STudying at IOB
Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations,
as well as with countless non-government
organisations. The insights provided by policy-
oriented research are an important source of
inspiration for the teaching programmes.
I
OB (Institute of Development Policy) is a
multidisciplinary academic institute. We are
part of the University of Antwerp and located in
the city center. We have decades of experience in
organising high quality educational programmes
in development studies.
IOB offers three Advanced Masters
programmes, each with a high degree of
specialisation and a distinct focus:
1. MSc in Governance and Development
2. MSc in Globalisation and Development
3. MSc in Development Evaluation and
Management.
Our vision is one of a just and sustainable
world. As an institute of development
studies, we strive to help build such
a world through multidisciplinary
academic research, education,
partnerships and political engagement.
4 · master programmes
Each of the three programmes takes 12 months
to complete, starting and ending mid-September.
Successful completion of the programme leads to
the awarding of a Master of Science degree.
Our Master programmes are organised in
English, but special facilities are offered to
students from other linguistic backgrounds.
IOB is international and multicultural. Each
year we welcome about 70 Master students
of as many as 30 different nationalities and
with diverse academic and professional
backgrounds. Most of our students come from
the Global South, have professional experience
in development and are seeking exposure to
new ideas and methodologies in development
policy. Students from the Global North interested
in development and/or aspiring a career in
international development organisations are
equally welcome. Such a mixed group creates a
unique learning environment.
IOB is development policy-oriented. Our
research and education combines the latest
social scientific insights with relevance to the
development challenge. Our staff members
also frequently engage in policy advisory work
with development actors such as the Belgian
Development Cooperation, Enabel, the European
IOB heralds the
principles of equality,
transparency,
open communication,
pluralism, tolerance and
mutual respect
also in the organisation
of its teaching activities.
IOB is student-oriented. The institute focuses
on student-centred learning, and its approach
involves a broad variety of teaching methods.
Students are expected to learn from each other’s
experiences, as well as from their exposure to
living and studying in the North.
We also offer the possibility to some students
to do a research internship with our partner
universities (Nicaragua, Tanzania, Philippines)
and conduct field work in the South.
Why study in Antwerp?
Antwerp is located at the heart of Europe,
near Brussels where the European institutions
reside and major development actors have
representations. Being a world harbour, Antwerp
is also Belgium’s historical connection to other
continents. It is a pleasant city, full of old charm
and modern convenience. The city boasts many
excellent museums and historical monuments,
as well as a fast-paced nightlife, great shopping
districts, and a booming commercial centre.
Getting around in public transport is easy and
affordable. The University’s City Campus offers
a broad range of facilities, including a student
restaurant, a sports centre and computer rooms
with internet access. The IOB collection on
development studies is housed in the university
library of humanities and social sciences on the
City Campus. The library holds about 1.3 million
volumes and provides access to numerous
databases and electronic resources. It is the ideal
starting point for any research project.
IOB is a development actor in its own right.
IOB participates in various inter-university
partnerships with institutes in the South,
including the Universidad Centroamericana
(Managua, Nicaragua), the University of
Cuenca (Ecuador), the University of Bukavu (DR
Congo), the University of Western Cape (South
Africa), the Mbarara University of Science and
Technology - MUST (Uganda), the Ugandan
Cristian University (UCU), the Université du
Burundi and the Mzumbe University (Tanzania).
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