Meet our PolCom students
At JMG's Master's Programme in Political Communication (PolCom) students get to develop their knowledge and skills in the field. Meet some of our international students who are happy share why they choose JMG and their experiences as PolCom students.
Watch the movie about JMG's PolCom-programme
Eetu Juvonen, Finland
Background
Eetu Juvonen comes from Finland, where he previously studied English linguistics, but also took courses in communication and statistics. He has also worked as, among other things, a theatre producer and chef. After trying various professions, he felt that he wanted to work in media but wasn’t entirely sure in what capacity.
After completing his bachelor's degree in English, he realized that he wanted to specialize in communication, specifically political communication. When asked why he chose to study at the University of Gothenburg and JMG, he explained that Sweden seemed like an interesting country and he would also have the opportunity to practice Swedish, which is Finland's second language. Another reason for choosing JMG was the faculty. Eetu had heard about some of the professors before moving to Gothenburg. In his bachelor's thesis, for example, he referenced JMG’s professor Mats Ekström in the context of discourse analysis and journalism.
Studies at JMG
Eetu describes the program at JMG as both challenging and independent. He says:
“There is an expectation for students to be independent. With a lot of self-study time and extensive reading, you need to find a method to organize your time and studies.”
Eetu believes that the best part of the master’s program is all the courses. A typical day at JMG involves lectures and discussions with other students, followed by heading straight to the library to read and write. In his free time, which Eetu admits he doesn’t have much of, he dedicates himself to student organizations. He is currently the President of The Society of International Affairs in Gothenburg.
Eetu’s advice to future master’s students is to learn how to organize their days. He says:
“Although political communication is a niche within media and communication, it is an extremely broad subject. To make the studies easier, it’s important to analyze your reading and try to find a common thread between the different subjects, while also not focusing too much on just one thing.”
Future
Eetu is interested in Nordic politics and political campaigns and would like to pursue a Ph.D., as his dream job is in academia. He also mentions that he would like to pursue his doctorate in Sweden, as he has great confidence in Swedish universities and believes Gothenburg has good connections with other universities in Sweden.
Eetu adds that, given the tough competition in academia, he would also consider working as a consultant. Political communication is a field where you don’t necessarily need to work directly in politics—you can do many other things, much like in journalism.
Text: Elin Andersson & Annie Rolén
Godfred Yaw Osei, Ghana
Godfred Yaw Osei had experience in political communication in Ghana before deciding to pursue his master’s degree at JMG. He recommends future students to have an open mindset and prepare for cultural differences.
Background
Godfred previously studied communication at Central University in Accra. After graduating in 2017, he started working as a communication strategist and assistant for a politician in Ghana’s parliament, where he handled all communication. When Godfred decided to continue his studies, he looked for something related to his previous experiences.
“I chose JMG because I had heard it was a good school. There are many opportunities here for someone like me who is interested in political communication,” says Godfred.
Studies at JMG
Studying at JMG has been both challenging and exciting. There is a lot to do, and you get to experience many different perspectives. According to Godfred, the days at JMG are varied and can for example consist of lectures, seminars, and independent study. They often have fika (for example coffee) together after lectures. The education in Sweden is very different compared to Ghana, there is much more reading and independent work.
“As the only African in the class, it was a culture shock to come to the Nordics and a Swedish university. It was difficult at first, but we have a good community in the class, which helped a lot.”
One of the most memorable courses for Godfred has been “Democratic Processes, Citizens, Politics, and Media,” which related a lot to his previous work. The course “Political Communication in a Digital Age” was also particularly interesting.
Future
If the opportunity arises, Godfred would like to in staying in Sweden to pursue a PhD. However, he is also interested in working as a communications director for a company. He says that:
“No matter what you do, you need to be able to communicate your idea; it would be exciting to develop that in a company.”
He is also interested in communication within the agricultural sector and wants to write his master’s thesis on food security.
Like many others in his generation in Ghana, Godfred is the first in his family to study at a higher level. International studies, therefore, feel significant. Coming to Sweden has been a big adjustment, but he has adapted and now appreciates both the studies and life here.
Text: Elin Andersson & Annie Rolén
