Mercedes Castro Baeza - EUROSUD Career Development Fund
EUROSUD students may apply for funding for activities linked to the programme and/or their related career development that reflect the ethos and learning objectives of the degree programme. Below, we hear from Mercedes, who used the fund to attend a two-week French language and culture summer course at Aix-Marseille University.
This summer, I have had the opportunity to attend a two-week French language and culture summer course in Aix-Marseille University. The programme focused on the exploration of Provençal culture, delving into its history and culture, and touching on topics such as its artistic heritage and summer events in the region. It has been the perfect opportunity to practise French before my next semester in Aix-en-Provence starts, while learning about the rich culture of the area.
I have been above all interested in the many museums and festivals taking place in Provence during the summer. On top of attending classes at university and discovering everything Aix has to offer, I have been able to explore the region in the summertime. The course included a cultural outing once a week, and I have also visited nearby cities like Marseille or Arles.
One of the many advantages of being an Erasmus Mundus EUROSUD student has been the opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures and learn languages in situ. Thanks to the Career Development Fund, I have had the chance to develop my French skills, while taking advantage of everything this programme has to offer.
Mariana Souza Mattos - EUROSUD Career Development Fund
EUROSUD students may apply for funding for activities linked to the programme and/or their related career development that reflect the ethos and learning objectives of the degree programme. Below, we hear from Mariana, who did an internship at an institution called Madrid for Refugees, an NGO that helps Forcibly Displaced Persons in Madrid to rebuild their lives after their status is granted.
My name is Mariana, I am in my final year of the EUROSUD Master, and thanks to the Career Development Fund, I had the honour to participate in the Empowering NEET-s across Europe: A peer learning approach training. Although I am a research student, I decided to take an internship at an institution called Madrid for Refugees, an NGO that helps Forcibly Displaced Persons in Madrid to rebuild their lives after their status is granted.
In MfR, my role is to give psychosocial training about Psychological First Aid, Migratory Grief and Intercultural Skills to new volunteers and stakeholders, and I am also Employability Coordinator, helping our beneficiaries to develop their careers.
Due to this, I was invited to take part in this training provided by the organization Youth Proaktiv, with other two institutions: EKO from Greece and KKS from Slovenia. Together we explored problems and solutions on how to get young NEETs to be economically, democratically and socially activated, and as a result of our work, a toolkit is being produced with the best practices among our institutions and how can we further improve the attention to young people through projects that envision enhance their digital, economic, social and democratic skills.
Representing Madrid For Refugees I had the opportunity to show that young Forcibly Displaced Populations are also a targeted group, since according to studies, having a migration background increases the youth person’s likelihood of becoming NEET by 70% (Eurofound 2012). Therefore, the probability of FDPs in NEET status is high, becoming a socioeconomic concern, and increasing the difficulty in achieving settlement and social inclusion.
By Mariana Souza Mattos
Juan Mejía Saravia - EUROSUD Career Development Fund
EUROSUD students may apply for funding for activities linked to the programme and/or their related career development that reflect the ethos and learning objectives of the degree programme. Below, we hear from Juan, who recently used the fund to do a two-week intensive French course in Marseille, immersing himself in the local culture.
A Guatemalan learning French in France for the summer
During the summer, I embarked on an exciting journey to Marseille to immerse myself in the French language and culture. With a desire to elevate my French skills, I enrolled in an intensive two-week language program.
As soon as I arrived in Marseille, I realized that this city was a melting pot of different nationalities and cultures.
The language school I attended attracted people from all around the world who shared a common goal: to learn French. Interacting with such a diverse group made every day an exciting opportunity to learn about different cultures and exchange language knowledge. One aspect of Marseille that fascinated me was its vibrant immigrant neighborhoods. Curiosity led me to explore these areas, and I found myself strolling through the lively streets of the migrant community.
The bustling markets, colorful storefronts, and aromatic scents of various cuisines filled the air. It was a feast for the senses and a valuable opportunity to practice my French skills with locals. Inspired by my exploration of immigrant neighborhoods, I decided to delve deeper into the topic and visit the street where many refugees had sought shelter. The experience was eye-opening, as I witnessed the resilience and strength of individuals who had faced unimaginable hardships. Aside from the cultural immersion, my language course was intense and rewarding. I had never spent so many hours solely dedicated to learning a language.
Thanks to the funding opportunity provided by EUROSUD, I had access to over 40 hours of French instruction. During my time in Marseille, I also took advantage of the numerous cultural activities organized by the language school. From sampling delicious sardines at the local fish market to exploring the beautiful cities of Aix and Marseille, every outing enriched my understanding of French culture. I witnessed traditional festivals and attended art exhibitions. The intensive French program in Marseille provided me with the ideal environment to grow linguistically and culturally. It taught me that language is a bridge that connects people, and through it, we can share stories, build relationships, and foster understanding.
