What Zenat says about the Master's in Development Studies

Zenat from Ghana

About the programme and the teaching style 

How did you find out about Lund University and this programme? 

"I was really interested in going back to school. I started searching for programmes and then I landed in Sweden and I think I like everything about Sweden. It is one of the coolest places to study! I initially heard of it from a friend who spoke highly of Sweden – she's also studying in her second year. I followed her advice and went to check it out and this is when I think I started liking what I was seeing. As for Development Studies, I have been planning to do it for some years now. I am really interested in non-governmental organisation work and I thought that my studies will be ideal for that."

Why did you choose this programme?  

"I realised that from my experience, coming from a developing country and seeing the social issues around me, if I want to give back to my society or my community, I have to take a course that will give me all the skills that I need to work in that sector. Therefore, Development Studies was actually the course that I thought was ideal for that. I have worked in an NGO before and I got interested in the kind of work that they do and this reinforced my plans to pursue Development Studies."

What do you think about your programme so far? Does it live up to your expectations? 

"It has exceeded my expectations! The course is actually very good here. I can't imagine doing it elsewhere again after coming here! The course is top notch and everything is planned or organised in such a way that it gives you all the skills that you will need to go out there and actually work. I am very happy that I took this course here in Sweden." 

What is the best thing about your programme?  

"I'll say it is the way that the programme is organised. It is mostly about group work and it is an interdisciplinary programme. Apart from that, in the classroom, it is a diverse class with people from different parts of the world meeting in a classroom. You normally work in groups and you could work with someone from Bangladesh, Germany, Ghana etc. You will be discussing one topic but with different perspectives from different angles. I think it is ideal to work in groups because you get that cultural diversity and then that cultural connectivity when you work with people from different backgrounds. You also get to work independently, there are seminars and workshops. The course is intense, but it gives you all the skills that you need, especially working in groups with other people."

Why should prospective students choose this programme?

"If you really are into societal problems, human development and poverty reduction and all those things, I think Development Studies is the best and Sweden and Lund University is the way to go. They have one of the highest intakes of international students. You will work in an international environment and you surely are going to get all the skills that you need here if you pursue this course and if you want to work in government agencies, non-governmental organisations or even your own consultancy."

What is your favourite course so far and why?

"We are just finishing up a course that I really like. It is called “Historical Aspects of Development” and it talks about the history of development, how development evolved over time, who should intervene in development, who should take it up and who should not. I am very interested in the historical aspect of it because you get to know how this wonderful course came about and how it evolved over time. We have so many problems in society and in order to understand society you need to know where its problems originated. If you want to solve these through development, you need to know how development evolved over time, as well as know its triumphs and its failures."

Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies so far?  

"With the research methods that we did last semester, we had practical tasks to complete every week. Even though it was not in-depth, we went out to try our hands out there. We had a sneak peek into what research would be like in terms of observations in our environment and made reports about that. We also conducted some mini-interviews with colleagues and touched on practical aspects of research which was enlightening to some, especially for people who have not done it before. It was also really good for those who had knowledge about that already. It was good learning from people like that in the class, so I have learned practically and it will help me in my thesis and maybe when I go out there. I am now doing fieldwork and I am supposed to go out there and try my hands on the field. So I have learned some practical aspects that I can apply now."

What do you think of the teaching style? 

"The teaching style is so good because it is totally different from Ghana. When I came here at first, I was fascinated by the way teaching and learning happened here in Lund. I really like the combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. It is not all about lectures with a teacher coming in to talk all the time. The teachers are very very sweet as well. They gently push students to bring out the best in them, which I find amazing! You don't find that in most places and the teachers are so efficient in what they do. "

If you want to know more about Zenat's thoughts on study tips and the learning environment in Sweden, you can also read her blog post:

Adjusting to the Learning System of a World-Class University: My Main Tips!

How international is your programme?

"You'll be surprised at how many students from different countries are found in one classroom! It is a very diverse class and that is what makes the class very unique because, talking about Development Studies, you need to have various dimensions of it in terms of real-life examples. We have students from Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Germany, Mauritius and so many other countries, so it is very diverse and very international. The classroom culture is also very good considering the fact that we are from different countries. There's that kind of respect for each other in the classroom."

Thoughts on being an international student at Lund and tips for prospective students 

What it is like to be an international student at Lund University?

"It is an experience because you get to meet so many students from other countries. You don't feel alone being an international student because you meet others like you, even if they are not from your country, but they too are coming to learn just like you. The atmosphere is very good, we make friends and, as an international student, you don't have to be able to speak Swedish in order to blend in. Language does not come in as a barrier and it is interesting to meet other students and create memories with them."

Do you have any advice for other students that are considering coming to Lund? 

"I think any student who has decided to come to Sweden, and to Lund specifically, has made the best choice ever! Such a student is going to learn in various ways that he or she will never expect. Education in Lund, and in Sweden in general I believe, is unique. They have all the facilities you need. If you are coming to Sweden, you should not be afraid that by being an international student you are going to be limited in any way. You will have all the opportunities to broaden your horizon, you do not need to speak Swedish in order to blend and you are going to be fine. Classes are in English and you are going to also blend with other people just like you."

What surprised you the most about Swedes? 

"Before I came, I heard all sorts of stories about Sweden, for example, that Swedes are not that friendly. But when I came here, I was pleasantly surprised because I think they are so sweet! Most of them speak English and when you need help, they are there to help. I have experienced that from people outside my classroom and also in my classroom. I have seen how sweet, helpful and supportive they are if you are outside looking for something or if you are lost, you just ask anybody and you will get the right directions to the place you are going or whatever help you need. I did not expect that because I thought that people do not talk to each other, but it is not true and I was surprised in that aspect."

Future plans and career preparation

What are you planning to do after your studies? 

"After my course, I would like to experience the workplace here. I plan on getting a place in an NGO where I can actually go to immediately practice the methods and all that I have learned in the classroom. I want to work in an NGO that deals with developmental issues in Africa. Considering the fact that Africa receives aid from Sweden, I would like to join an NGO that is directly linked to Africa in terms of developmental work. In the long term, I plan on going back home to give back to the community that I came from where I plan on setting up some NGO. Before coming here, I was running a club with some colleagues and I believe that we can further expand that club into a non-governmental organisation. Two or three of us have gone to school outside the country and we are sure that we will get back together and expand that club. 

To what extent did your degree programme prepare you for a career in your field? 

"My first degree has been very helpful in shaping my career objectives. I am a Sociology major student, and in Sociology we touch on all the social problems that I am learning about in Development Studies right now. I think that is what led me to do an internship with an NGO in Ghana, supporting girls in Northern Ghana. One year I was in the office working and then the second year I was in the field with them, not doing research but doing monitoring and evaluation of investments in those girls. I think Sociology led me to the NGO sector. I gained some experience and, in a way, it has been the stepping stone to understanding the problems of society. Development Studies then focus on the developmental aspects of society or maybe Africa in general or everywhere. So Development Studies have actually polished my career objectives. I am now more focused in one direction."