IHE Delft reflects on 25 years of NWP membership

IHE Delft has been an NWP member since the latter’s inception. “NWP actually started on the IHE premises!” Moors recalled fondly. “It had an office on the top floor, where it launched the Partners for Water Programme. IHE Delft joined as soon as it began accepting members – we may have even been the first!”

Connecting alumni and industry

Over the years, NWP’s collaboration has been instrumental in shaping IHE Delft’s work, especially in connecting with industry stakeholders. “A few years ago, NWP helped us organise meetings with Dutch companies working in water internationally,” Moors explained. “This gave us invaluable insights into the skills companies expect from our students before they return home as alumni, whether as business partners or potential employees.”

This partnership extended to IHE Delft’s alumni network, which found a vital link through NWP with the Young Expert Professional (YEP) programme. “That connection allowed us to meet and expand networks inside the Netherlands and worldwide. It makes it easier to forge new partnerships, especially when our alumni are leading projects or attending international conferences,” Moors noted.

NWP unites Dutch water expertise

The opportunities created by NWP membership have been vast, particularly in enhancing the ‘Dutch’ connection. “IHE Delft’s strength is our international network, but NWP has always played a key role in bringing together Dutch water sector companies,” Moors explained. He recalled a specific example. “Margreet Zwarteveen, our Professor of Water Governance, recently joined an NWP delegation that addressed the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Aid. It was a powerful reminder of the Dutch water ecosystem’s critical role in global water management.” Read more about the meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Aid.

The future will demand even closer collaboration between sectors

As for NWP’s role in tackling future water challenges, particularly with climate change in mind, Moors highlighted its strength in connecting organisations. “NWP should keep doing what it does best – proactively connecting people in the Netherlands. The future will demand even closer collaboration between sectors, especially as the transition to non-fossil fuels impacts water resources here and abroad. Climate adaptation and mitigation will require all hands on deck, and NWP is well-positioned to lead those efforts.”