MADM: First Digital Alumni Conference

Anne Siebert reports on the first digital Alumni Conference: "Implementing the SDGs – Practical Challenges, Creative Solutions, and Best Practices for Knowledge Transfer and Policy Learning"

From 12-14 November 2021, the first digital alumni conference hosted by the MA programme in International and Development Economics (MIDE) at HTW Berlin took place. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the digital format was definitely the best option, allowing for many alumni, researchers, students, and further participants from different places around the world to join and connect easily.

Yearly rotating alumni conferences are part of a collaboration between the MA programme in Development Management at the IEE and MIDE, as well as the Small Enterprise Promotion and Training Programme (SEPT; Leipzig University), the MA programme in Development and Governance (Institute of Political Science (IfP); University of Duisburg-Essen), and the MA programme in International Relations and Development Policy (Institute for Development and Peace (INEF); University of Duisburg-Essen).

This year’s conference focus was on the SDGs and related core topics in development cooperation. Through panel discussions, case studies, and workshops, obstacles and challenges of implementing the SDGs in the practical world were addressed. At the same, the conference asked how  successful realizations of SDGs can be achieved and therefore focused on processes of knowledge sharing and creative solutions.

In addition to diverse practical sessions, the IEE was greatly represented in different panel discussions. Our executive director, Dr. Gabriele Bäcker, chaired the panel discussion on Pro-Poor Growth Policies and Pro-Poor Entrepreneurship/Economic Dynamics, Technology, and Infrastructure on the first day. Furthermore, participants from different study programmes were a welcome sight. For instance, IEE alumna Joy Muthanje Mwaniki from Kenya, who graduated in 2019, joined the discussion as a panellist, sharing about her experiences in start-up enterprises in Rwanda. On Day 2, our alumnus Dr. Davison Muchadenyika from Zimbabwe, who graduated in 2013, joined Panel 2 on “People, Communities and Public Utilities/Rethinking Economic Development: Circular Economy”. He added rich insights from his current research and work with the World Bank Group.

Next year’s Alumni Conference of the network will be organised by SEPT. We are looking forward to the conference and hope that it will be possible to meet many of our alumni face to face in Leipzig.

Dr. Anne Siebert
MADM Coordinator