Public AffairsCareer prospectives
Graduates of this programme may develop their careers in public organisations with European or transnational missions. They may also work as managers and staff analysts in non-profit organisations, in public affairs divisions of private corporations, in private firms performing 'privatised' government functions, in consulting firms etcetera.
The following statement by former EPA students may give a concrete idea of the different career prospects after the accomplishment of the EPA master.
STATEMENTS BY FORMER STUDENTS
-
Tsveti Nacheva, EPA student 1999-2000, Bulgaria
Today's public sector environment is framed within the phrase, "do more with less". The general public has higher expectations with respect to service delivery and demands greater accountability. The EPA program has given me the skills to work within this environment. The practical knowledge of the intricate workings of the EU institution and the analytical skills developed through team work on real-life cases can be taken from the classroom and immediately applied to today's dynamic public sector environment.
As an alumna of the inaugural EPA class, my choice of Universiteit Maastricht/EIPA has been substantiated by new career opportunities after I graduated. Before enrolling in the EPA program I worked as a TV journalist in Bulgaria, upon graduation I was offered a traineeship at the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party in the European Parliament and subsequently - a coordinator position at the Center for European Studies, UM. Now I manage challenging international projects with partner universities in Mexico and the USA and I also work in Poland, Turkmenistan, Brazil. Brussels and the EU remain the focus of my activities but my professional horizon has expanded to include the vibrant world of international relations.
-
Inna Platonova, EPA student 2001-2002, Ukraine
Now, looking at EPA from a distance, I affirm it was the most precious time. Peers-friends from more than 10 countries around the world, interdisciplinary and practice-oriented curriculum, various skills trainings, marvelous city in the heart of Europe - have you ever thought of better setting ?! Well, I was the lucky one who enjoyed it for a year and benefited for my whole life.
After graduation I worked for almost a year at the Energy Charter Secretariat, an international energy organization based in Brussels. Next, I went for a 6 month assignment as a project coordinator at the EnerGreen Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organization promoting renewable energy for social and environmental benefit. Currently I am applying for a PhD in Environmental Design at the University of Calgary. My interests include renewable energy technologies, community development and environment.
-
Elva Ahern, EPA Student 2002-2003, Ireland
Unlike many of my classmates, I came to the EPA masters in 2002 as a relative newcomer to European public affairs, with an academic background in Classics. Although this created some challenges I found the course to be both interesting and comprehensive enough to give me a good grounding in European Affairs. As I wanted to keep up my interest in the arts, I was given helpful advice from the course co-ordinator Dr Sophie Vanhoonacker about choosing a stage which combined the two areas. This took the form of a stage with a European opera organisation in Brussels.
I was fortunate enough to immediately go on to work with a European Public Affairs consultants in Brussels for 6 months. This proved an excellent opportunity to learn more about the legislative procedures, to have work published and to attend Parliament regularly. At present I am working for the European Commission Representation in Ireland as an information officer and find the work to be extremely varied and rewarding. My duties include helping members of the public and press with queries regarding the EU, working in the documentation centre and giving presentations to interest groups on topical issues.
The Masters programme in Maastricht opened many new doors for me and I found it to be a rewarding and highly enjoyable experience. It not only provided me with a new perspective on EU affairs but gave me the unique experience of spending a highly enjoyable year with a wonderfully diverse group of people.
-
Anders Ystad, EPA student 2002-2003, Norway
After three to four years' experience as a journalist in a national newspaper in Norway, I came to Maastricht only with a vague idea of what European public affairs were all about. Coming from a country that has chosen to stand outside the EU - not once, but twice - my knowledge about European integration was rather limited. However, through the six modules at the University of Maastricht and EIPA, the notion of European integration managed to reach even my - geographically speaking - peripheral mind.
At the end of the EPA course I was offered an internship at EIPA, where I worked for Tore Malterud who is directly involved in the Master's programme. Together with a Norwegian co-student (Kristian Sarastuen), I was, surprisingly enough, asked to prepare a draft to an EIPA-sponsored handbook about the EU, aimed at bureaucrats in the new MS. During the writing process, an idea came to our mind: What about writing a short and comprehensive book about the EU in Norwegian as well? Using our contact network we gained as journalists in Oslo, we managed to track down a publisher who at that particular time was searching for somebody who could write an introduction book about the European Union. We signed the necessary contracts, and on May 1 2004, the same day as the enlargement, the book will be let out for sale in Norway.
In October last year I got a phone call from Statoil, Norway's main oil and gas producing company. They were going to re-open a Brussels office and needed people with journalistic experience and knowledge about the EU to monitor and explain EU policy on areas that can or may have impact on Statoil's operations. I got the job and now I live and work in Brussels. My specific fields are the EU's energy policy and its relationship to countries in which Statoil has major interests.
I believe that the EPA master combined with job experience made me a relevant candidate in last year's exhausted job market, and I can assure everyone that both the University of Maastricht and EIPA enjoy a solid reputation among both private and public actors throughout Europe.
