Congratulations to the four ITM alumni awarded with the 2025 Prize for Global Research of the Province of Antwerp!
Each year, the Province of Antwerp presents the Prize for Global Research to stimulate research on global themes. Projects are evaluated based on their development relevance, quality, and originality. Four of the 16 alumni who have received the award are from ITM.
“Graduation projects on global themes can enrich and nuance public opinion on international solidarity. They portray the Global South in a realistic and human way, breaking down misconceptions and oversimplifications. By sharing students’ findings in academic, journalistic, or policy circles, these projects can help build greater support for high-quality, fair, and sustainable global policy,” concludes provincial representative Jinnih Beels, who presented the awards.
“In today’s uncertain global environment, this Prize is more than recognition—it is an investment in skilled, socially committed professionals who can address health challenges with evidence, equity, and resilience,” said Ann Peters, General Manager of ITM. “Today we celebrate not only four exceptional researchers, but also the transformative power of science for health worldwide.”
THE 2025 ITM WINNERS
• Ilhaam Ashraf (India) completed the MSc in Public Health. Thesis: “From Rhetoric to Reform: Operationalizing Intersectional Health Equity in Primary Care Policy. A Scoping Review & Conceptual Framework”
• Abdirahman Ahmed Suleiman (Somaliland) completed the MSc in Public Health. Thesis: “Wealth-based Inequality in Maternal Health Service Utilization Among Ever-Married Women of Reproductive Age in Somaliland. Secondary Analysis of the 2020 Demographic and Health Survey”
• Fernando Arnaiz Guerrero (Spain) completed the MSc in Tropical Medicine. Thesis: "Intravenous Phage Therapy for Difficult-to-treat Infections. An Individual Patient Data (IPD) Systematic Review”
• Wahid Fakhri Husein (Indonesia) completed the MSc in Global One Health. Thesis: “Evaluating the Dog Vaccination Programme and Integrated Bite Case Management to Eliminate Rabies in Bali, Indonesia”
Global Research Prize supports SDGs
Aligned with the Province of Antwerp’s policy to embed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all decisions, the Global Research Award highlights sustainability as a core value. It is a guiding principle in the provincial government’s administrative agreement, organisation, daily operations, and policy choices. The award directly supports SDG 4: Quality Education.
This edition honoured 16 students in total: four from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, three from the Institute of Development Policy (IOB-UAntwerp), one from the University of Antwerp, six from AP University College (jointly recognised for one graduation project), one from Karel de Grote Hogeschool – Sint Lucas Antwerpen, and one from Thomas More Hogeschool.
ALUMNI WEBINAR SERIES
Do you want to know more about the work of the winners?
Join our webinars:
- Ilhaam Ashraf: 25 September 2025, 14:00-15:00 (CET) - register here
- Fernando Arnaiz Guerrero: 9 October 2025, 15:00-16:00 (CET) - register here
- Wahid Fakhri Husein :23 October 2025, 14:00-15:00 (CET) ·
- Abdirahman Ahmed Suleiman: 13 November 2025, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Picture (From left to right): Bruno Broucker (Head of Education Office), Ann Peters (General Manager), Mina Todorovic (Education Coordinator, Department of Clinical Sciences), Patrick Soentjens (Medical Doctor, Head of Clinic), Maria Zolfo (Education Coordinator, Department of Clinical Sciences), Kirsten Accoe (Education Coordinator, Department of Public Health), Mieke Stevens (Education Coordinator, Department of Biomedical Sciences).