I proudly graduated GLODEP in 2021 as part of the third cohort of this Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program. Studying abroad with classmates from 24 different nationalities, all while moving to a new country every 5 months, was as hectic, eventful and marvelous as it sounds. This multi-country degree opens the door to a variety of perspectives, ways of life, administrative systems, and many other aspects that fill all your senses and shape your learning experience day to day. Particularly, the variety of topics learned throughout the 2-year program and the exposure to a wide network of leading researchers and development professionals -all while submerged in an inherently multicultural and multidisciplinary environment-, inevitably change how you see the world and interact with it. The assimilation of this blend of topics and academic approaches impacts the way in which you approach the analysis of socioeconomic conditions, development challenges, and reality altogether. This degree offered...

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...

I am from GLODEP graduating class of 2024. Two months after graduation, I joined the World Bank Group as a consultant, where I leverage my expertise in economics and geospatial data analysis to inform lending and policy. My work focuses on just sustainable growth and on inclusive, climate-resilient infrastructure—grounded in hands-on operational experience in Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) contexts. I specialize in translating data-driven evidence into actionable investments and policies. I have contributed to lending operations, investment projects, and advisory services in Yemen, Malaysia, Thailand, and Egypt.    My two-year, rigorous academic journey in the GLODEP program—while navigating the systems, cultures, and societies of four countries—has profoundly shaped my professional life in international development. Exposure to diverse cultures alongside classmates from across the globe fostered the agility, curiosity, and adaptability needed to collaborate with global teams....

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...

I currently serve as a Junior Officer in the Office of Internal Audit and Investigations at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), where I contribute to the Investigations team. My primary responsibilities include examining and addressing allegations of misconduct, such as fraud, corruption, and sexual abuse, harassment, or exploitation.  Prior to joining the IFRC, I completed a one-year Fresh Graduate Programme at UNICEF, working as a Quality Assurance Assistant in the Service Quality Management department. This marked my first professional role following graduation from Olomouc.  My current position builds directly on the research experience from my final semester in Bogotá. The investigative methodologies—developed from an academic perspective—provided essential skills for a career in internal investigations. The curiosity and professionalism demanded by rigorous academic research are indispensable in my daily work. I first honed these qualities...

Hi, I’m Luis Pineda, GLODEP alumni (2019-2021) and I am currently serving as a Nature-based Solutions Associate Programme Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme, a position that builds directly on the skills and knowledge I gained during the GLODEP Master. Before joining the masters, I worked on environmental and development projects at the local level, and one of my main motivations for enrolling was to broaden by complementing my environmental and social expertise with economic knowledge and a global development perspective. This combination ultimately helped me transition from project-based roles into programme-oriented work within international organizations. The academic training, together with the experience of studying in a highly multicultural and multilingual environment, has been highly valuable in my professional career.  Studying and living in Olomouc, and in the Czech Republic in general, represented a dramatic and exciting change for me. Adapting to studying...

I currently work at the European Commission, in a unit responsible for anti-racism and non-discrimination at the European Union level. The GLODEP programme helped me build a strong European profile, particularly through studying and living in three different European countries. This experience was a real asset when applying for my current role. Interestingly, one of my superiors also studied at  Palacký University in Olomouc years ago.  Why did you decide to come to study IDS at Palacky University (Olomouc, Czech Republic)?  To be honest, I mainly wanted to travel. I discovered Erasmus Mundus quite last minute, and once I was selected for GLODEP, I was excited to explore a part of Europe I did not know at all.  What were your biggest learnings during the master’s course?  I gained strong theoretical foundations, especially in development studies, peace studies, and democracy studies. This knowledge is still invaluable today, as it taught me that arguments and interpretations depend...

What is your current position/job, and how did you use GLODEP master’s experience/its courses to acquire this position?  I currently serve as a Strategy, Planning & Management Office (SPMO) Analyst within the Financial Institutions Group of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where I support Advisory and Upstream Services across the Europe and Latin America & Caribbean regions. GLODEP directly supported my ability to obtain this position, as a master’s degree was a formal requirement. In addition, the program strengthened my analytical and strategic thinking skills, preparing me well for the expectations of an international development finance institution such as the IFC.  Why did you decide to come to study GLDOEP at Palacky University/Olomouc/Czech Republic?  Growing up in Mexico City provided me with a first-hand perspective on how inequality, governance challenges, and institutional weaknesses affect people’s daily lives. This experience deepened my interest...

What is your current position/job, and how did you use IDS master’s experience/its courses to acquire this position?  I’m currently a Senior Associate at IDinsight based in Nairobi. At IDinsight, I use data and evidence to help development leaders make decisions. My GLODEP experience provided a strong theoretical grounding in development economics, which helped me understand the broader context of the challenges we address in my work. The technical courses also strengthened my analytical skills and built on my prior statistics background.   Why did you decide to come to study IDS at Palacky University/Olomouc/Czech Republic?  I wanted a program that could bridge my background in statistics with the development sector, and GLODEP offered exactly that combination. It provided an opportunity to deepen my technical skills while gaining a richer understanding of global development issues.  How was it to study in Olomouc? What were the major challenges?  Studying in Olomouc was both...

What is your current position/job, and how did you use your IDS master’s experience and its courses to acquire this position?  I am currently a Junior Professional Associate at the Governance – Public Institutions Global Practice at the World Bank. I have to say that this master’s degree was a cornerstone for achieving this position. As with many professional journeys, achievements are incremental and cumulative, each step builds on the previous one.  Soon after graduating from the master’s program, I secured an internship at the World Bank. The program’s focus areas, the communication and language skills I gained, the knowledge on development-related topics, the technical terminology, software skills, and the multicultural experience all made me competitive and allowed me to obtain that internship. In the same way, it was my master’s background combined with my internship experience that led to a consultancy at the United Nations. Ultimately, the combination of all these experiences...