'Why did some countries escape poverty over the past 40 years (e.g. South Korea), while others remained dirt poor (e.g. Mali)? How can countries that are still poor be set on the track of sustainable economic development? And, how can the lives of people be improved through education, better health and improved living conditions?

These questions intrigue me because they deal with the well-being of people at a basic level. There are no easy answers, as is clear from the fact that one billion people still live in extreme poverty, despite decades of development research. I learned the basic theories addressing these questions during my bachelor in economics at the University of Tilburg. However, before I could start with a master, I felt it was necessary to actually work in a poor country, to see and understand the conditions of real people facing real situations.

How else can you become a 'MSc in development economics' if you have never set foot in a developing country? So, a research internship at the Amsterdam Institute for International Development (AIID) brought me to Tanzania and later to Nigeria.

Back in the Netherlands I can now combine this valuable field experience with economic theory in the master in development economics, to deepen my knowledge and understanding of development processes. The University of Amsterdam offers a suitable mix of specialised courses on development and international economics as well as other supplementary economic courses in its Master's programme.'