In 2007, UNESCO-IHE celebrated its 50th anniversary; 50 years contributing to the delivery of qualified professionals to deal with the increasing water challenges.
Since 1957, UNESCO-IHE has delivered 13,400 mid-level professionals from 162 countries who do their utmost to improve the water resources in their countries.
UNESCO-IHE celebrated its anniversary organising a series of events involving partners, alumni, participants, networks, donors, Delft’s citizens and other friends.
The main outcome was be a 'road map' for stakeholder organisations, including academic and research institutions, water sector operators, governments and non-governmental organizations, civil society and donors to improve and strengthen the capacity of individuals and organisations where it matters most, at the local level.
The year 1957 saw the birth of IHE Delft and its first steps on the long road towards what it is today: one of the largest postgraduate water education facilities in the world and the only institution in the UN system authorised to confer accredited MSc and PhD degrees.
Going back in time, the Netherlands became famous in the field of hydraulic engineering after the devastating North Sea flood of 1953. This flood broke dikes and seawalls in the Netherlands, killing almost 2000, destroying 4,500 buildings.
To prevent such a tragedy from happening again, an ambitious flood defence system was conceived and deployed, called the Delta Works.
Watch the Video "History of IHE" (19:32 min./WMV)
In 1955 this led to several developing countries inquiring about the possibility of having their engineers trained in the Netherlands in the field of hydraulic engineering.
In 1957 the first 'International Course in Hydraulic Engineering' was set up and followed by forty-five participants from twenty-one different countries.
This course had three branches: 'Tidal and coastal engineering', 'Reclamation' and 'Rivers and navigation works'.
In 1960, upon request of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in a mutual effort of Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Cooperation (Nuffic), IHE's curriculum was extended with the 'European Course in Sanitary Engineering'.
From 1966 onwards, due to increasing applications for the Sanitary Engineering Course, a parallel course has been organized, this parallel course is dealing with drinking water supply, sanitation and public health administration in agricultural and rural areas.
In 1976 the name International Institute for Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE) was introduced. Several years later, after a steady growth of courses and research themes, the word Infrastructural was added to the full name, not changing the abbreviation IHE however.
In 1977 IHE celebrated its 20th anniversary; in these 20 years about 2,500 engineers from 97 countries have attended the courses.
From 1985 to 1998, under the leadership of rector Wil Segeren, the IHE yearly student numbers grew from 200 to 450 and staff grew from 35 to 130.
IHE became a major player in water sector capacity building, be it by educating and training individuals, research activities or strengthening institutions in developing countries.
From 1990 to 1992 the building at Westvest 7, now the heart of UNESCO-IHE, was build, extending the historical Oude Delft 95 complex and so physically representing IHE's growth.
In 1995 IHE is recognised as an Institute for Technology by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. IHE became an independent institute after having been part of Nuffic for 39 years. As from January 1, 1996, all staff is employed by the IHE foundation.
The process to establish the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education was concluded by a decision of the 31st General Conference of UNESCO in November 2001.
In 2003, the newly-created UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (UNESCO-IHE) came officially into operation.
Today, UNESCO-IHE has trained more than 13,000 engineers and scientists from 162 countries, almost all developing countries and countries in transition.
It has also graduated more than 50 PhD candidates and executed numerous research and capacity building projects throughout the world. Since it became part of UNESCO, the Institute has become the only institution in the UN system authorised to confer accredited MSc degrees.
More than 40 institutions around the world are to be counted among its partners; many more among its friends.