'I love that the program is management oriented. It's so different to the Spatial Planning education I already have, which was way more technical. My previous education has always been very scientific, whilst this was a more abstract way of understanding the bigger picture in regards to planning. Definitely a fresh and insightful perspective.
We get to have quite a lot of group work during the year, which was a great initiative at getting students to interact, get to know each other, but also great for learning to work in a team. I felt like if not all, most of the students were very enthusiastic about working, and I think it's because students at a master's level are more passionate about what they are learning and tend to be more driven towards the end goal then, say, bachelor students. In regards to the teachers, they are always open to class discussions and encourage us to contact them if we have any questions. Not to mention, they reply to our emails very efficiently.
I found it hard to shift from a more scientific mindset to a more abstract mind-set, such as understanding the role of governance in spatial planning. Once I understood the concept better I was able to understand the perspective we needed to have for the course.
I am currently writing my thesis on Nature Based solutions and their importance in rural areas. I am collecting the data by means of surveys and interviews, and will not be undergoing an internship.
I think, in today's world, a master's degree has become an important academic standard in order to be able to take up more responsibilities at work. I think it opens more doors professionally. This master's was very important to me because it gave me a more social understanding of technical matters. I believe that with a scientific bachelors and a more humanitarian master's, I can see a bigger picture of important aspects in development and sustainability. And I would highly encourage for people to try do the same, because the more we understand the better we can plan. Once I get my master's degree I plan on looking for a managerial role in an environment-related field. I want to work to make the world a better place, and I feel like I have gained more tools to do so through this study.'