Testimonials

From Brno to Dutch civil service

The first year of my programme took me to Brno, where I studied alongside students from various European countries. Living and studying in Central Europe gave me, coming from the Netherlands, a deeper understanding of the diversity of political systems and traditions, and differences in perspectives across Europe. Besides the theoretical knowledge, the sheer quantity of papers that I wrote in Brno is most useful during my current work. European Governance is a great choice for EU-enthusiasts.

My internship at the International Directorate of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management provided a great opportunity to experience how a Member State’s government functions, and how internal deliberations concerning Brussels take place. I was able to apply my knowledge of EU enlargement to a concrete candidate member, helped organise Brussels trips for the Minister for the Environment, and supported the interdepartmental preparation of the Environment Council. It was an intense learning experience, combining a fulltime internship with thesis writing, but I learned a lot about the practical sides of European policy.

Combining knowledge of political science, law and economics is of great value working in the public sector. Nevertheless, my job search lasted seven months, during which I applied for many positions across government, expanded my network, and was elected as local councillor. This helped me stand out during interviews. Today, I work at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in The Hague. I contribute to healthy housing policy and the implementation of the Construction Product Regulation."

Alumnus Thom Vlaar (the Netherlands)
 

Working outside of the EU bubble, while staying closely connected to it

After completing my Master’s degree in European Governance, I aimed for a career outside of the EU bubble by staying in the Dutch labour market. This meant facing a significant challenge: most roles required strong Dutch proficiency. For me, this was a challenge in itself but also an opportunity to grow.
I landed at a traineeship programme at Venturn, a leadership consultancy firm specialised in the maritime supply chain industry. I worked on diverse cybersecurity governance projects, both in the Netherlands and abroad. These two years taught me how ‘easy adaptability’ and ‘strong communication’ become strengths in the professional environment.
Nonetheless, adaptability and communication were not new to me.

During my Master’s, I had already experienced life in Dublin and Utrecht. In Dublin, I explored both scenic landscapes and complex political debates, also contributing as a note-taker at the Conference on the Future of Europe. That moment made EU policymaking feel tangible. 
In Utrecht and during my internship in The Hague (at the Centre of Expertise Cybersecurity), I began translating EU cybersecurity frameworks into practical solutions for public and private organisations. And that research work precisely resembles my role today.

At University College Dublin, I followed modules such as Politics of Misinformation, the Global Political Economy of Europe and Law of the ECHR, while during my year at Utrecht  University I engaged in courses like European Union: by and for the people?, EU Governance Professional Skills or Regulating Markets. 
The diversity of these modules allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of EU institutions and policymaking, while also giving me the flexibility to explore topics of personal interest through my academic work.

Today I work in the private sector, outside EU institutions, but I continue bringing an EU perspective into every project I participate in, bridging policy and practice to make EU regulations easily understandable for everyone.”
 

Alumnus Virginia González