Vivian Camacho Suarez
What made you decide to study this particular programme?
The first time I checked which programmes UNESCO-IHE offered, this one caught my eye because I'm really interested in hydrology. Afterwards, while trying to gain more information about the institute, I heard a lot of good reviews. Also on the LinkedIn group, many people were really enthusiastic about UNESCO-IHE. Another reason to decide to study at UNESCO-IHE was that many elements of the programmes are applicable for developing countries. And I have the ambition to be working in such countries.
Can you say something about studying in Delft/the Netherlands? For example, the cultural and social experiences?
The Netherlands is a nice environment for foreign students, because the Dutch are very open-minded. And practically everyone speaks English, which makes it easy to adapt. Delft is a city with a big number of students and therefore is a nice place to stay. Studying at UNESCO-IHE also gives you the chance to meet new cultures, what I consider as a very nice experience.
Why should new students/water professionals choose this programme? Do you have any advice?
One of the biggest advantages of studying at UNESCO-IHE is the possibility to learn from the problems, solutions and experiences of students from all over the world. There's a big diversity of students. I would therefore advice to use your time here to meet new cultures. Then you'll not just experience a professional development, but also a personal growth.
What are you going to do once back home?
I keep all options open. I haven't decided yet in which country I would like to be working. Since I don't have a contract with an employer, I'll be able to explore all the possibilities and then see which one is the most interesting.