I am immensely grateful to EUROSUD for providing me with the funding opportunity that made this adventure possible. Their support allowed me to embark on this enriching journey. The experience not only improved my French language skills but also instilled in me a deeper appreciation for diversity and the power of language as a tool for connection.
Merci EUROSUD for this incredible opportunity
By Juan Mejía Saravia
Laura Sophie Wiegele - EUROSUD Career Development Fund
EUROSUD students may apply for funding for activities linked to the programme and/or their related career development that reflect the ethos and learning objectives of the degree programme. Below, we hear from Laura, one of our Research Track students, on how she was able to conduct field research in Italy for her Master’s thesis.
Thanks to financial support from the EUROSUD Study and Career Development Fund, I conducted field research in Italy for my Master’s thesis. As a student of the research track, I am currently in the process of writing my dissertation in the fourth and last semester of the EUROSUD program. My topic is how the Italian North-South divide and the stereotypes associated with it affect the lives of students.
Since I studied Italian as a subject in school, this issue drew my attention from a young age. Thus, in my undergraduate thesis, I already decided to write about this divide and its representation in Italian cinema. While writing the thesis, I realized a literature gap regarding stereotypes and how they affect young individuals. Thus, I decided for my master’s dissertation to bridge this gap by conducting fieldwork. For this, I spent two weeks at an Italian university both in the north in Padova near Venice and in the south in Catania in Sicily.
As a research method, I conducted individual interviews and focus group discussions with students from different faculties on-site. I recruited participants by approaching students directly at various faculties and by presenting my project in lectures. I am very pleased with how it went, as I found significantly more participants than I had set as a goal and the results are very interesting. Overall, it was an intensive time in which I learned a lot, both about the North-South divide and about conducting field research. This experience broadened my horizons, deepened my understanding of different cultures, and enriched my personal and professional development. Therefore, I can only recommend to everyone to leave their comfort zone and take the opportunity to do field research during the Master’s thesis.
I am very grateful that the students gave me their time as well as their trust and shared their thoughts with me. In addition, a special thanks go to the Departments of Political Science of both Universities of Padova and Catania for their support in the research by connecting me with students and providing me with rooms. Above all, I am beyond thankful to the Career Development Fund for giving me this opportunity! Now it’s time to analyze the results and write that thesis!
By Laura Sophie Wiegele
Felix, 2nd Year Research Track Student, learns Greek at NKUA thanks to the EUROSUD Career Development Fund
EUROSUD students may apply for funding for activities linked to the programme and/or their related career development that reflect the ethos and learning objectives of the degree programme. Below, we hear from Felix, one of our second year Research Track students, on how he was able to enrol on a four-month Greek class at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athen’s Modern Greek Language Teaching Centre, thanks to the fund.
With support from the EUROSUD Career Development Fund, I have enrolled in a four month Greek class at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens’s Modern Greek Language Teaching Centre. The centre is located at the NKUA’s main campus in Zografou which I had not visited before and which, with its big faculty buildings, parks, and canteens, provides me with another experience of Greek university life.
As for the course, I find that the B1-level class I am taking connects nicely to my previous knowledge of the language and will hopefully improve my level to conversational which has always been a lifelong goal of mine. Also, speaking Greek fluently at least at some very basic level could greatly expand my professional opportunities to work as a journalist reporting on and from Greece.
I feel privileged to be given this chance in the second and final semester at NKUA, as the evening language classes also provide a welcome change from working on the Master’s dissertation.
Anne, EUROSUD Research Track Student learns Italian in Copenhagen thanks to Career Development Fund
EUROSUD students may apply for funding for activities linked to the programme and/or their related career development that reflect the ethos and learning objectives of the degree programme. Below, we hear from Anne, one of our Research Track students on how she was able to continue learning Italian in Copenhagen thanks to the fund.
Thanks to financial support from the EUROSUD Studies and Career Development Fund, I am able to attend a B2 Italian language course at Studieskolen in Copenhagen. I started learning Italian during my third semester at Aix-Marseille Université, and I am thankful for the chance to continue studying the language this semester as well.
As a student of the research track, I am currently writing my dissertation during the fourth and final semester of the EUROSUD program. Improving my language skills will hopefully prove to be an asset when I soon finish the master program and begin my job search. My hope is to continue working as a journalist but with a specialization on South European issues.
