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

Shu from Canada

Why did you decide to study at Lund University?

"I like to think it was fate. I got my Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Toronto 13 years ago, and even though I got accepted to Master’s studies right away, I wanted to do something practical with my education, so I chose to work. A couple of years ago, my husband got a job in Sweden, and it seemed the perfect time to take up my studies again. I happened to meet someone who works for the University and who told me about the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation programme, and it sounded really exciting. I feel like it was meant to be!"
 
What attracted you to the programme?

"I liked that it was highly specialised. I used to work as a technology project manager, which was great but very broad. It also seemed like a fresh approach, tying climate change adaptation to disaster risk management. That appealed to me from both an engineering perspective and from a social perspective. I was also attracted to how international the programme is, and the network and opportunities that could lead to."
 
What do you think of the study environment?

"Lund University is really cooperative and vibrant. There is lots of flexibility and we are encouraged to be creative. We do a lot of group work, which I think is really good, and we work with case studies in order to relate theories to real-world issues. We also have many guest speakers from local municipalities as well as national and international organisations who share their experiences with us. Our teachers take really good care of us. They go above and beyond to help us, even tapping into their own networks to find us internships. Not everyone choses to do an internship, but I felt strongly that I wanted to make the most of the opportunity. I’m currently applying for an internship position in Kenya, which I’m really excited about."
 
What is it like to live in Sweden?

"I love living here. It’s great to be able to bike everywhere and use public transport to get around. I love that I can just come out of my building and go round the corner to do my grocery shopping. There is definitely a learning curve when you first arrive, and the cost of living is high, but you get used to it after a while. And the University can often help with things like finding accommodation, which can sometimes be tricky."
 
What would you say to people who are thinking about studying at Lund University?

"It’s fantastic here! The network you build is phenomenal. If I had still been in Canada I would have applied here anyway, just for the experience of living in a Nordic country. I now know why Sweden is always listed as one of the best countries in the world to live in!"