itc alumni world bank brochure
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ITC Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO TACKLE ONE OF MANKIND’S GREATEST CHALLENGES...TRANSCRIPT
ITCFACULTY OF GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION
EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO TACKLE ONE OF MANKIND’S GREATEST CHALLENGES...
USING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE TO CREATE REAL CHANGE
One of mankind’s greatest challenges is to achieve a healthy balance between harnessing natural resources and maintaining an optimal natural environment. At the University of Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, ITC, our goal is to equip individuals from all over the world for tackling this challenge. Our students, though from widely differing backgrounds, have two things in common: academic excellence and a drive to create change in their world. In this brochure, we present fi ve of these change agents, each of whom has completed a Master’s programme at ITC with a scholarship from the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWGSP).
‘ ITC IS PROUD TO CONTINUE OFFERING A PREFERRED PROGRAMME UNDER THE JOINT JAPAN/WORLD BANK SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM’
ITC IN A NUTSHELL
INNOVATING GEO-INFORMATION MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDEAt the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente, we are among the world’s leading pioneers in our fi eld.
• International postgraduate education, research and project services in the fi eld of geo-information science and earth observation using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS)
• Recognized worldwide for our achievements in teaching, research and capacity development
• Strong focus on earth observation, generating spatial information, and developing data integration methods
• Experts in providing tools designed to support planning and decision-making processes • Aimed at sustainable development and poverty alleviation in developing countries
and emerging economies
“ Geo-information is a rapidly growing industry worldwide. Geographical
information systems and remote sensing tools can be used for solving
real-world problems and complex issues concerning healthcare,
food security, climate, water, urban planning, security and land scarcity.”
TOM VELDKAMP, DEAN AT ITC
UNIVERSITY OF GLOBAL CHANGE LEADERS.
FROM PROFESSOR TO STUDENT TO CHANGE LEADER‘For a professor to sit in class among students was an altogether different experience’, Derrick recalls. ‘I had to switch from ‘prof. mode’ to student mode.’ This role shift was tough, but he pressed on. ‘With the help of ITC’s encouraging and highly professional staff I bounced back, scoring higher grades as I progressed. All in all, studying at ITC was wonderful. It made me feel young. And being part of a unique community of citizens from all over the world changed my perspective forever.’
WHEN DERRICK M. DENIS OF ALLAHABAD, INDIA, FIRST SAT DOWN IN AN ITC LECTURE HALL IN THE DUTCH CITY OF ENSCHEDE, HE HAD SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE. LATER, HE BECAME AN AGENT FOR CHANGE HIMSELF.
NAME: PROF. DR. DERRICK M. DENISPOSITION: PROFESSOR AND DEAN AT VAUGH SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY COUNTRY: INDIASTUDENT AT ITC: 2011-2013
A FRESH ORGANISATIONAL PERSPECTIVEWhile studying, the professor from Allahabad
was fascinated by the operational excellence
of what he calls ‘one of the best institutions
in Europe’. He observed ITC’s academic
and administrative performance closely and
with deep interest. Thus, when he returned
home, he took with him not only a Master’s
degree in Geo-Information Science and Earth
Observation, but also a fresh organisational
perspective. ‘Back In India I was appointed
Dean of Vaugh School of Agricultural Engi-
neering & Technology, an institute with 2,000
registered students and around 52 faculties
– and the first school in the whole of Asia to
offer a Bachelor of Technology programme
with specialisation in Agricultural Enginee-
ring. The many recommendations I made for
academic and administrative improvement
– based on my experiences at ITC – were
gladly embraced.’
A BURNING DESIRE TO USE REMOTE SENSINGDerrick has always been fascinated by maps.
In 2011, a ‘burning desire’ to learn how to
process and use the resources made availa-
ble by remote sensing led him to sign up for
ITC’s Master’s course on Water Resources
and Environmental Management (WREM).
‘ITC was the best option among many,’
he states. He was accepted and began to
search for funding. To his delight, he found
an offer on the World Bank website. ‘The
scholarship I was awarded, along with the
constant support given me by my wife, made
it all possible.’
