The IHS is an independent international institute offering post-graduate education, research and advisory services in the fields of housing, urban management and urban environmental management with the overall objective of improving urban quality and reducing urban poverty. Since its establishment in 1958, the institute has worked in the training of urban professionals from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe. Each year, more than 150 professionals from all over the world take part in one of their diploma courses or master degree programmes. Besides developing and conducting training and education programmes in the Netherlands, IHS is engaged in various advisory and technical assistance projects abroad, for clients like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the UN and the EU.