Jos Walenkamp

Jos Walenkamp was originally trained as a biologist. He read biology and geology at Leiden University and obtained Master of Science degrees from the universities of Leiden (general biology) and Wales (fisheries biology and management). He obtained a PhD degree from Leiden University with a dissertation on the zoogeography, evolution and systematics of starfish from the Caribbean. He was curator of the Palaeontological and Mineralogical Cabinet of Teyler's Museum in Haarlem. He worked for six years at the Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, as dean of the Biology Faculty. In Nigeria he led a team that managed the Training and Research Programmes supported by the European Commission. That work formed a suitable bridge to the subsequent positions at the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Education and Research, the Nuffic: Department Head and Director Development Cooperation and Director Knowledge and Innovation.

From January 2009 to January 2018, Jos Walenkamp worked at The Hague University for Applied Sciences as professor International Cooperation. The aim of his research was to generate the knowledge, which makes it possible to engage the Dutch universities of applied sciences more and more effectively in development cooperation through capacity building. That will serve profession oriented higher education in developing countries and thus their social and economic development, and it will serve the Dutch higher education institutes which will become more international and more responsive the ambitions of their students and the demands of the labour market. His latest research focused on the acquisition of international competencies by students, during internships or study abroad and in international and multicultural classrooms at home. From 2017 until 2021 he worked for the Dutch Senior Experts Program, PUM, as a senior expert and program coordinator.

Jos Walenkamp retired per 1 January 2018 as Professor International Cooperation. He was nominated 'Fellow' of The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau.