Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

What Windesheim University of Applied Sciences does

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Windesheim) is a privately organised Dutch University of Applied Sciences operated by the Stichting Christelijke Hogeschool Windesheim foundation, with its headquarters in Zwolle and a second campus in Almere serving the Flevoland region. The institution delivers higher professional education (hbo) through full-time and part-time bachelor programmes, associate degrees, master programmes, minors, post-hbo courses, and short professional training (korte opleidingen), alongside work-integrated learning formats such as comakerships and internships that connect students with regional employers. Target audiences include secondary-school leavers (havo/vwo/mbo), working professionals seeking upskilling or reskilling, regional employers seeking tailored in-company training, and regional businesses, healthcare organisations, and municipalities seeking applied research talent.

The institution's distinguishing technology platform is its model of practice-oriented research (praktijkgericht onderzoek) organised through approximately sixteen lectoraten (research chairs), including Kunststoftechnologie (composite recycling from wind turbine blades and other end-of-life composites, validated through 10 years of testing and certified by SGS Intron), Goed Leven met Dementie (dementia care and VR-based empathy interventions), GGZ en Samenleving (mental health and experiential knowledge), and Bewegen, School en Sport (movement and youth education). The lectoraat Kunststoftechnologie developed a patented hybrid recycling method recognised internationally through the 2022 JEC Composites Innovation Award in the Building & Civil Engineering category and was awarded the €500,000 Deltapremie in 2021. Windesheim's ICT stack includes a Topdesk-based internal IT service desk, Microsoft SharePoint intranet (ShareNet), a CSIRT aligned with SURFcert/SCIRT, and a CSIRT-grade GDPR/AVG privacy programme; marketing integrations include Google Consent Mode and Facebook tracking.

Revenue comes primarily from Dutch government block funding (rijksbekostiging) tied to higher-education provision, statutory tuition fees (collegegeld) charged per academic year across full-time, part-time, associate, and master tracks, course fees (cursusgeld) for post-hbo and contractonderwijs (published per course under the Algemene cursusvoorwaarden), contract research income from regional partners such as Regieorgaan SIA, municipalities, and Isala hospital, and commercial training delivered via incompanytrajecten. The go-to-market mix is direct-to-consumer for degree programmes (open days, trial lessons, personal advisory consultations) plus event-driven and B2B channels for working-professional and contract education. Marketing channels span an institutional website, separate Almere and Zwolle Instagram and Facebook accounts, a LinkedIn company page, a YouTube channel, and a newsletter. Windesheim is ranked second among large Dutch hogescholen (Keuzegids 2025), holds the top student satisfaction position among broad hogescholen for the second consecutive year (NSE 2026), and holds ten programme-level Topopleiding designations.

Name

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Stichting Christelijke Hogeschool Windesheim

Website

https://windesheim.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch hogeschool operating two campuses in Zwolle and Almere, delivering practice-oriented hbo bachelor, master, associate, and post-hbo programmes to students, working professionals, and regional employers via lectoraat-led applied research and in-company training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zwolle

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees (Collegegeld): Students pay tuition fees (collegegeld) for enrolled programmes. Rates are published on the Windesheim website and vary by programme type (full-time, part-time, associate degree, master's). This is the primary revenue stream from individual students.
2. Course fees (Cursusgeld): Fees charged for short courses, post-hbo programmes, and continuing education (deeltijd/contractonderwijs). These are published per course on the website. The Algemene cursusvoorwaarden (general course terms) govern the financial terms, including exam fees and payment rules.
3. Government funding (Rijksoverheidsbekostiging): As a publicly funded hogeschool, Windesheim receives government funding for higher education provision, which constitutes a significant portion of institutional revenue alongside tuition.
4. Contract research and innovation projects: Applied research contracts with regional businesses, healthcare organisations, and government bodies (e.g., lectoraat projects funded by Regieorgaan SIA, municipalities, Isala hospital partnership). Revenue from research services is embedded in the practical research mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Windesheim delivers higher professional education (hbo) degree programmes — bachelor, associate degree, and master — in full-time, part-time, and dual formats at campuses in Almere and Zwolle, complemented by post-HBO courses and customised corporate training. It also conducts practice-oriented applied research through lectoraten (research chairs) in partnership with regional businesses, healthcare organisations, and municipalities, addressing societal challenges such as composite recycling, dementia care, mental health, and youth care.

