Testimonials
To me, academic research is not only about understanding societal issues, but also about contributing to solutions and striving for a more just world.
- Programme
- Social and Cultural Science: Comparative Research on Societies (research)
Samira Azabar is a postdoctoral researcher at Radboud University.
Can you introduce yourself?
I studied Sociology at the University of Antwerp, where my interest in research, inequality and policy really came to life. With a background in in social work, especially at the intersection of religion and social issues, I worked a lot with topics such as education, integration, poverty, and radicalisation. At the time, where we collaboratively sought solution together for issues they encountered. It was hands-on work, practice-oriented approach, which brought me a lot of satisfaction.
Although I was involved in explorative research, I felt the need to dive deeper into certain themes, so I applied for a PhD at the University of Antwerp. This allowed me to combine both research and teaching. My PhD explored the political participation of Muslim minorities and the role of religion and Islamophobia on their participation. At the Radboud, I now co-teach Political Change and Opposition, the Master's course Radicalisation and supervise Master's theses. My research focuses mainly on gender and sexuality attitudes of Dutch Muslims. The combination of research and teaching keeps things exciting for me!
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
Growing up as a daughter of first-generation migrant workers and therefore, from a young age, I experienced firsthand how inequality unfolds in everyday life. This shaped my curiosity: why does this inequality actually exist and what can we do to address it? From these questions, my interest in sociology was born. I don't just want to study how these inequality processes work, I want to actively change them. What particularly resonates with me is the concept of political agency; the idea that marginalised groups do have a voice and can strengthen their position in society. To me, academic research is thus not only about understanding societal issues, but also about contributing to solutions and striving for a more just world.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
I am currently involved in the SPIRIT project, which explores the impact of Islamic religiosity on political participation and perceptions of gender and sexuality of Muslims. Our focus is on highlighting nuance: Muslims are often portrayed as a homogeneous group, but there is much diversity in opinions. Despite certain normative views, Muslims approach issues around gender and sexuality with flexibility. This reality contrasts with the stereotypical image often perpetuated by radical right-wing parties and the media, making our research particularly crucial.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
Hanging out with current students can be incredibly enlightening! Talking to former students can help to get a real sense of the field, and to gain more insights. It may seem obvious, but my tip would be to follow your interests, passion and curiosity. Choosing a subject that genuinely interests you, does make the difference. In my experience, I find that students who are interested are often also highly motivated and enthusiastic. These students are truly engaged with the topics and stories discussed in classes. What might help to put your study choice into perspective is the fact that you can always change jobs. Your career path does not have to be set in stone, so focus on what excites you!
What does your work in practice bring to your academic work, and vice versa?
As a member of BOEH!, a feminist and anti-racist movement, I advocate for women's right and self-determination, particularly how they choose to dress. My active social engagement, not only on this issue but also as a (previous) trainer of professionals, has sharpened my understanding and critical thinking about social inequalities and societal developments. Being involved in the field offers a wealth of learning opportunities—you engage with policymakers, analyse the damaging effects of current policies, and work towards proposing alternatives that are less harmful. This involvement also helps build a network of civil society actors, policymakers, and politicians, making it a truly reciprocal experience. The key question is how your work in civil society, and thus being an engaged scholar, informs your academic research, and vice versa. In my case, the connection between the two continuously enriches both my practice and my academic work.
What is the best part of being a lecturer?
I find teaching very rewarding work; I love the interaction with students, how they interpret and engage with research, how they process information and relate it to their own world. It's particularly meaningful when students make connections between theories that we discuss in class, how these unfold in society and their everyday lives.
Students also teach me a lot of new things. They bring a wealth of knowledge from the news they watch, their own experiences and stories they encounter. I make it a point to integrate these real-world experiences and current events into courses, encouraging students to draw connections between theory and practice. Not every question has a clear answer—or any answer at all—and I find the process of exploring possibilities and engaging in critical reflection together to be one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching.
The programme places a lot of emphasis on discovering your research interests and gives you the tools and guidance to do so.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Sociology (Radboud University)
- Programme
- Social and Cultural Science: Comparative Research on Societies (research)
- Study start date
- Study end date
Master's student Niels Vullings is studying Social and Cultural Science at Radboud University.
What do you like about the Research Master's programme and why? How has the programme challenged you?
I love the freedom that the programme gives you. The programme places a lot of emphasis on discovering your research interests and gives you the tools and guidance to do so. I think this is a very valuable skill not just for researchers but for students in general. This was quite challenging for me in the beginning, as sometimes I got lost in my own enthusiasm. However, it also motivated me and made me more pragmatic in the choices that I make.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere during class is different from what I experienced during my Bachelor's, in a positive sense. There is a lot of interaction and an almost equal exchange of knowledge between teachers and students. The teachers are very interested in our perspective on the topics we discuss, which helps us to think critically about the material and helps us form our own ideas.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
For me, the most challenging thing is keeping a good balance between study and personal life. Because the programme is both demanding and very interesting, it is hard at times to let go and disengage from my studies. Luckily, we have a wonderful group of fellow students, so an occasional coffee break, a walk or a drink at the Cultuurcafé is always there to help you “switch off”.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
As I am a first-year Master's student in this two-year programme, I will be starting my thesis next year. However, I am about to start my internship at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (University of Groningen). During this internship, I’ll be assisting on a project that developed a new method for studying social networks. I am very excited about the things I will be able to learn during this time.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
Understanding the intricacies of our society is not just interesting, it is necessary to help our society improve. Given the interdisciplinary setting of the Master's programme, we gain a lot of different perspectives on the societal problems that are relevant in the 21st century. People with these skills are valuable everywhere, especially at places or companies that have the ability to influence society.
I think people with this degree have the skills to conduct very thorough social scientific research.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Sociology (Radboud University)
- Programme
- Social and Cultural Science: Comparative Research on Societies (research)
- Study start date
- Study end date
Master's student Daphne Janssen is studying Social and Cultural Science (Comparative Sociological Research) at Radboud University.
What do you like about the Master's programme and why? How has the programme challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
What I like about the programme is it's interdisciplinarity. Although my heart is in sociological research, it is really nice to be able to delve into the theoretical and methodological aspects of anthropological- and politicial science research as well. This combination of disciplines also made this Master's programme more challenging compared to my Bachelor's programme.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere is great. Especially the fact that the teachers are very approachable to the students. You are always welcome to walk in when you are worried about something or when something is not quite clear to you. This really makes me feel heard as a student.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s programme? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The aspect I found most challenging about my programme was the course on social network analysis and data scraping. A lot was expected of you in a short period of time, which made it quite difficult to keep up with the coursework, while letting all the information sink in.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
My master's thesis is about anti-feminist attitudes among men. From an integrated theoretical framework I derive expectations about educational and cohort differences in men, and the degree to which they hold anti-feminist attitudes. Moreover, I'm comparing attitudes across time and space, by comparing several European countries. I am very curious about the results.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I think people with this degree have the skills to conduct very thorough social scientific research. Whether this research contributes to the scientific community or results in policy advice or practical applications depends on the person. That is the beauty of it.