What AnaCapri says about the Master's in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation

AnaCapri from the USA

What is your educational background?

"My undergraduate degree is in Environmental Studies, from Lewis & Clark College in the USA. Part of my major included a self-designed concentration, which I used to study the intersections between public health, risk perception, and natural hazards."

Why did you choose Lund University? What were your expectations before coming here?

"I only applied to one Master’s programme, so DRMCCA was really the driving force behind me coming to Lund. I was looking for a programme that had more of an emphasis on disaster risk reduction, rather than solely focusing on emergency response, but still was connected to the environmental aspect of my Bachelor’s. This programme combined my two interests perfectly."

Have your expectations been fulfilled? What has surprised you?

"I have been extremely happy with my time in Lund. All of the courses have been engaging, with interesting readings, guest lectures and discussions. The instructors also provide valuable insights from their practical experiences. I was surprised by how collaborative the Swedish education model is, and how much of an emphasis is placed on group work. Since this is a highly collaborative field, it makes sense to practice this, and I definitely appreciate working with my group because everyone brings their different backgrounds into this shared interest to create a really lovely and dynamic working environment. There is also a lot of care from the course coordinators and administrators that make the students feel supported and satisfied.

After returning from my internship, it is clear to me just how relevant the concepts, theories, and frameworks we study are in 'the real world'. Each course offered some valuable tools to the project I was working on, and I felt confident in my knowledge base and skills for that role."

What does the programme entail?

"The programme is about creating connections and balance between theory and practice. The courses offer a holistic approach to the realities of the disaster risk management/climate change adaptation fields, from both an academic perspective and from guest lectures given by practitioners in the field. All courses are split between lectures and seminars, where there is an opportunity to engage more in-depth with the material, often in a highly practical and relevant context. Material can always be applied across the different courses, demonstrating the synergies between the concepts that will be necessary to understand the field. The structure of this programme is extremely intentional and well thought-out."

What is the difference between being a student at LTH (The Faculty of Engineering) compared to your previous university studies?

"Lund University and LTH are much bigger than my previous university and have a much more international student body. This has led to a wide breadth of experiences in the classroom which has been instrumental in creating vibrant class discussions. The lack of emphasis on grades has also been a refreshing component of studying here, as I can focus on learning and engaging with the material, rather than trying to perform for a high grade."

What do you do in your spare time?

"I try to stay active and away from the computer. These days it’s mostly climbing, biking, and running but I am also involved with the circus training group in Lund. In Lund and Malmö there is always something fun to do and I’ve enjoyed getting to explore other parts of Skåne as well!"

Any other thoughts you have, that you think could be interesting to people applying for this programme?

"Though the number of people in the DRMCCA programme is small, there is a robust network of alumni and professionals who have worked with the programme that have stayed connected and engaged after they’ve moved on from Lund. The network is always willing to connect and share their experiences and I think this really shows how special and tight-knit the DRMCCA community is."