UNU Maastricht Economic and Social Research and Training Centre

Interested in pursuing an #MSc at UNU? 🎓

Join @unumerit.bsky.social's online Q&A session for prospective students, where you can learn more about the one-year MSc in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP) programme.

Register now: buff.ly/jHS3xHq

#StudyAtUNU

#VACANCY: Operations & Finance Assistant (GS5)

Come work with us if you have strong organisational skills and international experience.

Support daily operations, finance, HR, procurement and travel management at UNU-MERIT.

🗓 Deadline: 28 Feb 2026
➡️ Apply: go.unu.edu/6BRB3

#UNjobs 🇺🇳

Dutch vote gave universities a reprieve. Will they use it? The outcome of the recent elections in the Netherlands offers universities breathing space from threatened cuts but reveals a challenge facing many un...

Centre’s narrow elections victory in #Netherlands offers universities a breather from cuts. What happens next hinges on populist framing of science as just another opinion, write Jo Ritzen @unumerit.bsky.social & Job Zomerplaag @maastrichtu.bsky.social
www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?sto...

🎓 MPP Experience Day — Your opportunity to learn more about the one-year MSc in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP) programme by @unumerit.bsky.social and @maastrichtu.bsky.social 📜

📅 Wed., 12 Nov. 2025
📍 Maastricht & online
🔗 Register now: go.unu.edu/7vtwH

#StudyAtUNU

From brain drain to brain bridges: How mobile PhD scientists connect home countries to global science Internationally trained PhDs are often seen as a ‘brain drain’, but evidence from Colombia suggests that they act as crucial bridges – connecting local researchers to the global scientific community.

🆕 From brain drain to brain bridges: How mobile PhD scientists connect home countries to global science

Today on VoxDev w/ Rodrigo Ito @unumerit.bsky.social, Diego Chavarro, Tommaso Ciarli, Robin Cowan (University of Strasbourg) & Fabiana Visentin (Masstricht University): voxdev.org/topic/migrat...

We are proud to announce Prof Dr Fiona Tregenna has been appointed as our next Director! A renowned economist and policy advisor, Professor Tregenna brings nearly three decades of experience in economic research, capacity development, and public policy.

Learn more: go.unu.edu/GLChK

YouTube video by Melissa Siegel What is Sustainable Return Migration?

📣 How can people who return to their country after migrating reintegrate successfully? In my latest video, I explain the concept of sustainable #return for #migrants into their home countries.
@umsbe.bsky.social @unumerit.bsky.social @umsbe.bsky.social
Check out!
🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jjp...

🌍The 2024/2025 Human Development Report highlights the importance of people-centred approaches to harness AI for equitable human development.

In this podcast, Pedro Conceição (UNDP) and Diego Salama (UNU-MERIT) reflect on AI, inequality and the future of development.

🎙️Listen here: go.unu.edu/ktpEV

🎓 UNU-MERIT launches the Michael Cichon Graduate Award—honouring a global leader in social protection and celebrating outstanding master’s theses (2021–2024) with bold, evidence-based solutions.

In this article, Zina Nimeh reflects on his legacy and the vision behind the award.

🔗 go.unu.edu/ecEp4

The UN Interagency Task Team on Science, Tech & Innovation for SDGs (with UNU-MERIT as partner) is hosting 3 online training sessions on STI policy for SDGs, for stakeholders from Africa and internationally.

🗓️ May 19, 21, and 26, 2025
🌐 Online
➡️ Register now: go.unu.edu/iQxiL

This training was co-funded by the European Union and contracted by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) through the Migration Partnership Facility.

As part of our Migration Management Training, we welcomed senior Gambian officials in February for a two-week programme on return, reintegration, and policy coordination.

In this blog, we reflect on the key takeaways—and how they can strengthen migration governance in practice.

📘 go.unu.edu/Gxepr

📰 The April 2025 edition of #UNUINSIGHTS features the 2025 #InterconnectedRisks Report, a call for urgent policy action to restore global trust & social cohesion, the #DresdenNexusConference and more.

Read our latest works and explore UNU academic and career opportunities: buff.ly/dc6KUqs

#UNUat50

What can universities learn from the pandemic to better support PhD students?

A new blog by Oksana Celbis, Mindel van de Laar, Vassiliki Papatsiba & Luke Windsor explores what helped—and how universities can offer better support going forward.

🔗 go.unu.edu/rWMYi

Very grateful to be in beautiful Maastricht🇳🇱 today to present some work at @unumerit.bsky.social. Thanks for having me!

