In October 2010, the last activity of Maastricht Debates took place. Now, one year later, Maastricht Debates starts a second live as joint platform of the three major knowlegde institutes in Maastricht with a strong globalisation and development profile: Maastricht School of Management (MSM), Maastricht University, and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM).

Maastricht Debates started late 2006 as a platform for debate and networking on issues of international cooperation, European relations and globalisation. It is a platform that stands for the quality and diversity of Maastricht’s knowledge network in this area. Over a period of 4 years, 28 events have been organized in which on average more than 100 people participated. Numerous guests have shared their ideas with students and professionals in Maastricht. To mention are:

 ·         Avi Primor, former Israel Ambassador in Germany and Saman Khoury of the Peace and Democracy Forum East Jerusalem on the Israel – Palestine conflict

·         Jan Pronk, former special UN representative for Sudan, on Dafur

·         Manny Jimenez, lead author of the World Development Report 2007, on Youth and Education

·         Hans Labohm, a Climate Change sceptic

·         Rudy Rabbinge, Professor Sustainable Development & Food security, on the dilemma between food and fuel

·         Yang Guang from Beijing University on the importance of China in international trade

·         Renzo Martens, director of the art-documentary ‘Enjoy poverty’

·         Former Minister Bert Koenders, on economic development and the World Bank

·         Barry Faure, Seychelles Ambassador to the European Union on the unequal fight between traditional fishermen and European and Russian trailers

·         Lusia Diogo, former Prime Minister of Mozambique, on the role of women in economy

·         Arend Jan Boekestijn on the role of new actors in the global economy

·         Felix Madrazo, architect, and several other experts on cities in developing countries.

Maastricht Debates was set-up to create more synergy among international and European knowledge institutes, to contribute to profiling Maastricht as international knowledge city, and to offer activities to the international community (students and expatriates). Students have always been co-organizers and the network approach resulted in 15 organizations that cooperated to make Maastricht Debates a success. To mention in particular: Faculty of Culture and Arts & Mundo of Maastricht University, European Centre for Development Policy Management, Society for International Development, Lumière Cinema, and Europe-open Consultancy.