Why this programme

"Humanitarian migration triggered through wars and climate change, as well as populism and polarisation, are indications of a much broader transformation towards more mobile and more diverse populations. This master's programme brings together knowledge from various perspectives with a clear focus on the politics, policies and organisations that undergirds contemporary migration and diversity governance. This enables students to address issues related to migration and diversity in many different sectors, levels and types of organisations."

During my Human Geography bachelors programme, I began to take courses on migration, human rights, and racism. These courses really sparked my academic and personal interests in migration and diversity. However, that programme was mostly theoretical so I was left knowing about many problems within the world but not knowing how to address them. Therefore, the master programme’s emphasis on practicality and real-world skills was what attracted me most. This is also what lead me to change my discipline and follow the Public Administration track of the Governance of Migration and Diversity programme. Lastly, the very specific focus on migration and diversity was exactly the subject matter that I was looking to dive deeper into. 

Throughout the master's programme, the multidisciplinary perspective helped to diversify our perspective. It also allowed us to tackle the issue of migration from multiple angles; historically, socially, developmentally, and through policy. In these courses, lectures by guest speakers and extracurricular programmes, such as those organized by the student board, I was able to get a better idea of what careers were available in the field of migration and diversity. I also really appreciated the insights and diverse perspectives I was exposed to through my peers. Within this cohort of passionate young professionals, I learned something new from each person that I came into contact with.

I have always been very interested in migration patterns, as they are full of stories of courage, hardship, opportunities, and bonds. Due to the complexity of the topic, I wanted to embark myself in an educational journey that would broaden my understanding by exposing me to diverse viewpoints and perspectives on migration. This led me to the master program Governance of Migration and Diversity. Motivated by my aspiration to make a positive difference in supporting migrants, I decided to follow the track of Public Administration with the intention of one day contributing to effective migration management. However, one of the remarkable aspects of this master program is that regardless of the specialization you decide to follow, the students take part in courses of the fields of the other specializations. This allowed me to explore the topic of migration from many different angles, for instance by exploring migratory movements through a historical lens, examining diverse integration approaches from a sociological standpoint, and analyzing asylum systems through a legal framework. In addition, the program provided us with practical experiences beyond theoretical learning, including site visits and research projects, enabling us to gain real-life knowledge. I think this is something that makes this program special, that it enables students to recognize and appreciate the complexity and uniqueness present in every migration story.