New generation UNESCO-IHE students completed their water study, receiving Master of Science degree

At the official Academic Closing ceremony of the UNESCO-IHE 111 students from 49 countries received their Masters of Science degree after completing their 18 months study from 2011 to 2013. The diploma awarding took place in the Old Church in Delft on 25 April.

Hard work: 3,000 hours of study
The students were welcomed by the Rector, Prof. András Szöllösi-Nagy, who reminded them of their first days at the Institute, suffering through the cold, the many lecturing hours, the 3,000 hours of study and hard work and even biting into their first herring and stroopwafel.

The traditional walk from the UNESCO-IHE education institute to the Old Church takes professors and students through the historical city centre of Delft.

Prof. Dr. Fritz Holzwarth, Chairperson of the UNESCO-IHE Governing Board, Deputy Director General for Water Management, German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, addressed the participants in his welcome address and called upon their duty to make a difference in the world.

Make a difference

Graduation speaker Mr. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) then delivered his keynote address and told a tale from when he was only nine years old when he was given a weather station.

A device that triggered his fascination for forecasting and measuring the different data. He never knew that one day he would be spearheading WMO and told the graduates that they need to find their passion and drive to make a difference.

New generation water leaders

Brenda Chimombe from Zimbabwe (left) and Bipin Dangol from Nepal (right) followed with a short student address and toast to a new generation of water leaders: people who will make a difference where they may return to.

About UNESCO-IHE
UNESCO-IHE is the largest international postgraduate water education facility in the world and is based in Delft, the Netherlands. The Institute confers fully accredited MSc degrees, and PhD degrees in collaboration with partners in the Netherlands.

Since 1957 the Institute has provided postgraduate water education to more than 14,500 water professionals from over 160 countries.

This news item was originally published on the website of Unesco-IHE.
(see this page also for a video recording of whole ceremony)

More information
Unesco-IHE
Delft, the Netherlands
+31 15 215 1715
www.unesco-ihe.org