-
Hanneke Schmeets, EPA 2000-2001, The Netherlands
I remember my EPA-period as one of the most intense and best years of my life.
As a graduate of Arts and Science in Maastricht I knew a lot about the diverse political cultures in Europe, but not so much about the institutions of the EU and EU law. I must say, at the end of the year, I could consider myself an expert. But that was not easy. It was very hard work: giving presentations, writing reports, oral exams and all that in the challenging environment of tight deadlines, different cultures with different approaches to problems and different personalities. Working on real-life cases was challenging but also a lot of fun! I particularly enjoyed the stage with my French group mate for the Belgian municipality Voeren, investigating the possibilities for cross-border cooperation with neighbouring Dutch and Belgian municipalities in the area. In the stage we could apply the skills we had learnt throughout that year: negotiating, using different languages, writing a report and presenting it for the municipal board.
Except for the hard work I would like to emphasise that I have made friends for life. Now three years later we are still in contact and we try to visit each other when we can. This year we have a first reunion in Maastricht, which I am sure will be great!
After graduation I shortly worked for a consultancy bureau for European regional subsidies. After that I accepted a job at an international unit of the Ministry of the Interior in The Hague, where I now help prepare the EU presidency of the Netherlands.
-
Anar Jahangirli, EPA student 2000-2001; Azerbaijan.
While doing my BA studies in the Baku State University in International Relations and International Law, I was captured by the idea of specializing on the EU affairs.
When I first time heard about the European Public Affairs program while being on a study tour in Maastricht among the group of students, I immediately decided to apply. After studying the curricula and getting myself acquainted with the problem-based student-oriented teaching methods of the University of Maastricht, I grasped it as an opportunity to expand my studies and deepen my knowledge on European Studies and learn about the Public Affairs at the same time. Involvement of the Europan Institute of Public Administration in the studies made the program even more attractive.
During one year with my collegues from different countries of Europe, we embarked upon a process which led us to the direction we wanted. Apart from learning things by doing, we were instructed by tutors to employ those necessary tools to get to know each other and used to work in teams. In the beginning it was a rather difficult task given mainly the multicultural composition of our group. Moreover, we were given a chance to learn about the European Union in its absolute meaning. Proximity to Brussels and Strasbourg helped us to familirize ourselves with the European institutions practically.
After receiving my MA diploma I returned back to Baku where after a few days I got employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan to deal with the Azerbaijan-EU bilateral political relations. Knowledge gained during my studies in Maastricht helped me a great deal to carry out the tasks and accelerate the overall interaction with the EU.
Now, since October 2003, I am posted to work in the Mission of Azerbaijan to the EU, in Brussels.
I can say that the EPA was an indespensable experience of life to study, meet people and make firends, and enjoy the student life at the heart of Europe. One cannot think of more. It is a perfect choice for a future public affairs practioner.
-
Karolina Pomorska, EPA student 2002 - 2003, Poland
I came to study at EPA programme straight after finishing my Masters degree in politics. Having had some experience in an international youth NGO, I knew the benefits of working in a multicultural environment. Studying in Maastricht soon proved to be an excellent choice! I was fascinated by my classmates, coming not only from different countries, but also a variety of backgrounds with valuable experiences. At first I was wondering if such a group could ever work together, without entering into major conflicts. However, we ended up not only enjoying teamwork, but also developed a very special sprit of friendship.
The programme delivered by the University of Maastricht and EIPA turned out to be a well-balanced mixture of theory and practise. I especially enjoyed the negotiation simulations, led by experienced practitioners. The results we could appreciate when, together with my colleagues, we represented the programme at Cambridge University (UK) during the Cambridge Model European Council.
The last six weeks of the program I spent doing an internship at EIPA. I had a chance to work for Dr Simon Duke, doing research in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU. I truly enjoyed this time and decided to continue the research. I was granted a full studentship at Loughborough University (UK), Department of Politics.
-
Captain Bruce W. Terry, EPA Student 2001 - 2002, United States of America
As a Captain in the US Army, I have found myself interacting with many diverse people. From living in a German village, to negotiating construction contracts in Kosovo, to making friends from across the European Union at the University of Maastricht, I have found the European multicultural experience to be personally rewarding and professionally relevant. On the personal level, I have encountered ideas and perspectives on life that both coincide, and occasionally contradict, the assumptions that colored my world view as an American. Professionally, the diversity of the European experience has reinforced my view that people of different beliefs and ethnicity can live together in peace while finding cooperative solutions to the challenges of a cosmopolitan, international life.
Since graduating from the EPA program, I have enjoyed the opportunity to teach International Relations to future American military officers at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. I believe that the EPA program has enhanced my understanding of Europe and the Europeans, and that my experience at EPA is a valuable addition to the education of my students as they seek to learn about the world where they will one day become foreign policy actors. As I look toward the future of European and American relations, I hope to foster an optimistic view of those democratic values that tie our civilizations together for a secure and peaceful future.
