Joseph Morrin

It’s all about the students, and these students just showed the value of the pathway programs. I think everybody in the room was quite moved by just how passionate they were about what they’d learned and what they’d experienced.  

When and how did your university come to partner with Navitas? 

The story came about because of some people I knew, who used to work for Navitas, had started working for Navitas and they were telling me what they were doing. And I was very, very intrigued by everything I learned about Navitas. And that’s essentially how I got started off, really just knowing a few people who were telling me what great things Navitas were doing. It also met a need of ours. We wanted to recruit students who we felt would be much better prepared than they had been up until then. And Navitas answered those questions, which was essentially getting students ready to start their bachelor’s program and complete it successfully. 

It was simply by a series of fortunate coincidences that we signed up with Navitas. But very fortunate coincidences indeed. 

What has been a highlight of your time with Navitas?  

I think the one I would pick is, well, that happened very recently. There was an agent fam trip came to visit us. There was a group of Korean agents. Some alumni from the pathway program were asked to present the programs that they joined in The Hague University. 

It’s not easy to get agents emotional, but these students were such good ambassadors for the Navitas pathway program. They were, they showed maturity. They showed understanding of what they were doing. 

They were deeply appreciative of the experience and I think everybody in the room was quite moved by just how passionate they were about what they’d learned and what they’d experienced in the pathway program. So, I think that was it. It’s all about the students, and these students just showed the value of the pathway to them. 

How has partnering with Navitas made an impact on the university?  

In different ways. The university itself is very continental European organisation. It’s not so very used to working in a commercial way, working with commercial organisations when it comes to the provision of education. So, that took some cultural changes to get over that. 

But Navitas were very assiduous and understanding where we were coming from, what we were looking for, issues that could get in the way of fielding up a good relationship and dealing with those issues. That’s something they’ve been really very, very good at, is adapting to our needs and also our cultural perspectives and our own regulatory issues and ways of doing things. It was, it was very impressive. 

So, I’d say that has also had an impact on us, that yes, we can work with commercial organisations when it comes to provision of education. We don’t need to in any way dilute our standards or our ethics or anything like that. So, it’s been a very good learning experience, certainly for us, and I hope for Navitas as well. 

What key achievements come to mind during the partnership with Navitas?  

The key achievements, I think getting through corona together was definitely a key achievement. Starting off something that for Navitas was relatively new, that was operating from continental Europe outside the normal kind of cultural bounds. Navitas adapted very well to that. They taught us a lot. We also learned to adapt better as an organisation as well. 

Seeing the first students graduate was definitely a proud moment, I think for all. Seeing in later years just how very well students are doing, how proud they are of their time with the Navitas pathway program, they’re all things that spring to mind, the feeling that we’re getting closer and closer together. 

And I think perhaps something I think is worth mentioning is Navitas have almost become part of the organisation itself. And that’s very unusual that an organisation that’s come to us from the outside almost feels like it’s now part of our own organisation. We’ve become so integrated and so assimilated with each other. So, lots of things be proud of. 

What would you say to a university considering partnering with Navitas?  

Very simple. I’d say if you’re thinking about parting with Navitas’ pathway program, do it. It’s absolutely worth it. It’s going to demand a fair bit from you, but the reward is more than worth it. 

So, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending that experience to anybody.