Dennis Bednar (Class of 2013)

UCU in all aspects, from the intense course load to the dynamic social environment, is not just an education, but an experience that shapes individuals.

Major: Social Sciences

Further Education: Master in Environmental Anthropology and Development Sociology at Leiden University, Advanced Masters in International Development at Radboud University

Position: Project Officer Knowledge & Quality team at Free Press Unlimited

Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands

Anthropology got me hooked

Like most students when they apply for UCU, I did not know yet what I wanted to major in. After dabbling in numerous introduction courses, anthropology got me hooked. UCU gave me the opportunity to use an anthropological lens to look at different things, from Performing Arts, to Cognitive Neuroscience to Development Studies, which turned out to be a big deciding factor for my future. 

UCU is not just an education

After my studies I got to work for the organisation where I did my traineeship, at Free Press Unlimited. I am now working there as a Project Officer for the Knowledge & Quality team, and I get to combine what I have learned from my anthropology and development studies courses, especially  when conducting qualitative evaluations with partner organisations.

To this day, when I think of the big achievements in my life, most of it can be linked back to my time at UCU. UCU brought me a sense of home in the city of Utrecht, where I am still currently living. UCU has given me an array of friends from all over the world that I still regularly meet up with. And UCU gave me the chance to meet my partner, someone who is open-minded and shares this experience that is UCU. UCU in all aspects, from the intense course load to the dynamic social environment, is not just an education, but an experience that shapes individuals.