Please share with us
your birthday wishes
for IOB …
At the time where IOB
celebrates its 15th anniversary as an autonomous
development institute, it has never been a key
development institution in the world as now, in
light of its experience, research publications and
alumni’s network. The 50 years of development
studies at the University of Antwerp for which
IOB has been one of the key contributors for
many years, are 50 years of active involvement
for development and hope to see a world without
poverty, conflicts and vulnerable countries. My
best wishes to IOB for this 15th anniversary that
is presenting as the year of maturity and expertise! May the institute actively pursue its contribution to enhance development strategies and
practices throughout the world in order to help
everybody think development, as IOB!
What is the ‘most significant change’
studying at IOB brought about in your
life?
My studies at IOB have been crucial for my
current career, and I am very proud of having
studied in this institution. Although I obtained
another diploma in management consulting
after my studies at IOB, the knowledge acquired
at IOB are mainly those I use currently to work.
Just after my diploma, I returned to my country
of origin (Côte d’Ivoire) to work at the Ministry
of Planning and Development, as Monitoring
and Evaluation Officer. This position has been
an excellent opportunity for me to practise and
apply M&E concepts and theories learned at IOB,
especially in the framework of interventions at
institutional level. I contributed mainly to the
monitoring of projects and activities implemented by government departments, as well as the
projects funded by multilateral or bilateral partners. In addition, learning M&E and development
management at IOB has been complementary
with my background in statistics. Since the end of
my studies at IOB, the positions I held as well as
my responsibilities were related to what I learned
at IOB. Consequently, I can finally say that
studying at IOB was the beginning of my current
professional life!
What is the role a development institute like IOB should play in the future of
development studies or development in
general?
opment practitioners with advanced technical
expertise. The fact that the institution hosts
students from different continents and cultures
is an asset because it promotes the sharing of
experiences and the creation of an expanded
professional network. IOB is positioned as an
institution which appropriates development
issues in the world, through the work and
research done by students and faculty that is focused on urgent development issues existing on
the field. For example, during my schooling at
IOB, I had the opportunity to do a master thesis
with a field study in my home country, on the
topic of poverty in urban risk areas. This type of
work contributes, in effect, to making the link
between theory and practice. It also contributes
to a better understanding of the development
realities, as well as to advance the research in
order to find the best strategies to reduce the
vulnerability of populations. Furthermore, visits
organized for students to European and international institutions (e.g. EC, UNESCO), as well as
participation in workshops and conferences, are
excellent opportunities to be informed of the
efforts deployed by international community to
support development in the world.
IOB should be a key institution for the training
of experts in development, especially those from
southern countries where there are fewer devel-
Please share with us your birthday wishes for IOB …
Please share with us
your birthday wishes
for IOB …
Continue to include
students from all levels, disciplines, and countries…the diversity in our program was a fantastic element to my program and the institute.
What is the ‘most significant change’
studying at IOB brought about in your
life?
The experience broadened my overall perspective. As a white-male, I was a tiny minority in
my program and I thought that was pretty cool
and amazing. I never imagined teaching at the
collegiate level, yet without my IOB experience,
I wouldn’t be here now, and I absolutely love
teaching, advising, and taking students abroad.
14
IOB is a great place to learn and meet wonderful people. I wish IOB a great
success in educating the new generations who will surely make the world a
better place. Keep doing good job!
What is the ‘most significant change’ study [