What do you like about the programme and why?
A great aspect of the Master's programme is that it treats a broad range of topics and issues (social, ecological, political and economic) that are currently of importance . Moreover, it facilitates (and encourages) the critical examination of these existing structures and institutions through various relevant theories.
The specialisations do not differ very much. However, I personally chose the Sustainable Economies and Corporations specialisation because the economy is a very important player in society and has a big impact on the environment. I think it can be very fruitful to critically look at our economic system and the way companies are managed, and see whether and how this can be improved to minimise the negative impact and how it can be redirected to contribute both to society and nature.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
Since the Master's is relatively small, and the specialisation even more so, you get to know most of your fellow students rather quickly. This means that there is a good environment in class, strengthened by the relationship with our teachers. They are very approachable and with most we are on a first-name base, meaning there is a low barrier if you have questions or want to ask for help.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s?
The change from Bachelor's to Master's is substantial. Not only the workload is higher, but it is also of more difficult nature. While in my Bachelor's I sometimes got away with postponing the work until a few weeks before an exam, this is not the case in the Master's. It is hard work, but if you keep up with the lectures and readings every week it is definitely manageable.
Are you currently doing an internship and what is your thesis about?
For my Master's thesis, I currently have an internship with the (Dutch committee of the) International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Amsterdam. Here, I mainly work on research regarding responsible governance of critical mineral value-chains: minerals necessary for the energy-transition.
Additionally, I work with colleagues on responsible value-chains of soy and palm oil, but also on topics such as nature-based solutions and fighting wild-life crime. While it is a rather new experience working almost full-time in an organisation like this, it is simultaneously a great opportunity for getting an insight into the professional world and establishing where
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree?
While often considered separate and distant from each other, this Master's brings the environment and our society together. It allows for the critical examination of the interactions between mankind and nature, and the impact this has.
While climate change is impacting more and more both society and the environment, it is important to have people who can critically examine existing institutions and aid in the integration of social and ecological sustainability.