‘ITC TAUGHT ME TO THINK GLOBAL’Today, Derrick is still Dean at Vaugh School
of Agricultural Engineering & Technology. He
is also involved in ‘water budgeting’ with the
Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Rese-
arch and working on the River Ganges’ water
quality with the Indian Space Research Orga-
nisation. His studies at ITC are a huge help in
all of this. ‘Remote sensing brings everything
together, providing solutions in many areas
of life. ITC’s global outlook makes its alumni
truly global problem solvers. Studying at
ITC certainly helped me personally to think
global. It increased my sensitivity to the
challenges around us. My time at ITC also
taught me that good people exist worldwide
– and that together we can combat poverty,
hunger, drought and disasters with the hope
of overcoming them one day. It taught me to
work hard to give others a better life.’
‘ STUDYING AT ITC CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE FOREVER’
URBAN DEVELOPER WITH A HEART FOR PEOPLE
BOLATITO DAYO-BABABTUNDE MANAGES LAND USE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA’S CAPITAL CITY. STUDYING AT ITC WAS A MAJOR STEP IN MANAGING HER OWN DEVELOPMENT AS A FEMALE PROFESSIONAL.
Bolatito followed a Master’s programme in Geo-Information Science and Earth Obser-vation for Urban Planning and Management at ITC. One of the challenges, she recalls, was coping with a heavy workload. ‘The ITC curriculum requires you to take exams almost every 3 to 4 weeks. At the same time, we
were learning to work with various kinds of new software, such as Scenario 360, Erdas and ArcGis. It was hard work.’ Bolatito still benefits from this rigorous academic program-me. ‘Studying at ITC really taught me how to work efficiently and to stick to my schedules,’ she says.
NAME: BOLATITO DAYO-BABABTUNDEPOSITION: DEVELOPMENT CONTROL OFFICER AT THE ABUJA DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COUNTRY: NIGERIASTUDENT AT ITC: 2013-2015
HELPING COMMUNITIES THROUGH LAND USEAs a Development Control Officer at Nigeria’s
Abuja Department of Development Control,
Bolatito’s responsibilities include guiding and
controlling land use in the Garki District, loca-
ted in the southwest of the capital city. ‘My
job is to keep tabs on illegal development
and to propose policies for effective urban
management based on global best practices.
Resolving land use conflicts is also part of
my work.’
Bolatito daily draws on what she learned and
experienced at ITC. ‘Studying at ITC gave me
access to best practices in my profession
as well as an opportunity to engage with
colleagues from other parts of the world
facing similar challenges.’ She adds that field
trips during her studies in the Netherlands
were also eye-opening. ‘We visited flagship
projects in Rotterdam, where brownfield land
was used for the creation of iconic buildings
that providing housing, generated jobs, at-
tracted investors and improved the quality of
life of people living in the area. One striking
example I remember was an old factory that
had been transformed into a school.’
In Abuja, where urban settlements all too
often face demolition, this kind of innovative
land use is much needed, says Bolatito. ‘I
hope that someday in my country we will be
able to use old, abandoned buildings and fac-
tories to create something beneficial to the
community – something that will alleviating
suffering and improve the quality of life of the
people living there.’
‘BE COURAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A GIRL’Bolatito is grateful for the positive growth
and development she has experienced in
her own life. ‘The Joint Japan/World Bank
Graduate Scholarship Programme has had
a huge impact on my life,’ she says. ‘I was
motivated to persevere and I feel incredibly
fortunate to have been selected from among
thousands of applicants. It is a great thing
that the programme emphasises the educati-
on of women and girls, especially in coun-
tries in the southern hemisphere, where girls
tend to be given far fewer opportunities for
education. My advice to future scholarship
applicants is: be courageous and determined,
especially if you’re a girl from a country in the
south, where financial resources for studying
are limited. My story proves dreams can
come true.’
