Jozef Ritzen is former President of Maastricht University, where he advanced the international position of the university (attracting now 50% of its students from abroad) and the education quality (through problem based learning). Recently, he has focused on organizing the Vibrant Europe Forum around new initiatives to strengthen EU cooperation.
He serves as chair and founder of Empower European Universities, honorary professor at Maastricht University and member of the international advisory boards of six universities across the world. Prior to leading Maastricht University, Ritzen held a number of positions at the World Bank including vice president of the World Bank’s Development Economics Department, and vice president of the Bank’s Human Development Network, which advises the institution and its client countries on innovative approaches to improving health, education and social protection. Ritzen joined the Bank in 1998 as special adviser to the Human Development Network.
