What Simone says about the Master's in Environmental Management and Policy

Simone from Italy

About the programme and the teaching style

How did you find out about this programme and why did you choose it?

"Studying environmental policy was something that I wanted to do since my last year of Bachelor’s studies. As I was specialising in economics, I became aware of how our society and economic activity impact the environment, and I really wanted to contribute to this field. Given my background, the policy seemed like the right path for me. It was also during my last Bachelor’s year that I got to know Lund University, through an online presentation organised between my B.A. and one of the Master’s programmes offered at Lund. Combining these two “discoveries” I found out about EMP. I was immediately attracted by the programme, its combination of policy and management and the extremely international student group."

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

"Absolutely! I’m really enjoying the programme so far. It is very well-structured, the quality of education is high and everything we study always has direct possible real-world applications. There is special attention from the staff to us students and to our learning journey, as we have constant opportunities to receive feedback and guidance or support, and the relationship among us students is also just the best. The batch is like a family to me."

What is the best thing about your programme?

"The people! My classmates are truly what have made the past two semesters so unforgettable. Since the very beginning, we formed strong bonds over what essentially were our differences, since we all came from different backgrounds and countries. Those bonds became stronger and stronger as we shared activities, classes, discussions, lunches, nights, trips and much more. To this day, I still learn something new from my batchmates every single day, and that adds so much value to this programme for me."

What do you think of the teaching style at Lund?

"Informal and down-to-earth are the first words that popped up in my mind. Teachers here don’t feel distant. Although some (necessary) degree of authority is still present, they all are extremely friendly and available to help, discuss ideas, offer advice and more, during breaks or outside of class. I’ve never felt uncomfortable with any teacher so far, and the fact that we can call them by their first names, often make jokes and sometimes even engage in activities outside of class with some of them, makes it all the more relaxed and enjoyable. I think this overall makes the learning journey so much better. Although this is something that varies and is very much relative to one’s own past experiences, I think it’s safe to say that teachers in Lund are relatively informal and easygoing. This is especially true at the IIIEE (International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics) where pretty much all of them know us students personally and engage with us on a daily basis, in or outside of class."

Why should prospective students choose this programme?

"I think EMP is the right choice for those who want a programme that prepares students to work in sustainability with a holistic approach to both the public and the private sphere. The programme is strongly interdisciplinary but, at the same time, has a very practical and solution-oriented approach. Interdisciplinarity is also reflected in all the different backgrounds of the students, making EMP a place where different skill sets, points of view, and experiences from all over the world meet, are exchanged and inspired."

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

"Much of EMP is about practical experience. In class, we always have group and individual projects where content is applied, study visits to production sites, power and waste management plants, and guest lectures and workshops with practitioners. Outside of class, we have two main practical experiences. First is an internship/consultancy module at the end of the first year, where we can choose between finding an internship on our own or doing consulting work in groups in a local firm assigned by the IIIEE. Secondly, there is a consultancy module in the second year, where we work in small groups for firms/municipalities/organisations in Sweden and around the world to solve real sustainability issues."

How international is your programme and what is it like to study in that kind of environment?

"I honestly could not think of an environment more international than the EMP programme. Among slightly more than 30 students in my batch, we represent 24 different nationalities. This number becomes even larger if one considers the whole IIIEE student body and teaching staff. Having such an environment is unbelievably cool and creates such a unique atmosphere with so many opportunities for exchange, and it just adds so much to the already immersive experience we have in the Swedish culture here in Lund."

Thoughts on being an international student at Lund, extracurricular activities and Sweden

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

"Lund is a city that, in my opinion, is perfectly tailored to students, and where, at least for me, it was really easy to fit in and feel at home. Coming from abroad, and despite already knowing that everybody spoke English here and that Lund had many foreign students, I was really surprised by just how international the city and the university really are. As an international student, Lund offers countless opportunities to engage in student life through associations of all sorts, student nations events and other cultural events in the city, making it easy to find like-minded people and make friends. In short, I’d say it’s pretty much impossible to get bored!"

Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

"Yes, I am! Besides studying, I’m working part-time at the IIIEE helping with MOOCs development, and volunteering as external relations officer at Circle Centre, a local NGO that fights overconsumption and waste through a sharing economy model. Once a week I also play innebandy (indoor hockey), a very popular sport up here in Sweden, with some of my classmates!"

What surprised you the most about Sweden?

"Sweden is too vast and diverse to answer in short, but what I can say considering my experience in Lund is that I was surprised by its tranquillity. By tranquil I don’t mean quiet, monotone and certainly not boring – I mean the absence of most of that stress one could find in a big city. This makes it much easier to focus on things such as personal relationships, studies, work and leisure! Moving abroad always means stepping out of one’s comfort bubble, but Lund (and the people I’ve met here, clearly) made it easy for me to adapt and start a new life. Coming from Rome, Italy, I was used to my hectic city life and here I found a slower lifestyle, which I saw is not only mine but something that many people embrace."