Four ITM alumni win the 2024 Global Research Award

(c) header: Province of Antwerp

The winning graduation projects for 2024 focus on urgent and diverse topics such as drinking water supply in Ghana, burnout among healthcare workers in Kenya, the approach of midwives in Uganda to postpartum haemorrhage, better understanding of mpox outbreaks, and addressing inequality in the Vietnamese education system. Other topics include sexual orientation and gender identity in Southeast Asia, the impact of capital flows on structural changes in developing countries, and the human aspect of European foreign policy. One unique project even brings to light the family history of Argentina's disappeared children.

“The achievements of our students demonstrate the powerful impact that education, dedication, and research can have on global health,” says ITM Director Lut Lynen. “The Global Research Award from the Province of Antwerp recognises their important work and encourages them to continue advancing their fields. It also highlights the strength of ITM’s educational programmes and the commitment of our students and professors. We look forward to their ongoing contributions to a healthier, fairer, and more resilient world.”

Provincial representative Jan De Haes presented the awards: “We want to inspire students to think about global issues, which is especially relevant in the context of globalisation. To support this, we present the annual Provincial Global Research Award. The University of Antwerp (including its Institute of Development Policy), the Institute of Tropical Medicine, and the AP, Karel de Grote, and Thomas More University Colleges, are ideal partners for this. The unique expertise of these educational and research institutions extends far beyond the borders of Antwerp province. As a provincial government, we emphasise the importance of this collaboration.”

Global Research Award supports the SDGs

The Global Research Award is part of the Province of Antwerp's policy that integrates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its decision-making process. Sustainability is a core value in the governance agreement, organisation, daily operations, and decisions of the Antwerp provincial administration. The Global Research Award directly supports SDG 4: Quality Education.

"It is very important that the Province of Antwerp organises this award annually as part of their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. We are seeing that the international community is falling short in achieving most of the goals by 2030. This award demonstrates how collaboration between various research and educational institutions can make a tangible contribution to the realisation of the SDGs. This is something we can all be proud of," concludes Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy, Caroline Gennez.