While still in secondary school in his native Germany, a teacher told Nils Hemmerle about an Opening Day event at the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE). “I knew I wanted to study business, but lots of people at the time were looking to do so,” Nils recalls. “I wanted to do something a little different than study at a German university. I was really attracted by Maastricht being a young and dynamic environment and also the international character of the programmes.”

A formerly dilapidated factory in the heart of Valenica, Spain, has now become the Playground Arts Center, a thriving arts academy and community centre for children and adults alike, due to the vision and effort of SBE alumnus Christopher Pena and his wife, Ankie Titulaer (Conservatorium Maastricht).

Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE) alumna Ireen Rempt says it was her personal passion for travel that first put the travel industry on her radar. “What I love about travelling is discovering the unknown and making connections with people from different backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and beliefs,” she says.

From a very early age, SBE alumnus Jan Willem Kappes was interested in the aviation industry. “I think when I was a child it was more the fascination with flying and aircraft,” he says. “In the beginning, I wanted to become a pilot. But already during high school I realised that I was more intrigued and interested in the whole business side behind the curtain than actually flying.”

How do you combine a passion for photography with an international business degree? SBE alumnus Martijn Savenije explains.