Testimonials
I feel like I can have a diverse career in which I can take on different roles and engage in multiple topics over the years.
- Previous education
- Medicine at Utrecht University
- Programme
- Anthropology and Development Studies
- Study end date
Marit Bosman was a Master's student in Anthropology and Development Studies.
What knowledge and skills did you learn during your Master’s programme that are really useful to you now?
During this Master’s programme, I've learned how to view things critically and see multiple perspectives. Furthermore, I'm now able to do anthropological research independently and report my results.
What did you find most challenging in your Master’s programme? Did you encounter any obstacles?
Most challenging was choosing my research subject, because it feels like a very important decision. After all, you engage yourself in this topic for more than half a year, so you want it to be something you find really interesting. Second, the most challenging period of the Master’s was the last stage: writing the thesis. This stage consists of three months, in which you really have to motivate yourself daily to sit behind your computer and continue writing.
Could you say a little about the job you do now?
I'm currently thinking about what kind of job I would like to do. Ideally, I would like to work for an NGO that promotes environmental justice and fight climate change. I'm also very interested in agriculture and what a potential agricultural transition could look like, and of course, how this could be achieved.
What do you like about your profession and what makes working in your field so interesting and/or relevant?
What I really like about Anthropology and Development Studies, is that it is so diverse. You can apply it to any field to discover underlying issues or explore how this specific group of people gives meaning to their world. Therefore, the group of Master's students always has a wide variety of interests, which makes for interesting discussions and enriches your view of the world. Moreover, I feel like I can have a diverse career in which I can take on different roles and engage in multiple topics over the years.
Do you have any tips/suggestions for prospective students?
Begin thinking about possible topics for your thesis well before the start of your Master’s. I compiled a list of different topics which gave me something to fall back on at the start of the Master’s when I was trying to figure out which topic to focus on for the rest of the year.
The topics addressed in anthropology are reflected in my government work as Policy Officer for the energy transition.
- Previous education
- Communication (Fontys Hogeschool) and Pre-Master's Anthropology and Development Studies (Radboud University)
- Programme
- Anthropology and Development Studies
- Study end date
Gijs Gooren was a Master's student in Anthropology and Development Studies (Decolonising diversity in a polarised world) at Radboud University.
What knowledge and skills did you learn during your Master’s that are really useful to you now?
First of all, during my Master’s I learned a lot about myself. By doing long-term fieldwork, I was confronted with my strengths and weaknesses a number of times. It helped me to become a professional and it gave me a lot of joy as well.
Second, in much anthropological literature, researchers argue for interdisciplinary collaboration between different fields. It seems that this idea is also starting to spread in the government world. More and more people from different fields are sitting together at the table. As an anthropologist, I will always insist on this interdisciplinarity. During my pre-Master’s and Master’s I chose a broad set study courses. As a result, I have gained a broad knowledge within the anthropological field. Many of these principles help me every day in my government work. The topics addressed in anthropology are reflected in my work. I find that very nice and interesting.
Could you say a little about the job you have now ?
At the moment I work at the municipality of Bladel. This is a small municipality in the region of Eindhoven. The region is well-known for their high-tech sector and rural landscape. My function is policy officer energy transition. In this function I work together on a more abstract level in the region. Together with other organisations, we are trying to initiate the energy transition. So, this means that I work with people from all sorts of backgrounds. Just like during my Master’s.
In one project we try to develop an ‘energy system of the future’ on a business park. We are realising a so-called energy hub in a collaboration between the municipality, companies and the network operator. The main goal is to unlock the companies as a collective from the energy network and to develop their own self-sufficient energy system. Although this sounds very technical, it is mainly a social innovation because companies have to work together. It is not so much self-interest that comes first here, but societal interest.
In another project we are trying to develop an ecozone in combination with energy generation from solar panels, close to the highway. In this project, several disciplines come together with one major goal: combating climate change. I really like that core aspects of the study and literature come back in my work.
What do you like about your profession and what makes working in your field so interesting and/or relevant?
The social relevance is something that makes me happy every day. In addition, I get to participate in projects that are decisive for our future. I find this very challenging, so I enjoy going to work every day.
Read the research from the Mulier Institute that Gijs contributed to during this Master's programme:
Coronamaatregelen en sociale ongelijkheid in het amateurvoetbal
It is a very versatile degree that can be used in a lot of different fields.
- Previous education
- Bachelor in Social Anthropology (University of Bergen)
- Programme
- Anthropology and Development Studies
- Country of previous education
- Norway
- Study start date
- Study end date
Master's student Guro Stagrum Enoksen is studying Anthropology and Development Studies at Radboud University.
