Alumni of the WTI's various programs are part of an ever-growing, global community of bright and dedicated minds. As a part of the WTI alumni community, you get access to upcoming events, current news, research results and job offers.
Alumni
A global community
WTI Alumni
Calling all World Trade Institute Alumni around the globe!
Are you a graduate of the MILE, TRAIL+, Doctoral School or CAS/DAS programmes? Did you attend the Summer or Winter Academy?
Sign up for our alumni newsletter
Sign up for the newsletter here
About our alumni
Many of our alumni have launched highly successful careers in a number of different sectors:
- International organizations including WTO, World Bank, UNCTAD, WIPO, UNEP, ITC, and regional development banks
- National ministries of trade, investment, finance and foreign affairs
- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs
- European Commission
- Private sector including PwC, JP Morgan, Audi Forum Ingolstadt, Syngenta, Novartis, Japan Tobacco International
- Leading law firms with a trade and investment practice, including the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL)
- Industry associations
- Non-governmental organizations
Core elements of the WTI alumni network:
- Alumni meetings in different parts of the world
- Mentoring program
- Information on job opportunities
Course discount for alumni
Are you a graduate of our MILE or TRAIL+ programmes? If so, you qualify for a 50% discount on the week-long courses offered in our Winter and Summer Academies.
Visit our Winter and Summer Academy page to learn more about upcoming courses, tuition fees and details on how to apply. In your application, please indicate that you are a MILE or TRAIL+ alumna/alumnus.
Mentoring program
The mentoring programme, begun in 2015, is one of the core elements of the WTI's alumni network and links MILE students with alumni on a thematic or regional basis.
The underlying idea is to support MILE students to establish themselves professionally with the help of our alumni network. In some cases the mentor also supervises the student’s master’s thesis or gives guidance during the MILE programme. The WTI connects students with alumni by matching mentors and mentees in a personalised manner.
You will find reports on the WTI mentoring scheme in the News archive.
For more information, contact alumni.wti@unibe.ch
Thomas Cottier Award for Best Thesis
The Thomas Cottier Award for Best Thesis
The 500-Swiss franc award is presented annually to one WTI student for the best thesis submitted. The award was set up to honour Prof. Emeritus Thomas Cottier's leadership and vision.
Winners:
Laura Verbeken (TRAIL+ 7): Read her Thesis here.
Gabriela Garcia Merchan (MILE 22): Read her Thesis here.
Faith Abel (TRAIL+ 5): Read his Thesis here.
Stella Nalwoga (MILE 21): Read her Thesis here.
Marianna Henud Cresci (MILE 20): Read her Thesis here.
Yuliia Kucheriava (MILE 19): Read her Thesis here.
Andrea De Angelis Effrem (MILE 18)
Jean-Philippe Herbert (MILE 17)
Nadezhda Sporysheva (MILE 16)
Jimena Sotelo (MILE15)
The WTI Alumni Association (WTIAA)
The WTI Alumni Association (WTIAA) promotes cooperation and networking opportunities for the WTI’s more than 600 alumni and students from across 100 countries. There are events and activities in which alumni discuss their research and publications; participate in events and initiatives such as workshops, webinars and social gatherings; and share guidance. The WTIAA encourages diversity, equality, and inclusion at all levels of the association. The association is determined to preserve the basic principles of international cooperation, equal opportunity and transparency.
The WTIAA consists of the Executive Committee (5 members: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasure, Outreach Officer), together with 2 pillars, (1) Regional Chapters (RC) and (2) Thematic Working Groups (TWG). Alumni who can participate in any of these RCs or TWGs. RCs will focus on trade in a specific geographic region while TWGs can focus on a theme, such Sustainable Trade and Investment or Trade and Labor.
The WTIAA was established in 2021. Its current Executive Committee, elected in September 2023, consists of the following members:
- President: Mr Harsh Hiroo Gursahani, MILE 11 - Read his interview
- Vice-President: Ms Wakako Oshima, MILE 7 - Read her interview
- Secretary: Ms Esha Sandhu, TRAIL 3
- Treasurer: Mr Murat Ayber, MILE 3
- Outreach Officer: Ms Gabriela Garcia Merchan, MILE 22
The following Regional Chapters are set up:
- Geneva Chapter: Joachim Monkelbaan, MILE 4 (Head)
- India Chapter: Harsh Hiroo Gursahani, MILE 11 and Esha Sandhu, TRAIL+3 (Head)
- Africa Chapter: Jacquiline Pimer, MILE 10 and Azwimpheleli Langalanga, MILE 12 (Head)
- Brussels Chapter: Stella Nalwoga, MILE 21 (Head)
- South America Chapter: Manolo Delgado, MILE 7 (Head)
- Asia Regional Committee: TBC
If you are interested to participate in the WTIAA’s activities and become a member, please contact alumni.wti@unibe.ch