If you’re interested in attending in-person or online: go.unu.edu/9zq7Q

🚨 Were COVID-19 vaccination rates in Africa underestimated?

In a new article on @voxdev.bsky.social, PhD fellow Yannick Markhof finds that survey estimates of vaccine coverage in sub-Saharan Africa are 47% higher than official data, suggesting faster progress than reported.

🔗 go.unu.edu/M48XW

🌍 New Policy Brief: "The Nexus Between Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Mental Health"

This brief highlights the mental health challenges of climate-displaced populations and calls for urgent action on support, empowerment, and tech-driven policy change.

Read here: go.unu.edu/gQrX8

#UNUat50

DEADLINE APPROACHING: #MSc in #PublicPolicy & #HumanDevelopment Programme ⏰

Apply by 1 May (non-EU/EEA applicants) or 1 June (EU applicants) for the September 2025 intake of @unumerit.bsky.social & @maastrichtu.bsky.social's MPP programme.

Learn more and apply now: buff.ly/Md3EhTy

#StudyAtUNU

What motivates someone to return — and how do past journeys and future hopes shape that decision?

In a new blog, Dr Talitha Dubow reflects on return migration as part of the broader migration lifecycle, following her presentation at DTenV's “Science Day” in Utrecht.

📄 go.unu.edu/bXPak

#UNUat50

🚨 4 days to go! Apply now for the Postdoctoral Researcher position in AI Innovation Trajectories at UNU-MERIT. Use NLP tools to map AI innovation and its societal impact, focusing on sectors like agriculture.

🗓️ Deadline: 13 April 2025
🔗 go.unu.edu/m93fc

How do we measure the success of Lifelong Learning in Higher Education?

Join Cristina Mancigotti on 15 April as she discusses the evaluation and impact of Lifelong Learning at Maastricht University, focusing on challenges and innovative assessment methods.

📍 UNU-MERIT & online
🔗 go.unu.edu/VilWI

🌍 Can behavioural science help us cope with the mental health impacts of climate change?

On 11 April, our researcher Dr Sanae Okamoto will speak at UN Behavioural Science Week 2025 on shaping people-centred responses through behavioural science.

📍 Online | 🕒 15:00–16:00 CEST
🔗 go.unu.edu/D1c3V

UNU-MERIT is hiring a Postdoc in AI Innovation Trajectories.

Work within a multidisciplinary team to map and analyse AI innovation pathways using NLP—focusing on their societal impact, especially in sectors like agriculture.

🗓️ Apply by 13 April 2025
🔗 go.unu.edu/m93fc

Cash in Humanitarian Emergencies [Social Protection Webinar with WFP] The Social Protection Master’s specialisation will be hosting the Cash in Humanitarian Emergencies webinar, where presenters from WFP's Delivery Field Support team will share their experiences and ins...

💡 Can cash transfers strengthen social protection in crises?

Join our expert-led interactive webinar with the World Food Programme’s Delivery Field Support team as they share field experiences.

📅 24 March 2025 | ⏰ 11:00–13:00 CET
📍 Fenikshof 1 Auditorium (In-person only)
🔗 go.unu.edu/FeqPp

🎉 UNU-MERIT Research Week is underway!

This week, our academic community gathers to exchange ideas and advance research. Join Prof. Alexander Cappelen (NHH) for a keynote on global inequality & fairness views across 60 countries.

📅 19 March, 14:00 CET | 📍 UNU-MERIT & Online
🔗 go.unu.edu/0XsdB

💡This #InternationalWomensDay, we highlight the need for stronger care policies and shifting gender norms to advance #GenderEquality.

Matilde João Mota and Zina Nimeh share insights on the challenges ahead and the policies needed for real progress.

#UNUat50 #UNU4SDG5 #IWD2025 #ForAllWomenAndGirls

#VACANCY: Operations and Finance Assistant (GS-5)

Become part of UNU-MERIT! We seek a detail-oriented professional to support finance, admin, HR, and procurement in an international academic environment.

📅 Apply by: 23 March 2025
🔗 go.unu.edu/X1gLq

#UNJobs #UNCareers

📢 Final Call: Apply Now!

Join us in Maastricht, 2–6 June 2025, for the ITU Summer School on Digital Policy.

Co-organised with support from the EU’s #GlobalGateway, this course builds skills to design and assess ICT policies for universal connectivity.

📅 Apply by 2 March: go.unu.edu/yDNOk

@bmartorano.bsky.social , @apvjustino.bsky.social , @maastrichtu.bsky.social , @ununiversity.bsky.social