‘ I HOPE THAT SOMEDAY IN MY COUNTRY WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE OLD, ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND FACTORIES TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY’
INFLUENCER WITH A BROAD HORIZON
K.C. Bhawana works for the government of Nepal’s Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme, which is jointly funded by several European government agencies. Her responsibilities are broad. They include Programme Planning, Management and Facilitation, Human Resource Management and Capacity Building, Knowledge Management, Documentation and Communi-cation, and Coordination, Collaboration and Networking. She designs annual programmes and leads forestry, climate change and disaster risk reduction interventions, contributes to capacity development in technical forestry and climate change, engages in knowledge management in the field of climate change adaptation and resilience building, and works closely with other climate change experts.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MANAGEMENT OF NEPAL’S NATURAL RESOURCES, FORESTRY AND CLIMATE CHANGE EXPERT K.C. BHAWANA IS AN INFLUENCER WITH A WIDE REACH. HER STUDIES AT ITC INTENSIFIED HER IMPACT.
NAME: K.C. BHAWANAPOSITION: FORESTRY AND CLIMATE CHANGE EXPERT AT THE MULTI STAKE-HOLDER FORESTRY PROGRAMME COUNTRY: NEPALSTUDENT AT ITC: 2013-2015
mensions of natural resources management.
As a result, I am able to design and imple-
ment project interventions and strategies
that address the issues of poor people,
women and discriminated or vulnerable
communities in Nepal. The ITC programme
equipped me to make a positive contribution
in the area of climate change. My work helps
climate-vulnerable households become more
resilient and improve their livelihoods.’
‘ITC ENCOURAGES YOU TO PRESENT YOUR OWN OPINIONS’Studying at ITC was a wonderful experience,
Bhawana says. ‘I would encourage anyone
interested in a career in Remote Sensing
and GIS to choose ITC as a starting point. In
addition to academic rigor and excellence,
ITC and the University of Twente organise
a lot of social events, such as international
evenings and food festivals, sports days and
module end parties – it is all really refreshing
and memorable.’
While she learned vital lessons on time ma-
nagement and meeting deadlines, Bhawana
especially appreciated ‘the way in which
University of Twente staff deal with students
and how they encourage you to present your
own thoughts and opinions. Interacting with
scholars from different countries, exchanging
ideas and working on a challenging project as
a team really boosts your learning attitude,
your team building capacities and your ability
to listen to others. The many vigorous discus-
sions we had during fi eld visits and assign-
ments really strengthened my ability look at
things critically and developed my understan-
ding and leadership qualities.’
BROADENED HORIZONSOn entering ITC’s Master’s programme
Geo-Information Science and Earth Observa-
tion in 2013, Bhawana decided to specialise
in Natural Resources Management. The
decision has had a lasting impact on her
career – and on the people and resources of
her country. ‘Studying at ITC broadened my
horizons in terms of thinking and problem
solving. I spend a lot of time in my current
job transferring the knowledge and skills I ac-
quired in the Netherlands to others through
training programmes, seminars, workshops
and publications. It all centres on tackling the
challenge of natural resources management
and areas such as climate change, governan-
ce and sustainable forest management.’ The
Master’s programme boosted Bhawana’s
analytical and documentation skills, which
has enabled her to contribute more effective-
ly to policy advocacy. ‘My improved analytical
skills have given me a better understanding
of the pro-poor and governance-related di-
‘ I REALLY LIKE THE WAY ITC INTERACTS WITH STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO PRESENT THEIR OWN THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS’
USING DATA TO RESCUE KIDS FROM HIV/AIDS
Mosa Moseme, or Mampho Mputsoe, followed the Master’s program-me in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Geoinforma-tics at ITC from October 2010 to March 2012. ‘I am from Lesotho, a small country inside South Africa, where I work for the Elizabeth Glazer Paediatric AIDS foundation, EGPAF, in Maseru, our capital city,’ she says. ‘My journey began when I made a decision to follow my dream and further my studies. I had the greatest support structure ever: my hus-band. We started searching for institutions, universities and scholar-ships by browsing the Internet. Having been admitted at ITC in the Netherlands, I was up and about searching for a scholarship, when a friend suggested we try the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholar-ship Programme. I applied and within a couple of months I received the long-awaited response: I was granted a scholarship.’