As I have already worked on my language abilities in Spanish and French, both before and during the master’s program, I think Italian could be a good addition to these skills. The language school is known for its good reputation, engaged students and native speaking teachers, so I am already happy about attending the course. I am therefore very grateful to the EUROSUD Career Development Fund for making this a possibility!
Meron (Ghebreigziabiher) Participates in Summer School in Prague
From the 14th to 20th of August I participated on the Summer School on Migration and Development, organized by GEOMIGRACE, a research institute collaborating with the Department of Social Geogra
phy and Regional Development at Charles University of Prague together with the support of IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network). The school invited experience and well-known scholars and experts, from international and non-governmental organizations, who delivered lectures, seminars workshops and panel on migration and development issues on different part of the globe. The topics that have been discussed during the week-school have ranged from Migration Theories and Myths, providing a solid theoretical base in order to understand the different types of migrations as well the correct terminology used in the academic field we assigned, from relevant example of migratory flows currently happening in the world. For instance, the Venezuelan case was discussed as an example of flow where millions of people were forcibly displaced worldwide, without UNHCR recognising them as refugees; on the contrary experts from IOM illustrated us the current case of the Ukraine refugees crisis showing how the UNHCR and EU approach to it was completely different.
Through the participation of various specialist coming from the field, I was able to get a clearer picture on how migratory flows have been managed over the years, how the integration of these populations is still a big challenge for the majority of the world countries, and finally still the existence of double-standards and prejudices when it comes to welcome certain flow of possible asylum seekers.
Finally, since we were 80 participants, including master’s degree students, PHD candidates and experts with several years of experience in the field, the discussions emerging during the lectures have been extremely interesting and motivating for me. I got the chance to understand how refugees and migration “crisis” are handed by relevant IOs and which aspects are prioritised; as my future goal would be to work on refugees matter in the Central Mediterranean route it was a fruitful opportunity for me to take part in this summer school.
By Meron Ghebreigziabiher
Nathan expands his Spanish knowledge in Granada, Spain
I spend the month of July improving my Spanish at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas in Granada. I have been studying Spanish for many years and the opportunity to spend a semester in Spain was one of the main reasons I elected to do the EUROSUD degree. I was able to take two courses in Spanish at UAM in the Spring semester and the Career Development Fund allowed me to continue my studies at the CLM for a month afterwards. I greatly enjoyed exploring another region (and dialect!) of Spain and am excited to leverage my Spanish abilities as I look to begin my Thesis in year 2 of the degree.
by Nathan Guerin
𝐉𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞
FFIPP Network for Human Rights in Israel and Palestine’s Summer School has provided a multidisciplinary approach about colonisation process, conflict management, repression, human rights, international law and non-violent forms of resistance. We have been able to meet first hand, experts and researchers whose focus is the palestinian-israeli conflict and workers from several NGOs, such as Defense for Children International or Adalah, The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel. It has also offered us the opportunity to know deeper about Mediterranean Relations, the key role of Israel in Middle East and the difficulties of the International Community to enforce International Law. Furthermore, as part of the programme, I am doing an internship Jerusalem during 4 weeks in the NGO Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem, which main focus are providing legal aid, international advocacy and monitorize the last policies of Israeli government towards the city.
By Juan José (Juanjo) Luis Delgado
Suljo Participates in Summer School in Turkey
From 24-29 July, I participated in the Summer School on International Protection of Refugees in Çeşme (Izmir Province, Turkiye), organized as a part of the Human Rights Academy by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, UNHCR, and Mülkiye Migration Research Center (MÜGAM). The school included lectures, discussions, and panels on the topic of refugee and migrant human rights, as well as debates about management and different policies of the migration situation in our countries. As a EUROSUD student from Bosnia and Herzegovina, I shared some of the challenges that my country, as well as the rest of Southern Europe is facing in this field. Furthermore, we discussed possible solutions, and positive examples coming from civil society, media, governmental policies, etc. The 20 participants of the summer school were coming from more than ten countries, and included MA and Phd candidates, human rights lawyers, social workers, artists, and researchers, which allowed us to have a fruitful discussion during all our sessions. It was particularly interesting to me to hear about first-hand experience from people who work in international organizations about migrations such as UNHCR, or to talk with me who have been researching the topic of migration for decades already.
During my first two semesters in Glasgow and Athens, we have worked on the topic of migrations in Southern Europe during multiple courses, which offered me a great background knowledge before attending the summer school. Besides the academic aspects of the program, I was given the opportunity to discuss and network with motivating people from around Europe and the MENA region, and soon I hope to collaborate with them on new projects and research activities.
By Suljo Corsulic – 2021-23 student cohort