2018. Erica joined the new university as chair of the Board of Governors just before the merger. \u201cI had previously served as chair of the Executive Board at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences and was general director of the FNV during the time when various labor unions were merging. So I\u2019m no stranger to this,\u201d Erica says with a laugh. \u201cAs an administrator, I find the period immediately following a merger to be an interesting phase. How do you ensure that the two thoroughbreds don\u2019t end up as a motley horse together, but rather something much better: a flying horse, a Pegasus? We therefore immediately set out to develop a new vision for Education and to get people on board with it.\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This new vision is based on Design-Based Education<\/a>, which draws on design thinking. This means that NHL Stenden students work in a multidisciplinary manner through so-called \u201cAteliers,\u201d engage in international and intercultural work, and gain a solid foundation in sustainability and personal leadership. Erica: \u201cAfter three years, the results of this vision are evident. We\u2019re achieving world-class knowledge through our applied research and have been ranked in the top 3 of the Keuzegids HBO for the third consecutive year. And just as important: we\u2019re growing.\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Strategy Execution Phase<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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But after three years, NHL Stenden is also entering a new phase, one in which strategic decisions must be made and implemented. \u201cWe now have to face the consequences of our strategic decision to merge,\u201d as Erica puts it. \u201cIt\u2019s time to evaluate the organizational structure and reassess our program offerings. We offer a total of more than 200 programs, of which more than 100 are accredited by the CROHO (Central Register of Education Programs, ed.). That accreditation process is very time-consuming. Do all of these programs add sufficient value to our overall Portfolio when we consider demand from students and the job market for which we are preparing them?\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Turner has a deep understanding of educational organizations. Plus, you're great at guiding the process.\"<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Eric Schaper, Chair of the Executive Board of NHL Stenden<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Choices in the Educational Portfolio<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our organizational consultants Jop Gerkes, Martijn Babeliowsky, and Jeroen Visscher are currently leading a project to develop a new policy for this. \u201cTurner is leading an initiative that truly lies at the \u2018heart of Education.\u2019 We chose you because Turner has a deep understanding of the context of educational organizations. But also because you\u2019re skilled at guiding the process,\u201d says Erica. \u201cThere will undoubtedly be changes for people who are fully committed to their programs. And in sensitive projects like this, the process itself plays a major role in determining the success of the implementation.\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Right Chord<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What makes Erica so confident in Turner? \u201cWe\u2019d worked well with Turner before. What I like is your balanced team: a good mix of steadfastness and spark. You have to work closely together on an exciting project, so as a client, you also want to choose people you get along with,\u201d Erica smiles. \u201cPlus, you hit the right note right away. That sensitivity\u2014that\u2019s typical of Turner. And that\u2019s exactly what we need.\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Now that we\u2019re halfway through the process, we\u2019re seeing that this is indeed the case, says Erica: \u201cTurners are able to relate very well to the various groups within our organization. The tone in a board meeting is different from that in a presentation to the employee participation council or in a workshop with faculty members. And the content is sound as well: very thorough analyses are being conducted, which gives us the confidence to make well-informed decisions later on.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Turner is number 1 on the MT1000 list. What\u2019s the story behind this impressive achievement? We\u2019d love to tell you more.
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Strategy = Execution<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat does Erica recognize about our area of expertise, Strategy Execution? Erica: \u201cIt\u2019s exactly the phase NHL Stenden is in right now. We\u2019re about to make those difficult decisions and implement the changes resulting from the merger. Because we\u2019re working with Turner to navigate this process side by side with the organization, we as the board will soon be able to make sound decisions that everyone can understand and accept.\u201d See, that really fits our philosophy: implementing a new strategy is a collaborative effort. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Want to learn more about our work in Education? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"Jeroen