NAME: MOSA MOSEMEPOSITION: STRATEGIC INFORMATION AND EVALUATION ADVISOR AT ELIZABETH GLAZER PAEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION COUNTRY: LESOTHOSTUDENT AT ITC: 2010-2012
MOSA MOSEME’S DECISION TO FOLLOW HER DREAM OF FURTHER EDUCATION CHANGED HER LIFE – AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES, TOO. SHE USES HER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BATTLE HIV/AIDS AND TO HELP OTHERS REACH HIGHER.
‘I COULDN’T WAIT TO BUILD MY FIRST DATABASE’At ITC, Mosa enjoyed the classes, gaining
new knowledge and skills almost daily. I
couldn’t wait to develop my fi rst database!
I also attended social events and other acti-
vities, such as summer games and cultural
days. One event I enjoyed was the Day of
International Students in The Hague. Seeing
my country fl ag there gave me such a sense
of recognition!
‘MUCH OF MY WORK CENTRES ON DATA’Back in Lesotho, Mosa is Strategic Informati-
on and Evaluation Advisor for EGPAF, whose
mission is to eliminate HIV/AIDS deaths
among children. She provides technical
support to the Ministry of Health in monito-
ring and evaluating the HIV and tuberculosis
programmes in Lesotho. Much of her work
revolves around data: she is engaged in
strengthening data capturing mechanisms,
data management, data analysis, data quality
assurance, data dissemination and reporting
at all levels – including, of course, the use of
GIS data. ‘I use the knowledge and skills I
acquired at ITC all the time here in Lesotho,’
she says. ‘Not only that, but I also regularly
assist colleagues through knowledge sharing
sessions. I feel I have become very helpful to
my peers and to our community at large. My
studies have enabled me to guide them for-
ward in many ways. Somehow I feel I have
become a guru in Internet-based approaches,
as I always give informal lectures on how to
contribute helpful information on social me-
dia and how to extract and use information
– especially location-based, as at ITC I wrote
my thesis on that topic.’
AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL NOT BE WASTEDMosa is thrilled that she was able to obtain
a Master’s degree in a fi eld in which she
can now make a real difference. ‘I’m really
thankful I was one of the few individuals to
be sponsored. The investment will not be
wasted, as I intend to change a lot of lives.’
‘ I FEEL LIKE A GURU ON HOW TO EXTRACT AND USE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY LOCATION-BASED, WHICH WAS THE TOPIC OF MY THESIS’
MANAGING LAND IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY
SHANTI BASNET OBTAINED A MASTER’S DEGREE IN GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION FOR LAND ADMINISTRATION AT ITC. SHE NOW HELPS NEPAL’S GOVERNMENT MANAGE LAND IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY.
Shanti Basnet studied at ITC from 2010 to 2012, having been encouraged to pursue a Master’s degree by her employer, Nepal’s Ministry of Land Reform and Management. Leaving her home and family for so long was tough – as was the curriculum at ITC. But Shanti has no regrets. ‘I was lonely so far away from home; I had a one-and-a-half year-old child back home. But it was also a very interesting time and at ITC I made many friends from all over the world – most of them are still online friends today.’
Shanti gave her studies everything she had, she says. ‘The course involved a lot of hard work. But I can honestly say that my efforts paid off: the work I do now is a lot easier because of everything I learned in the Netherlands. One thing that stands out about studying at ITC, is that it makes you a lot more self-reliant.
NAME: SHANTI BASNETPOSITION: CHIEF SURVEY OFFICER, MINISTRY OF LAND REFORM AND MANAGEMENT COUNTRY: NEPALSTUDENT AT ITC: 2010-2012
A CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR IN ECONOMIC GROWTHLand administration, Shanti’s specialisation,
deals with regulating access to land and the
management of land. It is a critical success
factor in economic growth, food security, na-
ture conservation and poverty reduction, the
protection of vulnerable groups and housing.
