I am currently pursuing a PhD in Climate Change and Management at the University of CA FOSCARI (Italy). The GLODEP program played a significant role in helping me secure this position by strengthening my analytical skills and enhancing my research capabilities. The coursework and academic environment prepared me well for advanced research and critical thinking required at the PhD level.  I completed my bachelor’s degree in development studies in Pakistan. During that time, I became very interested in exploring different aspects of development. I chose the GLODEP program because it offered a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to development economics. I wanted to deepen my understanding of development theories and improve my skills in development economics. Studying in Olomouc was a very positive experience for me. It is a peaceful and well-equipped city with everything a student needs. Personally, I did not face any major challenges during my stay. During the program,...

I am currently working as an International Program Officer at Soleterre, an international NGO based in Milan, where I coordinate and support a multi-country development program focused on the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable populations in Morocco, El Salvador, and Côte d’Ivoire. My professional path began in the humanitarian sector, first as an Emergency Unit Assistant and later as a Project Officer in Iraqi Kurdistan. Throughout these experiences, I developed a strong interest in the humanitarian–development nexus, which I further explored during my research stay in Kathmandu, Nepal, where I conducted field research on Community Health Workers in emergency contexts. The IDS master provided me with a solid interdisciplinary foundation, enabling me to approach complex global challenges from multiple perspectives. Most importantly, it equipped me with practical tools in data analysis and policy understanding, which I apply daily in my work. I chose GLODEP because I strongly...

Today, I work in the field of development policy and energy transition, contributing to analytical and modelling work that supports evidence-based policy decisions in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. Looking back, my journey to this work was strongly shaped by the GLODEP program, which helped me connect academic knowledge with real-world development challenges and broaden my perspective on how international cooperation can contribute to solving them. As an economist originally coming from a developing country, it has always been a personal challenge for me to understand and contribute to solutions for the structural problems many developing countries face. Through volunteering and early professional experiences in humanitarian relief and development cooperation, I realized that I wanted to see a bigger picture. I became increasingly curious not only about how development cooperation works today, but also about its historical roots, the lessons learned from past initiatives, and...

After graduating from GLODEP in 2023, I followed an academic path and I am currently a doctoral researcher at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. My journey towards this position began already during the fourth semester of GLODEP, when I moved to Rotterdam for my thesis research and worked with the professor who is now the supervisor for my doctoral project. In addition to that, I am based in a management school, conducting research on social enterprises and cooperatives, and using historical methods. The comfort I have in embracing transdisciplinary methods and theories for my current work is a skill I learnt during GLODEP, and they shape and reinforce my work every day.    I chose to study GLODEP because the programme offered something unique: a mobility structure that allowed me to live and learn in different academic and cultural environments, and a curriculum that encouraged critical thinking about development policy and practice. This held true throughout...

How did you use GLODEP to get where you are now? What is your current position? Through GLODEP, I had an opportunity to know several organizations working in the development sector from the guest lectures and seminars that we had from the GLODEP non-academic associates. One such organization is the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) where I am currently working. I created a professional network from GLODEP that has been very vital in my professional growth by sharing opportunities as well as knowledge. I have been able to use the reputation and credibility of the three consortium universities to prove the credibility of my qualification to employers and be able to gain their trust over my skills and abilities. My current position is Researcher/PhD Scholar at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) in Bonn, Germany. How did GLODEP help you to achieve your career goals? I have always aspired to work in research to support evidence-based policy,...