What do you like about this Master's programme and why?
What I like about this programme is how you are able to choose which field of anthropology and development you wish to focus on and that the choice of the Master's project subject is totally up to you!
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
I think for the most part there is a good and open atmosphere. I am an international student and sometimes there are moments where I don't understand my classmates when they're discussing something in Dutch, since I don't speak Dutch, but for the most part the Master's has a very good and friendly atmosphere!
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The most challenging for me has been to find enough participants for my interviews. My field is not a physical "field" so I have used different ways of interviews and participant observation both online and in person. But I think the challenge has made me better at pushing myself to persevere in order to get a proper answer. From calling multiple times when I don't get an answer and following-up with a second email when I haven't gotten a reply in a while.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I am not doing an internship. I am currently doing fieldwork in Bergen, Norway. My field of research/ thesis focuses on different types of knowledge and knowledge politics surrounding Norway's opening process for deep-sea-mining.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
I think it is important to have a Master's degree in Anthropology and Development Studies because we are able to see things in a different way than graduates with other degrees. It is a very versatile degree that can be used in a lot of different fields. I don't have specific plans yet for after graduation. I am actively looking for jobs both in the Netherlands and back in Norway. What I do know is that I wish to work within the field of environmental sustainability and development.
I find it special to observe how students develop their knowledge, skills, and identity, ultimately finding their own position in the world.
- Programme
- Anthropology and Development Studies
Edwin de Jong is an associate professor at Radboud University.
Can you introduce yourself?
After completing my studies and dissertation, I conducted research in Anthropology and Development Studies at Radboud University as a postdoc and Assistant Professor. My broad interests have proven very useful in this role! In my teaching, I cover both methodology and theory, so students may encounter me in various courses within the Master's programme. Additionally, they might recognise me as the programme director, responsible for steering the Anthropology and Development Studies programme in the right direction.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
I find Anthropology and Development Studies incredibly fascinating because it is intrinsically connected to people. We study and talk about people, but it is also for and by people. In this field, we explore human experiences and societal structures, trying to understand the world from diverse perspectives. In other words, we seek to comprehend the lived realities and experiences of human beings. This exploration allows me to grasp the complexity, often termed as ‘wickedness’, of various issues, gradually unravelling the bigger picture by integrating multiple areas of expertise.
My enthusiasm naturally led me to teaching. As an educator, I aim to impart not only knowledge and skills to students, but also a certain critical perspective. Therefore, my vision involves promoting socially engaged learning, which means engaging with and for society to address contemporary challenges and achieve social change and make an impact.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
In Indonesia, we are developing a roadmap against water-related disasters using a social-ecological relations theory. This involves studying how processes between different aspects of flooding in urban regions can be transformed or mitigated by (groups of) people. As principal investigator, I oversee both the content and management of this project, ensuring everything stays on track. A rewarding aspect of this work is the involvement of Master's students, who contribute both from the Netherlands and on location in Indonesia.
I also supervise doctoral research focused on social aspects of water management and farmers' perspectives on agriculture and sustainability. By involving farmers, we gain valuable local expertise and give a voice to local stakeholders in the development process.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
That's a good question! It helped me to consider community involvement. Reflect on how society inspires you and which elements and aspects fascinates and engage you. Our programme deals with current, real-world issues. Identify the themes that resonate with you. My advice is to find where your personal interests overlap the field of study. Within the Master's programme, you will conduct research in a socially engaged way, develop your own vision, and position yourself as an advocate for change. Does this align with your aspirations?
What does your work in practice bring to your academic work, and vice versa?
“The more you know, the more you realise you don't know.” This becomes evident in both my teaching and research. My practical work and academic pursuits are deeply intertwined. I bring practical topics to my classes and strive to apply academic insights in real-world contexts. This integrating is a core strength of Anthropology and Development Studies. Studying complex and large issues in small places, calls for adopting multiple perspectives to understand and address effectively. From these different perspectives, we then do our best to understand a “wicked problem” and thereby contribute to a possible policy recommendation. A lesson I have learned: good research often concludes with even more questions.
What is the best part of being a lecturer?
Students enter the Master's programme with a Bachelor's degree, often still adjusting and searching for their next steps. Witnessing their growth over the year is incredibly rewarding. Learning form setbacks and mistakes, they tackle challenges with so much energy and passion. I find it special to observe how students develop their knowledge, skills, and identity, ultimately finding their own position in the world. Seeing this journey, with its peaks and troughs, is truly inspiring.