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Kenechukwu Valentine Okoli

You have to prepare yourself to study at a pace you may not have experienced before.

Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigeria Sub-Saharan Africa

What made you decide to study this particular program?
Personally it was a quest for additional knowledge in the field of hydraulic engineering and gaining confidence to tackle water management problems head-on. My working experience was with the engineering consultancy and in this line of business is all about selling knowledge. I was involved in various water related projects mostly in the design of hydraulic structures, but on the course of discharging my duties it dawned on me there was a knowledge gap that needs to be filled. As water professional, I've come to terms that civilization can be threatened if adequate attention and robust solutions are not provided for emerging water problems and one way to do this is by knowledge gathering and sharing which is exactly what UNESCO-IHE provides to its graduate students.

Can you say something about studying in Delft/the Netherlands? (Cultural and social experiences)
The Netherlands is an amazing country with amiable people who are very keen to address whatever concerns you have and as well help speed up your integration into your new found home as a student. Communication is easy as almost everyone speaks the English language. Studying in Delft especially at UNESCO-IHE brings with it the opportunity to make friends cutting across continents and this is one of my priceless assets I must say.

What kind of professional background do you need to succeed in this program?
In principle you have to come from a civil engineering background with particular emphasis in either hydraulic engineering water resources engineering or irrigation engineering. But also it's important to have sound analytical skills and a knack for engineering judgment.

Why should new students/water professionals choose this program?
Prospective graduate students should consider choosing this program because it exposes you to state of the art knowledge and research in hydraulic engineering and the opportunity to draw from the experiences of the lecturers and fellow participants. A pragmatic approach to problem solving is instilled on the student on completion of this program which is essential for successful engineering practice.

Do you have any advice for new students?
It's an academic activity so focus should always be there at all time. You have to prep to study at a pace you may not have experienced before. If you're looking forward to a clement weather it's definitely not in Holland but you will glide through. Open up yourself, make new friends and explore the cultures the opportunity may not present its self again.

Learn more

More information about Hydraulic Engineering and River Basin Development.

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