Reports of international agencies such as the
World Bank, the European Union, Habitat,
FAO and UNDP all devote considerable at-
tention to land issues and land policies. Land
policy and land policy instruments determine
how a government can provide access to
land, offer tenure security, regulate the land
market, implement land reform, protect the
environment, and levy land taxes. Applying
relevant principles of business administration
and information technology, the ITC course
provides theoretical and practical knowledge
and expertise in building a viable land admi-
nistration organisation.
LAND MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN NEPALNepal faces numerous land management is-
sues. These include pressure on biodiversity
and natural resources, land degradation, poor
productivity of agricultural land, uncontrolled
urbanisation and numerous others. Shan-
ti and her colleagues are front runners in
tackling these challenges. Comments Shanti,
‘The knowledge and skills I gained at ITC are
essential for my organisation. As a surveyor,
my responsibilities are to use geo-informati-
on science and land management principles
to implement the policies of our Ministry of
Land Reform and Management. My know-
ledge has really boosted our organisation’s
capacity in terms of offering effective servi-
ces to land-related stakeholders.’
DEEPLY GRATEFULBefore applying at ITC, Shanti studied geo-
graphy at Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal’s
fi rst national institution of higher education,
located just outside of Kathmandu. Her Mas-
ter’s degree from ITC boosted her career, as
it led to her promotion from Survey Offi cer to
Chief Survey Offi cer. ‘In the future, I would
like to continue studying and get a PhD in
land administration,’ she says. ‘I am deeply
grateful to the World Bank for providing me
with this opportunity.’
‘ THE KNOWLEDGE I GAINED AT ITC IS ESSENTIAL FOR MY ORGANISATION’
Our goal at ITC is to help ambitious students become leading professionals, capable of acquiring knowledge in geo-information science and earth observation and translating it into practical solutions for real-world problems in their field of work. There are many more reasons why students choose ITC for boosting their capacities, skills and careers. For example:
WHY GLOBAL STUDENTS OPT FOR ITC - As an ITC student, you get to tap into our globally acclaimed achievements in teaching
GIS and remote sensing
- We ensure students get stuck into fieldwork abroad in almost all of our courses
- As a faculty of the University of Twente, we offer a multicultural environment with students and staff from over 30 countries
- ITC offers students a means of gaining valuable European and international experience
- At ITC, students can expand their academic network through our strong ties with universities in China, Indonesia, India, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and many other countries
- ITC graduates move forward in the world with a thriving network of global contacts
- We are ideally located in Europe, just hours away from Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London or Berlin
- We’re connected to a beautiful university campus with modern accommodation and state-of-art facilities
6 GOOD REASONS FOR COMING TO TWENTEITC is a faculty of the University of Twente, a university that is different than other universities. Here are six reasons why students love Twente:
Developing countries are often hit hardest by the global challenges we face today. In our programmes, we equip students to take a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving in the context of international development, placing a strong emphasis on remote sensing and geo-information science.
UNIVERSITY OF TOMORROW’S PROBLEM SOLVERS.
We rank among the top research universities worldwide
We are an international community with a full range of English-taught programmes
We are among Europe’s most entrepreneurial universities
We combine global ambition with a small scale and a very personal approach
We have a beautiful and unique campus with state-of-art facilities
Our High Tech, Human Touch uniquely combines technology and social sciences
UNIVERSITY OF TWENTEFACULTY OF GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE ANDEARTH OBSERVATION (ITC)
VISITING ADDRESSHengelosestraat 997514 AE EnschedeThe Netherlands
POSTAL ADDRESSP.O. box 2177500 AE, EnschedeThe Netherlands
T: +31 (0)53 4874 444F: +31 (0)53 4874 400E: [email protected]
I: www.itc.nl and www.utwente.nl/en