APPLICATION ESSAY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE - Max 2000 characters (I have limited answer)
Throughout my studies and professional experiences, I have developed a strong interest in transnational crime in (A country) and its domestic consequences for social stability, particularly in human trafficking cases.
My internship at NCB Interpol XXX significantly shaped my determination to work in transnational crime prevention and policy, focusing on a community-based approach to handling human trafficking. At the end of my internship, I had the opportunity to speak with the Head of the Transnational and International Crime Unit. I shared my concern based on my experience at the Embassy of XXX in Bangkok, where I observed that several repatriated victims of human trafficking later returned to the same illegal jobs and were exploited again. I asked him, "What is your opinion as a law enforcement officer?" He responded that in such cases, they are neither purely victims nor perpetrators, and although they cannot always be convicted, certain rights may be revoked as consequences. That conversation stayed with me and led me to reflect on the complicity of victimhood of the transnational crime issue in (A country).
Academically, I have taken courses such as Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Border and Transnationalism, Security and Strategic Studies, and Maritime Policy Studies. These provided a strong theoretical foundation, yet also revealed a gap in my knowledge. While I can analyse security challenges, I lack formal training in designing practical policy frameworks that create tangible community-level impact.
For this reason, I seek to pursue further studies in public policy. The Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne attracts me because electives such as Migration and Development closely align with my focus on forced migration and structural exploitation. I am also particularly interested in Thinking and Acting Ethically, as transnational crime work often involves complex moral dilemmas. I believe both subjects could build analytical and ethical policy foundations.
At the same time, the Master of Public Policy at RMIT University attract me because it is the only program in Australia offering a specific elective on Human Trafficking. This would deepen my understanding of the issue within a broader policy framework, beyond a purely criminal justice perspective.
P.S please if u can help me improve my essay, I would like for you to brutally honest about it
Throughout my studies and professional experiences, I have developed a strong interest in transnational crime in (A country) and its domestic consequences for social stability, particularly in human trafficking cases.
My internship at NCB Interpol XXX significantly shaped my determination to work in transnational crime prevention and policy, focusing on a community-based approach to handling human trafficking. At the end of my internship, I had the opportunity to speak with the Head of the Transnational and International Crime Unit. I shared my concern based on my experience at the Embassy of XXX in Bangkok, where I observed that several repatriated victims of human trafficking later returned to the same illegal jobs and were exploited again. I asked him, "What is your opinion as a law enforcement officer?" He responded that in such cases, they are neither purely victims nor perpetrators, and although they cannot always be convicted, certain rights may be revoked as consequences. That conversation stayed with me and led me to reflect on the complicity of victimhood of the transnational crime issue in (A country).
Academically, I have taken courses such as Terrorism and Transnational Crime, Border and Transnationalism, Security and Strategic Studies, and Maritime Policy Studies. These provided a strong theoretical foundation, yet also revealed a gap in my knowledge. While I can analyse security challenges, I lack formal training in designing practical policy frameworks that create tangible community-level impact.
For this reason, I seek to pursue further studies in public policy. The Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne attracts me because electives such as Migration and Development closely align with my focus on forced migration and structural exploitation. I am also particularly interested in Thinking and Acting Ethically, as transnational crime work often involves complex moral dilemmas. I believe both subjects could build analytical and ethical policy foundations.
At the same time, the Master of Public Policy at RMIT University attract me because it is the only program in Australia offering a specific elective on Human Trafficking. This would deepen my understanding of the issue within a broader policy framework, beyond a purely criminal justice perspective.
P.S please if u can help me improve my essay, I would like for you to brutally honest about it
