What do you like about the programme and why?
The Master's programme is exciting and consists of subjects that will improve your skills as a researcher, but also increase your knowledge regarding war-related themes such as just war theory, peace building, and broader theories about conflict. Furthermore, the knowledge and new perspectives, combined with the discussions in class, provoke and stimulate you to think beyond your current world views. They create awareness regarding your prejudices and open your ideas to other perspectives without placing judgment on any viewpoint.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
This Master's is built around improving skills as a researcher, knowledge transfer, and debate regarding the themes that are touched upon in class. Therefore, the discussions within class are always open and without any judgment regarding one's opinions. Furthermore, most of the time, the professors try to provoke critical thinking by asking how you would make sense of a certain situation, utilising the thoughts and ideas of some authors that we read in class. This results in awareness, fruitful discussions, and sometimes a change in one's worldviews.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s?
Some of the subjects are under construction and therefore have not yet reached their end-state. This has resulted in some uncertainty in some instances.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? And what are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
Within the current volatile global situation, in which leaders are becoming more authoritarian and less interested in democracy - or so it seems - people must get educated regarding the negative effects that such leaders and their decisions can have. Often decisions get portrayed as simple, whilst this Master's opens the eyes to the complex mechanisms that are in effect within conflict-affected regions.
I think that people with a deeper understanding of these mechanisms can positively influence policy that is either meant to prevent these instances or is designed to help create a better environment after conflict has occurred. Furthermore, I am currently in active military service while doing the Master's programme. After obtaining the degree, I am planning to transfer into the more political dimensions within the military to hopefully positively impact how we think about the military, how we utilise it, and deploy it.