We have received the shocking and tragic news of the sudden passing away of our Master’s alumnus Simon Neuland at the age of 30, last Friday. Simon was part of the 2013-14 cohort on our Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP), in the Social Protection Specialisation. We remember Simon as a very cheerful person, smart, kind, supportive, and always helpful. From the accounts of all those who knew him, he was a fine human being who will be utterly missed. The staff and ...

A post by Riesa van Doorn, a student on our MSc. in Public Policy and Human Development … Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, let’s remind ourselves that violence against girls and women persists in every country in the world. According to the World Health Organization, gender-based violence affects one in three women in their lifetime. Before my Master’s programme in Public Policy and Human Development, the words ‘gender-based violence’ conjured ...

Diego Salama, United Nations University and Isi Madojemu, Leiden University … For the last 75 years, the United Nations has been the pillar of multilateralism and international cooperation. As a forum, it gathers its member states in an effort to ensure international peace and security, promote economic development and manage crises like COVID-19. As an organisation, its agencies funds and programmes are working tirelessly against the odds to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN’s 75th anniversary wa...

MPP alumnus Rodolpho Zannin Feijó joined the first online edition of the Maastricht University Alumni Week last month as a guest speaker from his home city of Curitiba in Brazil. During a lively conversation with current and prospective students, he shared his experience as head of the city’s International Affairs Office and looked back on his Master’s studies in Maastricht. Here are six highlights from the conversation. A double-degree from United Nations University and Maastricht University ha...

On the afternoon of 11 June 2020, we hosted our first ever virtual closing ceremony for our Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP). The event formally concluded the academic year and gave us the chance to congratulate our students for completing their programme courses. Beyond a live musical performance, we heard from numerous staff and students — ending the toughest of years on the highest of notes. Below is a selection of quotes from standout speakers including ou...

A post by Brendan Joy, a student on our MSc. in Public Policy and Human Development, who just won a place on a social enterprise programme in Ireland. NB, the next deadline for applications to our UN-backed double-degree Master’s programme is 15 July 2020. … Bees and other pollinators like butterflies are declining globally, their numbers now in freefall. Climate change, habitat loss, industrialised agriculture, and the use of harmful chemicals form a deadly cocktail that threatens their s...

When students meet policymakers in Geneva “After visiting so many UN institutions and international agencies, it was refreshing to be welcomed in a small office and engage in an open and inspiring discussion about children’s rights.” — MSc student Zoë Rouwhorst Enter keywords...

Water is not only critical for human life – it is also a precious economic, spiritual and cultural resource. In 2015, the UN General Assembly even recognised water as a human right. This newly minted human right is, however, under threat from trade and investment agreements, including the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). Now, wherever they operate, companies can sue governments for discrimination. This may sound reasonable, but there is already an overwhelming number of cases involving ...

The swift spread of COVID-19 required an urgent response from many institutions – and universities were no exception. Classes were quickly moved online, which proved to be a challenge for instructors and students alike. To get a glimpse into how our Master’s programme dealt with this transition, we caught up with Programme Director Dr. Julieta Marotta as well as current student Joshua Hofert. … Dr. Julieta Marotta As a Programme Director leading a Master’s with multiple specialisations, ho...

What are these corona-days like for students in Maastricht? How is the coronavirus affecting their studies and other aspects of their lives? Maastricht University’s independent newspaper Observant is running a series of interviews with current students to find out how they are coping with the shift to online education. Two of our Master’s students in Public Policy and Human Development, Thierry Bleijswijk and Maren Slangen, shared their experience.  Cleaning ambulances as a Red Cross...