Imran Amir Ali from the USA

Working as an IT Consultant in the US, I was ready to take the next step to advance my career by joining an MBA program.  However, fate had other plans for me.  My final project focused on optimizing and streamlining an energy utility in the rural areas of a developing country.  I quickly discovered the negative impact that the lack of reliable and affordable electricity had upon communities and their sustainability. This at times led to illegal harvesting of energy from the grid.  I was drawn to improving the situation for both communities and utilities, and decided to join the MSc. in Environment and Energy Management (MEEM) program at University of Twente.

My experience at MEEM was nothing but positive. With limited hands on experience in energy and environmental management, the program effectively provided the tools to grasp and internalize various relevant and cutting edge topics. The faculty was knowledgeable about the subject matter and carried relevant field experience – which made my learning all the more engaging. In addition to the experienced faculty, field excursions, group assignments and class discussions provided hands on learning and understanding. Furthermore, throughout the program, the MEEM staff was always helpful and made my stay in the Netherlands both comfortable and pleasant.

I recently completed my thesis and began my second career as a consultant at the World Bank working on utility reform.  Although I am not sure where my career will take me in the upcoming years, I look forward to my future and positively impacting communities and the environment.

Imran Amir Ali, Master of Environmental and Energy Management, 2009-2010 programme