What Pasko says about the Master's in Global Studies

Pasko from Peru, now working as Social Media Manager and Editorial Manager for the Journal of Political Psychology

Could you tell us a little bit about your background?

"I studied political science in Peru and have worked in the field of social development for the past ten years, with a myriad of organisations, including the UN, the Peruvian government, the Rockefeller Foundation and a Stockholm-based consultancy firm. In Peru, it’s common to gain professional experience before studying a Master’s, which is also one of the reasons why I have this much experience."
 
How did you find out about Lund University?

“I researched different Master’s programmes for several months. I felt I needed a programme that was very emphatic on both proper academic and theoretical development, but also on methods. I thought that would complement the skills I already had in research. I was also advised by professors, colleagues and my former supervisors, some of which have a close connection to Sweden. One of my former supervisors, who is Swedish, was one of the ones who said “do you know anything about Lund University? It’s one of the best Universities in Sweden”. Of course I knew this, and also that it was very highly ranked among European Universities, and I wanted to come specifically to northern Europe due to the recognised innovation of its graduate programmes. In the end, I liked the focus of the programme here.”
 
What was the appeal of this particular programme?

“Even if the courses cover very specific topics, they are very intensive in terms of how you write, for example. It’s the production of proper academic work and sometimes policy work. That kind of structural complexity was one of the things I was looking for. Methods are certainly important, but it’s also the angle: it’s not international relations, it’s global studies. Global studies takes a bold and innovative step so to speak, which is trying to integrate different social sciences and humanities disciplines into the framework of international relations and political science.”
 
Did the programme live up to your expectations?

“Yes, our teachers in particular were very dedicated to being as open and communicative as possible, because this programme encompasses all of these disciplines and topics. Consequently, the teaching style is interactive and very much oriented towards developing complex critical thinking: this for instance is evident in the peer review dynamic, which we experienced throughout the programme. This was incredibly valuable as it not only provided us with constant feedback but also helped us develop skills that will transcend our academic experience.”
 
What was learning environment like otherwise?

“We had guest lecturers and workshops and we had to hold many presentations, especially during the methods course, which was definitely the most intense course for me. Everyone did fieldwork. They also challenged us by randomly putting us into groups with other students, which was interesting and rewarding. We were also pushed towards being very creative. It was very demanding and it had a lot of parts that were difficult for some. I think that trying to think outside the box with a clear objective in mind was one of the main things that contributed to our development.”
 
Did you get any more practical experience during your Master’s?

“I worked as an evaluator for the UN for eight months during my studies, and I did an internship during my third semester with Professors Magdalena Bexell and Kristina Jönsson, which entailed working on two parallel projects regarding the sustainable development goals and issues of responsibility, both at the national and international level, within the framework of the Agenda 2030.”
 
What do you think of social life in the area and in Sweden?

“I like Lund! Especially during the first year, you can develop a very strong group of friends. I was very lucky. The students in the three programmes – Gender Studies, Development Studies and Global Studies – developed a very strong bond. We did a lot of stuff together, especially at the beginning. With time, people of course form their own groups, and you start experiencing a little bit more of the surroundings, too. Swedish life is very much about the outdoors, especially in the summer and spring. There’s a lot of activities to do in nature and a lot of places to explore. Night life and social life in Malmö and Copenhagen are really active, they complement Lund really well. They are great cities with so much to do, not only to go out partying, but also with a lot of cultural activities.”
 
What are the highlights of your time here so far?

“The friends you make here. You arrive in a moment both of expectation and uncertainty, and I firmly believe that you make very mature connections with people that will stay on as friends, and you learn a lot about yourself through that experience. At the academic level, perhaps it is the challenge: we never got an easy course. I say this in the most positive way:  we always got supported by our teachers in many ways and they always made the effort to make us feel comfortable with them and to break unnecessary barriers. So, it’s the personal connections, both with friends, supervisors and potential colleagues, and the challenge of academia.”
 
Do you have any advice for students coming from Latin America, or Peru specifically?

“Some people think it can be a little difficult to make friends in Sweden. Having said that, many of my best friends here are Swedish. It takes some time, so I would say that you need patience. At an academic level, be prepared for engaging in more critical thinking. Do not confuse being critical with attacks, because people are going to be critical of your work, but in a constructive way. That’s another cultural difference to note. Most people from Latin America that come here come from the cities, and Latin America is culturally very ‘Western’ (so to speak) in many aspects, but Swedish culture is not the same. Adapt, be prepared to change, observe.”
 
Do you have plans or ideas for the future?

“I’ll be staying here for the next two years at least, because of a position as Editorial Manager for the journal of Political Psychology, at the Department of Political Science at Lund University. After that, it’s my intention to apply for a PhD here. I know many professors, fellow research assistants and PhD students, so it would be great to continue here. Other than that, I think Sweden is good at offering international opportunities. If you are international student who has finished a Master’s and are looking for a job, there are many options if you know where to look. I think there are challenges, however, for example many jobs that are in English are advertised in Swedish, but that’s not an issue related to University or the capacity of students. If there’s patience and dedication, you can go to places you don’t even know about.”