Why this programme

Study programme: Master Global History and International Relations
Graduation Year: 2024
Current job: Resilience Advisor at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations

History as a lens on contemporary issues

After my bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, I deliberately chose the Master’s in Global History and International Relations because I felt the need for more historical depth. This programme at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication offered exactly the context I was missing: a historical lens on international relations, global developments, and the ways societies influence one another. For me, this was the ideal complement to my background in public administration. It connected my interest in policy and contemporary (inter)national issues with a sharper, transhistorical and long-term perspective. This combination not only provided a richer understanding of the world, but also a strong substantive foundation at the start of my professional career.

Working on a resilient society

In my role as a Resilience Advisor, I work on a broad range of issues related to the security and stability of our society. Although I fall under the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, my work is inherently interdepartmental: I collaborate daily with other ministries, executive agencies, and vital private-sector partners. This diversity is what makes the role so interesting.

An important part of my job involves advising senior civil servants on cases that span the entire national government. To do this, I analyse trends and developments in (inter)national security and our democratic constitutional order. I also work on policy documents and develop scenarios to formulate strategic advice. The combination of analysis, advising, and collaboration with a wide range of partners makes the work dynamic and meaningful.

From theory to practice: applying a historical perspective

In my current role, I regularly apply what I learned during my master’s: placing contemporary developments in a broader historical and international context. During my studies, I learned not only to look at events in isolation, but also to focus on long-term patterns: how power relations emerge, how states and societies interact, and how historical patterns continue to shape today’s geopolitical reality.

I use this way of thinking every day. Many of the issues I deal with as a Resilience Advisor – from international tensions to digital threats and the position of the democratic rule of law – cannot be understood without considering historical developments and international dynamics. Thanks to this background, I can better interpret trends, assess risks more sharply, and identify connections that are not always immediately visible.

Career reflection and advice

Show that historical knowledge is not just about the past, but an analytical tool for understanding the present. Employers are looking for people who can interpret complex developments, make connections, and look beyond the issues of the day. That is exactly what you learn as a historian. Therefore, emphasise not only what you studied, but especially how you think. Recognising patterns, analysing critically, and placing events in context are skills that are invaluable in almost any policy, research, or advisory role.

Study programme: Master Global History and International Relations 
Graduation year: 2024
Job: Policy Advisor at Dutch Whistleblowers Authority 

Sweet memories

One of my favorite memories of the master programme Global History and International Relations is the Thesis Conference. This is a special day when everyone from the study programme presents their Master's thesis. Apart from presenting my own thesis, I found it incredibly interesting to hear what kind of topics other students had chosen for their research. I also cherish many fond memories of the discussions held in class; especially when we delved into contemporary conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza. This is where it became really clear how to apply the theory of this master’s programme in practice.

Contributing to integrity

After my studies, I landed a job as Policy Advisor in the Knowledge & Prevention department of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority (Huis voor Klokkenluiders). We provide advice and support to persons who want to report a possible wrongdoing within the context of their work-related activities, and we conduct investigations into wrongdoings within organisations. We also provide know-how for governments, semi-public institutions and corporations on how to improve their internal integrity policy. 

My role primarily involves researching how organisations can improve their integrity system, as well as giving presentations to organisations on integrity management. So, you can definitely say that the research skills and presentation skills I gained during my master's programme come in handy at work! 

Advice to prospective students

Do not worry if you have not completed a bachelor’s degree in history! I myself, for example, studied the bachelor Management of International Social Challenges. Because I was interested in contemporary conflicts and the history behind them in my spare time, I decided to apply for the master programme Global History and International Relations: a decision I am truly happy with. The master programme is at a high level, the professors are experts, as a student you learn an awful lot, and the study offers you many opportunities to kickstart your career!  

International Relations and Diplomacy

I chose the master Global History and International Relations because of my interest in international relations and diplomacy. Before my master I did the bachelor History at Erasmus University and I really liked it and this was the reason to continue studying at ESHCC.

Challenging the Eurocentric perspective

This master is so interesting to me because it focuses on the entire world when we talk about international relations. In this way the Eurocentric perspective is being challenged. This makes for a very engaging programme!

An easy transition

During the master I found out that my previous Bachelor has many similarities with this master, making my transition from bachelor to master very nice and smooth.

"I knew that I wanted to do a master at a university abroad. In my opinion, it contributes a lot to your personal and professional development when you place yourself outside your familiar context. As I had only vague ideas in which direction I wanted to go with my professional background (every history student is more than familiar with utterances such as ‘History? Oh! That’s interesting! But what are you going to do with this later?’), I gathered information about master degrees at manifold European universities. I had come to the conclusion that I did not want to commit myself to the mere study of events, processes and developments of the past, so no art for art’s sake, but that I wanted to draw lessons from the past in order to improve the future. In this respect I was really exited when I came across the master program ‘History of Society: Global History and International Relations’ offered by Erasmus University of Rotterdam. Here, for the first time, I had the feeling that my knowledge about history could in some way be transformed into actual contributions to solve political problems and crises. Thus I applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam and I got admitted.

Although I was also approved at other universities, when I received my admission for Rotterdam, I did not shed a thought about going somewhere else. Firstly, Erasmus University is highly regarded in Europe. Secondly, the program itself exactly met my interests and my professional background. Thirdly, although I had only been in Rotterdam once before, I remembered it to be an open-minded, multi-cultural city with a very special charm that makes it so different from other cities in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. I like the fact that Rotterdam is not one of the well-known touristic cities such as Amsterdam or Brussels, where everybody had already been - Rotterdam is in this way my city. The program fully meets my expectations. Although it is a lot of work, a lot to read and to write, I can clearly see the developments that I have made in the last six month, not only professionally or scientifically, but also and in particular personally.

When I will hold my Master degree in September, I seek to invest some time to concerns of my heart. I plan to do an internship at Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch. As I now approached political problems from an academic point of view, I feel that I need to add a humanitarian and practical perspective. Only then I will be equipped to find a work place, which is dedicated to solve international problems and thus to make the world a better place."