Product overview

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs (bachelors, associate degrees, masters) in full-time, part-time, and dual formats, primarily at campuses in Almere and Zwolle. The institution combines education with practical applied research through approximately 16 lectorates (research chairs) that address real societal challenges in partnership with regional businesses and organizations. Key research focuses include dementia care (Good Living with Dementia lectorate), mental health (GGZ and Society lectorate), polymer technology for sustainable composites, and youth care. Beyond degree education, Windesheim provides post-HBO professional courses, customized corporate training, and student work-integrated learning opportunities (comakerships, internships). The institution has gained recognition for its practical research impact, including the Deltapremie award and international JEC Innovation Award for composite recycling technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lectoraat GGZ en Samenleving: Research chair focused on the connection between mental health and society, using experiential knowledge as a valid source of knowledge alongside other sources.
• Lectoraat Goed Leven met Dementie
• Lectoraat Kunststoftechnologie

Products and services

• Bachelor Programs (Voltijdopleidingen) Full-time higher professional education (hbo) bachelor degree programmes for prospective students completing secondary education (havo/vwo/mbo), delivered across multiple disciplines at the Almere and Zwolle campuses.
• Associate Degrees Two-year hbo associate degree programmes providing practical-oriented higher professional education, designed as a faster pathway to qualification.
• Master Programs Advanced master's degree programmes offering professional specialisation and applied research training for graduates.
• Part-time/Dual Programs (Deeltijdopleidingen) Part-time and dual hbo programmes (bachelor, associate degree, master) for working professionals who combine employment with study.
• Post-HBO Courses and Training Continuing professional development courses (post-hbo) for working professionals, including the Vakbekwaamheid Bewegingsonderwijs programme for primary school physical education teachers.
• Customized Corporate Training (Incompany) Tailored in-company training programmes (incompanytrajecten) designed by Windesheim advisors for organisations seeking to upskill and reskill their workforce, delivered at client premises.
• Comakerships Work-integrated learning partnerships connecting companies with Windesheim students who work on real business projects as part of their studies, combining academic learning with practical industry experience.
• Internship and Graduation Placements Work placement services connecting Windesheim students with organisations for internships (stage) and graduation research projects (afstuderen).

Quantifiable outcome

• Windesheim students are the most satisfied among all brede hogescholen in the Netherlands (NSE 2026, second consecutive year)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IsalacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Isala and Windesheim signed an intentovereenkomst (intention agreement) to intensify their long-standing partnership. Collaboration covers education (students intern, graduate, and receive guest lectures), applied research in healthcare, technology and organisation, and mobility of professionals between both organisations (healthcare professionals teaching, teachers working in practice, and combined roles). Theme areas include practical research, technological innovation, talent development, and lifelong learning for healthcare professionals. A VR workplace learning demonstration was held at Isala's neurology ward.
• CRC (Composite Recycling Center)coreTechnology or Integration · 14 January 2026CRC (Composite Recycling Center) processes end-of-life composite products on an industrial scale into new raw materials using Windesheim's hybrid recycling technology. This is the industrial application of the research developed by the lectoraat Kunststoftechnologie.
• ComponecoreTechnology or Integration · 14 January 2026Compone produces new composite products using recycled composite material processed by CRC with Windesheim's technology. Products are applied in infrastructure projects such as bridge decks, sheet piles, and guide rails.
• Centre of Expertise FAMILIE IN BEDRIJFminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026National collaboration dedicated to strengthening family businesses by making information and inspiration about family businesses broadly accessible and applicable, and by offering learning pathways and training programmes. Windesheim participates as a founding partner.
• City Deal Fietsen voor IedereenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025National collaboration of government, municipalities, and organisations aimed at getting more people cycling. Windesheim participates through its 'Fiets je vrij' project managed by lectoraat Bewegen, School en Sport.
• Gemeente ZwollecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Municipality of Zwolle partners with Windesheim's lectoraat Bewegen, School en Sport on the 'Fiets je vrij' project, providing cycling lessons at primary schools. Started in 2024 with 1 school in Zwolle, scaled to 12 schools in Zwolle by 2025. The project is part of the City Deal Fietsen voor Iedereen.
• Leernetwerk Ervaringsdeskundigheid Jeugd Overijssel (LEJO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024LEJO is a collaboration of seven youth care organisations, three municipalities, and Windesheim's lectoraat GGZ en Samenleving. It is the first network in the Netherlands focused on strengthening and embedding experiential knowledge in youth care in Overijssel. Partners share a joint vision on integrating experiential knowledge as an equal source alongside professional and scientific knowledge.
• Samenwerkende jeugdzorgorganisaties OverijsselcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Seven large youth care organisations in Overijssel collaborate with Windesheim's lectoraat GGZ en Samenleving within LEJO to strengthen experiential knowledge in youth care, jointly developing a shared vision and implementation trajectories.
• Gemeenten in Overijssel (3 municipalities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Three municipalities in Overijssel participate in the LEJO network together with youth care organisations and Windesheim, supporting the integration of experiential knowledge in youth care policy and practice.
• PRODEM (Praktijkgericht Onderzoek voor mensen met DEMentie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023PRODEM is a national platform of 24 lectoren from 13 hogescholen coordinating practice-oriented dementia research across the Netherlands. Coordinated by Windesheim's lector Simone de Bruin (lectoraat Goed Leven met Dementie) together with Hans Hobbelen (Hanze) and Rens Brankaert (Fontys). Funded by Regieorgaan SIA and Alzheimer Nederland. PRODEM publishes a magazine showcasing research projects, interventions and methodologies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hogeschoolwindesheim
• Facebookfacebook.com/hogeschoolwindesheim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hogeschool-windesheim
• Instagraminstagram.com/hogeschoolwindesheim
• Xx.com/windesheiminfo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Windesheim University of Applied Sciences