“The internship allows me to use the theoretical knowledge”

Hello, Lena. What are you up to right now?

"In September 2023 I began an internship at the Luxembourgish Permanent Representation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) located in Vienna. OSCE unites 57 participating states from Europe, Central Asia, and North America. As in most international organisations, each participating state is represented by a delegation made up of the ambassador plus several diplomats and attachés."

"I work with the above mentioned people to ensure Luxembourg is represented at all relevant OSCE meetings. Besides attending the meetings, my main duty is assisting in the writing of reports that will be sent to Luxembourg to inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of all important developments in European security."

"The internship allows me to use the theoretical knowledge acquired during my Master’s and deepen it with practical experience. I encourage all students to keep this opportunity in mind, as it allows you to get international organisation experience while working for your national government."

Why did you choose the Master’s Programme in European Studies?

"My bachelor’s in Arts and Culture was rooted in Eurocentric Cultural Studies, which made me interested in questions related to European identity. European Studies seemed to tackle these questions while adding a more socio-political layer to it. The Master’s Programme in European Studies at the University of Gothenburg was particularly interesting as it offered different tracks and the possibility of doing an exchange semester or an internship."

Are you satisfied with the programme, and do you see any benefits from studying the Humanities Track?

"Yes, I truly enjoyed studying the programme. Having a background in Cultural Studies I applied to the Humanities Track, as it felt like this was a nice bridge between what I have previously studied and what is about to come. I heard from people who were scared the Humanities Track would not be ‘scientific’ enough, this was however not the case. Due to the small group size, we enjoyed fruitful discussions in class and the professors took the time to guide us on individual research papers. The Humanities Track granted us the academic and research skills needed to write a Master's thesis while providing a broader perspective on European Studies."

You were awarded the Rutger Lindahl Award for your thesis. Could you please tell us about it?

"Yes, I still feel honoured to have been awarded the Rutger Lindahl Award for the Best Master Thesis in European Studies. My thesis is called Arctic Exceptionalism under scrutiny- A qualitative content analysis of the increasing securitisation in the European Arctic. The months-long thesis writing process was tough, but getting the award highlighted that it was all worth it. Getting my thesis published as a CERGU* working paper is a great opportunity for me to get more insights into the world of academia." 

*CERGU, Centre for European Research at the University of Gothenburg.

What made you interested in that topic?

"Coming up with a thesis topic is of course a work that needs constant redrafting. For me, the course Europe in the World – focusing on security, trade, and migration brought me closer to the EU’s foreign policy instruments. I wrote about the EU’s Arctic Policy in the final research paper. Getting more familiar with the literature on Arctic policy, I quickly realised that there are various research gaps in this field. Identifying research gaps is always a good start for a potential Master's thesis topic."

Lastly, what are your plans for the future?

"I am probably taking this first year after graduation to get some practical experience by doing internships. So, after completing my current internship, I will hopefully do another internship related to the field of foreign policy, international organisation, or EU institutions. Although I value the foundational knowledge acquired through the Master’s Programme in European Studies, I recognise that practical experience is essential to establish a foothold in the highly competitive job market. I can certainly keep you updated on my future endeavours."