Jo (Jozef M.M.) Ritzen, honorary professor  Maastricht University

A Dutch national, physics engineer and an economist (PhD, cum laude). Taught in different universities in the US and in the Netherlands.

He was Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of The Netherlands from 1989 to 1998, one of the longest-serving Ministers of Education in the world. Subsequently he served as Vice President of the World Bank's Human Development Network and as President of Maastricht University.

He has written or co-authored fourteen books and many articles (often co-authored) in the fields of education, economics, public finance and development economics. He is dedicated to demonstrate with fact the tremendous contribution teachers make to future progress and happiness.