I am currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at Trinity College Dublin, where I work on questions related to climate justice and just energy transitions in the West of Ireland. My research draws on feminist methodologies, collaborative ethnography, and political ecology, with a particular focus on spatial justice in the bioeconomy, specifically biogas and biomethane production. Within my department, I teach undergraduate and master students across a range of topics in human geography, including fieldwork skills, qualitative research methods, rural development, and climate justice. GLODEP provided me with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in global studies, sharpened my critical perspective on inequality and economic development, and gave me the confidence to pursue independent research. I chose GLODEP for its joint-degree structure and its genuinely international approach to development studies. The opportunity to study in diverse national and institutional contexts...

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...

I am currently working as an Evaluation Manager at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the UK. As part of the Eden Centre at LSE, I design and conduct research and evaluation to promote education enhancement, social mobility, and equality. The knowledge and experience gained from GLODEP have enabled me to analyze and tackle socio-economic challenges with intersectional lenses and inclusive approaches. That has directly contributed to the meaningful engagement with my topics of research, and the development of relevant, practical recommendations.   Measuring the impacts of equal access to quality education on socio-economic development has been a central part of my career as a researcher and evaluator. GLODEP was an invaluable opportunity for me to discuss and explore this topic through an inclusive curriculum and in an engaging global classroom. The combination of the three universities’ strengths in development studies and foresight, development economics,...

Currently, I am working as a Senior Tax Specialist in the oil and gas sectors. While my current role is largely aligned with my professional background prior to GLODEP, the program has had a significant impact on my personal and professional development. It has shaped the way I think, communicate, and approach challenges, all of which contribute to how I perform in my role today. The program is highly comprehensive, and while it may initially seem that it does not focus on a single specialization, this is actually one of its greatest strengths. It exposes students to a wide range of subjects, allowing them to explore different areas and discover what suits them best. In addition, studying at three different universities and living in three different countries is a unique experience. Its impact may not be fully understood at the beginning, but over time, you realize how much it shapes your perspective—how you think, how you approach situations, and how you see the world. The courses were...

My name is Khammailee Vangxaolee (Lee), and I am a graduate of the GLODEP Class of 2024 from Laos. Driven by a passion for social development in my home country, I joined this prestigious program to gain a global perspective on development, economics, and international studies. Just one month after my graduation in June 2024, I returned to my hometown of Luang Prabang, Laos, to join the Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC), the only free pediatric hospital in Laos, supported by the US-based nonprofit Friends Without a Border. As the Visitor Centre Manager within the Development and Communications Department, I present the hospital’s projects and key activities to stakeholders, international tourists, and private donors, enabling them to contribute to and support its mission. I also co-lead local fundraising campaigns and engage with both local and international stakeholders to support the hospital, which treats more than 45,000 patients per year in Laos. Moreover, I assist my team...

I am currently pursuing a DPhil in Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford, where I specialize in maternal health and early childhood development in low-resource settings. My research focuses on how maternal risks during the perinatal period shape socioemotional and behavioral outcomes in young children, and the pathways through which these effects unfold across the life course. After graduating from GLODEP (Class of 2022–2024), I worked as a predoctoral research fellow in the Development Economics research group at the University of Göttingen. My work spanned projects on rural incomes, sustainable development, climate change, and learning assessments, including collaborations with international organizations such as the World Bank and fieldwork experience in Indonesia.  Looking back, GLODEP played a defining role in my journey. It gave me not only a strong academic foundation, but also the confidence to pursue opportunities that I once felt out of reach. I chose the...

After graduating from GLODEP in 2024, I began working approximately three months later as an Assistant to the Deputy Head of Mission and Political Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in The Netherlands. This role has allowed me to apply many of the analytical, communication, and coordination skills I developed during the program, particularly in political reporting, stakeholder engagement, and multilateral diplomacy. I chose GLODEP because of its unique joint-degree structure, its strong academic reputation, and its interdisciplinary approach to development policy, combining economics, political science, and international cooperation. The opportunity to live and study in three different countries was also a key motivation, as I was looking for a truly international and immersive academic experience. One of my key learnings from GLODEP was the ability to approach development challenges from multiple perspectives I hadn’t even considered (economic, political, social, philosophical,...

The GLODEP Program was influential in building a solid foundation for the theory and practice of my craft. I am currently in the field of arms control and disarmament at the United Nations Institute of Disarmament Research where we generate insights to influence regulatory regimes and policy on conventional weapons at the global, regional, national and local levels to help prevent both armed conflict and armed violence and contribute to peace and security of societies. Policy-relevant research is not simply good at collecting data to build insights to support sound recommendations. It is also about understanding the capabilities and needs of your key stakeholders and being able to clearly communicate with them about your research. GLODEP was key for my research training – the theory. Yet, understanding why and how development is delivered for its target “beneficiaries” provided me with an in-depth knowledge on the critical and at times, sensitive role of “experts” – the practice. Through...