In May, IHS hosted a delegation from the World Bank Secretariat, which offered a valuable opportunity to review the long-standing partnership between the two institutions and the significant impact of World Bank scholarships on the next generation of urban leaders. The visit also aimed to showcase the MSc in Urban Management and Development (UMD) and discuss future collaborations.
The delegation included Kerina Wang, Head of Partnerships in the Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC), which oversees the scholarship programme, along with Marcelo Buitron and Laurent Porte from the World Bank Secretariat, who manage communications with educational partners and students.
Connecting with other scholars
The engagements began in Amsterdam at an event organised by the World Bank for its scholars studying in the Netherlands. This gathering, hosted by KIT (formerly known as the Royal Tropical Institute), brought together students and representatives from IHS, the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), KIT, and IHE Delft. IHS was represented by students from the current UMD cohort, who actively participated in the discussions. They shared their academic experiences and talked about the scholarship's impact on their professional development.
Strategic discussions at IHS
Following the Amsterdam event, the delegation visited IHS in Rotterdam. Representatives from the institute, including General Director David Dodman, Academic Director Lasse Gerrits, Head of Professional Services Ni Wang, and Marketing & Communications Officer Mihaela Kracholova, met with the Secretariat to discuss the future of their partnership and the Master's programme.
The meeting focused on several key areas of mutual interest, including:
- Exploring new opportunities for institutional collaboration.
- Enhancing the application and admission process for future scholarship candidates.
- Strengthening engagement with the shared IHS-World Bank alumni network.
Looking ahead: are you our next World Bank scholar?
At IHS, we don’t just teach urban development, we educate the professionals who will shape the cities of tomorrow. Our partnership with the World Bank ensures that candidates from developing countries have access to high-quality education right here in Rotterdam. As we look toward the next academic year, IHS and the World Bank remain committed to supporting impactful leaders and changemakers from around the world.
