IHS is the International Institute of Urban Management of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) in the Netherlands. IHS was founded in 1958 and today it operates on a global scale by offering post-graduate education, training, advisory services and applied research.

Cities need urban professionals who can understand, face and manage new developments to create urban futures that improve the quality of life in cities. IHS trains and advises these professionals on a global scale through its integrated approach in education, advisory services and research that offers practise and theory on urban management and development.

What IHS Does
Education
The IHS course programmes range from short post-graduate diploma courses to Master Degree programmes and a PhD programme in the urban management and development theme area. Within the post-graduate and master degree programmes, participants can choose either to enrol in a complete course, leading to a diploma or a degree, or in some cases to participate in one or more modules of the programme.

Over 7,500 participants have attended IHS courses. IHS proud about the IHS Alumni International Network which includes ministers, mayors, successful businessmen, university lecturers and renowned NGO activists. 

Research
As one of the key competencies of HIS, international orientation enables IHS Staff to conduct comparative research across different countries and regions. The overall objective of the IHS research and PhD programme is to generate knowledge in urban development and management in developing countries and countries in transition.

The educational program at IHS is embedded in academic research. The majority of IHS academic staff hold doctor’s titles and some are currently pursuing a PhD. Important research inputs in the specialisations of the Master programme in Urban Management and Development are provided by the Erasmus University partners and, for the Housing specialisation, by Lund University, Sweden and the Lincoln Institute, USA. Lecturers include professors, academic researchers and PhD candidates. 

Advisory services
IHS works on a global scale providing advisory services to local and national governments, non-governmental and civil society organizations, as well as academic and training institutions. IHS has worked on contract for the World Bank, UN-HABITAT, UNDP, the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, SIDA, the EU, GTZ, and Cordaid. The institute also works on contract for local and national government clients. Services provided include, for instance, policy level support, on the job training for government professionals, aid in the development of citywide strategic and participatory processes, and large institutional development and national training projects.

IHS works closely in country with its broad network of alumni and partners and believes that they are the most important assets. Working this way ensures more relevance, sensitivity to local conditions and tie into local knowledge. This knowledge is important for providing services that respond to demand.