The internship and involvement in a student organization was a key experience for Katharina
Katharina Blenk from Germany studied the Master European Studies between 2017 and 2019. Today she lives in Berlin and works for a political communication consultancy.
– I mostly work for German ministries, but also other political organizations and develop communication campaigns, organize events, and advise our clients on how to better communicate with citizens.
What made you choose the University of Gothenburg for your education?
The study program caught my interest immediately, since it is interdisciplinary, and I was able to choose from a wide spectrum of courses. Also, I liked the idea of moving to Sweden and experiencing a new country and culture during my two years of studying.
What did you like best about the University and your study program?
The fact that our professors were approachable and whenever you had a question or a problem, you were able to talk to them. I also liked the many choices you had when choosing courses in the second year and the possibility of doing internships.
Where did you do your internship?
At the Foreign Ministry and the Federal Press Agency in Germany, where I learned a great deal about how politics work. The internationality of the program was definitely a huge advantage. We didn’t only study European politics, but we were actually sitting in the classrooms with people from all over Europe and from around the world.
You were also active in the student community around the program?
Yes! For instance, I was involved in Brännpunkt Europa, a student-led organization, where we organized events and lectures about topics that we, as students, found interesting. We were able to invite some really interesting people, experts, and politicians during my time in Gothenburg.
In which other ways have you benefited from your education?
I of course studied and learned a lot about politics in general and European Politics in specific, which helps me in my daily work today. But besides the theoretical aspect, my time in Gothenburg was enriching in so many ways: I made wonderful friends all over the world, I was able to immerse into a new culture and broaden my horizon. I loved my time in Gothenburg the nature is beautiful and the city with all its cute little cafes and bars is really charming.