Where Education, Technology, and Employability Converge!
Apply Academy was founded in 2018 with a primary focus on academic consultancy and international education guidance. Since 2023, the company has been fully based in the Netherlands, with its office in Nijmegen, expanding its activities across Europe. Initially, Apply Academy specialized in academic mentorship, scholarship guidance, professional bootcamps, and personalized consulting services. The organization has supported students and professionals in preparing competitive academic and career documents, designing structured migration roadmaps, and developing strategic pathways for higher education, high-skilled migration, and startup initiatives.
Over time, through close collaboration with students, researchers, and software professionals, Apply Academy evolved beyond traditional consultancy. The organization gradually integrated digital solutions into its core services, transforming into a hybrid educational and digital platform agency. Today, Apply Academy develops structured online learning packages, AI-supported scholarship and program databases, digital mentorship systems, and technology-enhanced training modules. Its focus extends particularly to software engineering, IT, AI, and emerging technology fields, supporting individuals who aim to secure academic positions, international job placements, or launch innovative startups.
Currently, Apply Academy operates at the intersection of educational strategy, digital infrastructure, and employability development. As a EdTech & Employability Infrastructure Builder, Digital Resource Platform Developer and Project Coordinator, the organization contributes to international collaborations, including Erasmus+ initiatives, by designing integrated digital ecosystems that combine mentorship, vocational training, and AI-driven tools. Apply Academy’s mission is to empower ambitious young professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs by providing structured pathways, digital learning environments, and strategic career development solutions aligned with the European labor and academic landscape.
Hello!
Mehdi Paknahad
I’m Mehdi, a mentor and consultant with nearly a decade of experience guiding graduate students toward international university admissions. My journey as a Master’s and PhD researcher in the UK, Switzerland, and the US fuels my passion for empowering others. As the founder of Apply Academy, I’ve advised hundreds of students, drawing on my own six successful applications to top global universities, including universities of Cambridge, Zurich, and Radboud. I’ve authored The Guide to Applying and Securing Scholarships Abroad and five other books on academic skills. Now based in the Netherlands, I help students navigate opportunities with clarity and confidence.
Hello!
Corné van Iersel
Corné van Iersel is a Dutch social entrepreneur and organiser with a background in cultural studies and a deep commitment to public purpose. He has initiated and led a wide range of projects in the Netherlands and across Europe — from creative networks and learning platforms to employment initiatives and exchange programmes.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Corné works at the intersection of migration, education, and opportunity. He brings people and organisations together around shared ambitions and develops practical solutions that help individuals move forward — whether into study, work, or civic life.
At Apply Academy, Corné focuses on mapping opportunities, interpreting relevant policies and frameworks, and supporting individuals through tailored consults. He also designs programmes that help people find concrete pathways to study, work as knowledge workers, or start a business within the European Union.
Hello!
Fariba katebifar
I’m Fariba — a law graduate, active in the fields of art, education, and intercultural communication.
For years, I’ve been building bridges between the worlds of law, creativity, and learning — from working as a legal advisor in a cultural institute to exploring graphic design, video editing, and supporting artists and students on their path to growth and expression. I believe working behind the scenes means creating space for others to be seen, to grow, and to turn ideas into reality.
Now based in the Netherlands, I coordinate projects with the Kouros team that focus on intercultural dialogue, education, and artistic production. In parallel, I support students and professionals at Apply Academy who dream of studying or working internationally — through the website, in workshops, and in the behind-the-scenes details that make their journey smoother.
I find joy in precision, follow-through, and bringing structure into creative processes. For me, coordination is more than management — it’s an active, caring presence in the process of making things real, with focus, empathy, and responsibility.