ClaraRA
Jan 14, 2018
Scholarship / Scholarship Personal Statement for Erasmus Mundus Master Programme in International Security [2]
1.What is your main motivation for applying to the IMSISS postgraduate degree?
2.How will your educational background and/or work experience inform your engagement with this programme?
3.How will this programme support your future career development?
Max 600 words
Security, intelligence and strategy are interrelated themes that are at the top of the international agenda, shaping policies, defining relationships and saving or costing lives. Throughout my academic journey, I have considered these subjects through a multidisciplinary perspective, taking courses on Human Rights, Geopolitics, Global Issues, Security and Defense Studies and an extension course on Humanitarian Law, Psychoanalysis and International Conflicts.
As my academic trajectory highlights, I find essential to go beyond traditional international relations theories and consider local and regional intricacies as well as culture, religion and identity matters when evaluating security issues. My bachelor's thesis analyses this interconnection by reviewing how local culture, imperialism, globalisation and identity radicalization play a role in shaping today's terrorist threats.
I am also strongly motivated by the course's innovative and interdisciplinary take on contemporary security challenges, the opportunities of practical skills development, the continuous mobility across leading European universities, the access to world class researchers and, finally, the work placement opportunities, which would enable me the invaluable experience of turning my dissertation into an of-value output to an International Organization.
During graduation, I was a research assistant at the Laboratory of Latin American Studies at UFRJ and investigated cases of political violence in Peru, finding that they were widespread even during peacetime. This experience gave me a background on research, data management and analytics, which I am looking forward to further developing during this programme by learning new research techniques and methodologies and putting them to use through the production of policy briefs and papers. Moreover, taking classes such as International Security and Strategic Thought, Political Terrorism, Conflict Studies and Terrorism and Counterterrorism will also complement my current background, while significantly broadening my scope of expertise and making me a more well-rounded professional and academic. Finally, I also strongly believe that, due to my constructivist and identity focused background, I have a fresh and relevant perspective to bring to this Master.
My academic experience also encompasses a 2 semesters exchange program to the Porto University, in Portugal and a course on French Civilization in Paris at Sorbonne University, which helped me develop a multicultural mindset, flexibility and team work. On the professional side, I volunteered in an organization in the countryside of Mexico, where I worked on providing rural women access to education, medical and legal support through convoys. This experience made more resilient, culturally sensitive and proactive, which are essential to sucessfuly completing a Master as broad as this one.
I also have extensive risk assessment experience in multinational corporations, such as Willis Towers Watson and Nissan Motor Corporation. From 2016 to 2017, I worked with Risk Management for Nissan Latin America, where I supported the overseeing of the operations in 38 countries. Besides developing intercultural communication, creativity and multitasking habilities, I also developed data analytics capabilities and used them to assess compliance risks in the region.
If given a place in this Master, I will have the opportunity of deepening the risk management skills I have developed in the private sector and applying them to a broader scope, addressing security matters within a global, national and regional context. I will acquire the expertise of critically evaluating security concerns while considering the ethical implications, strategic tactics and potential outcomes, which will enable me to either further my studies through a PhD or chase a career shift to International Development areas, which is a professional goal of mine. Furthermore, based on my studies and work experience, my multi-disciplinary nature and my consistent history of dedication and good performance, I strongly feel that I am an excellent candidate for this Master.
1.What is your main motivation for applying to the IMSISS postgraduate degree?
2.How will your educational background and/or work experience inform your engagement with this programme?
3.How will this programme support your future career development?
show what makes you stand out as a candidate
Max 600 words
Security, intelligence and strategy are interrelated themes that are at the top of the international agenda, shaping policies, defining relationships and saving or costing lives. Throughout my academic journey, I have considered these subjects through a multidisciplinary perspective, taking courses on Human Rights, Geopolitics, Global Issues, Security and Defense Studies and an extension course on Humanitarian Law, Psychoanalysis and International Conflicts.
As my academic trajectory highlights, I find essential to go beyond traditional international relations theories and consider local and regional intricacies as well as culture, religion and identity matters when evaluating security issues. My bachelor's thesis analyses this interconnection by reviewing how local culture, imperialism, globalisation and identity radicalization play a role in shaping today's terrorist threats.
I am also strongly motivated by the course's innovative and interdisciplinary take on contemporary security challenges, the opportunities of practical skills development, the continuous mobility across leading European universities, the access to world class researchers and, finally, the work placement opportunities, which would enable me the invaluable experience of turning my dissertation into an of-value output to an International Organization.
During graduation, I was a research assistant at the Laboratory of Latin American Studies at UFRJ and investigated cases of political violence in Peru, finding that they were widespread even during peacetime. This experience gave me a background on research, data management and analytics, which I am looking forward to further developing during this programme by learning new research techniques and methodologies and putting them to use through the production of policy briefs and papers. Moreover, taking classes such as International Security and Strategic Thought, Political Terrorism, Conflict Studies and Terrorism and Counterterrorism will also complement my current background, while significantly broadening my scope of expertise and making me a more well-rounded professional and academic. Finally, I also strongly believe that, due to my constructivist and identity focused background, I have a fresh and relevant perspective to bring to this Master.
My academic experience also encompasses a 2 semesters exchange program to the Porto University, in Portugal and a course on French Civilization in Paris at Sorbonne University, which helped me develop a multicultural mindset, flexibility and team work. On the professional side, I volunteered in an organization in the countryside of Mexico, where I worked on providing rural women access to education, medical and legal support through convoys. This experience made more resilient, culturally sensitive and proactive, which are essential to sucessfuly completing a Master as broad as this one.
I also have extensive risk assessment experience in multinational corporations, such as Willis Towers Watson and Nissan Motor Corporation. From 2016 to 2017, I worked with Risk Management for Nissan Latin America, where I supported the overseeing of the operations in 38 countries. Besides developing intercultural communication, creativity and multitasking habilities, I also developed data analytics capabilities and used them to assess compliance risks in the region.
If given a place in this Master, I will have the opportunity of deepening the risk management skills I have developed in the private sector and applying them to a broader scope, addressing security matters within a global, national and regional context. I will acquire the expertise of critically evaluating security concerns while considering the ethical implications, strategic tactics and potential outcomes, which will enable me to either further my studies through a PhD or chase a career shift to International Development areas, which is a professional goal of mine. Furthermore, based on my studies and work experience, my multi-disciplinary nature and my consistent history of dedication and good performance, I strongly feel that I am an excellent candidate for this Master.
