Jack Radford
I’m from a small town on the south coast of the UK, which was a great place for a sporty and outdoorsy kid to grow up. I enjoy football, rugby, sailing, swimming and hiking. My other main interest is traveling. I studied for my undergraduate degree in Economics and, as part of the program, I spent some time volunteering in rural Bangladesh, where I helped marginalized women acquire microfinance to set up their own businesses. After university, I worked as a management consultant in Zurich; it was there that I discovered a passion for all things alpine and indulged my love of the outdoors with plenty of hiking, skiing and climbing. Four years later I went traveling in Latin America for a year, followed by six months of backpacking around the Middle East and Asia. I’m now in Spain, studying for a Master in International Development at IE University.
“I chose IE University because of its international reputation, global student cohort and practical approach to teaching”
The springboard to an international career
Having grown up near the sea, Jack Radford has always been an outdoorsy, sociable type, keen on sport and traveling. He loves discovering new places and meeting new people and so one of the attractions of the Master in International Development was the fantastic mix of students from around the world. The range of backgrounds, nationalities and experiences of his classmates has been a real plus for Jack.
Making new friends and discovering more about different cultures is something he really enjoyed during his backpacking days, so the international aspect of studying at IE University suits him down to the ground. This multicultural student cohort has also ensured lively and fun discussions in class and given him added insights into the topics he’s studying. Jack was attracted to IE University partly because of its international reputation; the chance to mix with such a broad variety of people has really added to his learning experience and social life here.
“I’ve only been at IE University for two months, but so far, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Another thing that particularly impressed him was the university’s practical approach to teaching. With the program’s connections to the United Nations, Jack hopes that this Master In International Development will give him the opportunity to shift from profit-based consultancy to a career where he can make a more tangible contribution to society. As someone keen to move into a career in development, Jack was thrilled to be able to attend a fascinating talk by Amina J. Mohamed—the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN—about her experiences in driving global change. These ties to one of the most vital global organizations offer incomparable value and set the program apart for Jack.
When choosing where to study, Jack also wanted somewhere with a focus on practical training—and he’s found that at IE University. One assignment he really enjoyed was a group project that focused on Mozambique. As part of his Economic Development class, the project had them analyzing the constraints that the country has faced in its economic development. Jack really enjoyed the chance to do such in-depth, hands-on work related to international development in a group-learning environment.
But, it’s not all work and no play. Apart from the in-class activities, Jack’s also had a chance to see what Madrid has to offer students in their free time. As an avid soccer fan, he relished the chance to watch games at the brand new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, home of Atlético Madrid—a team that shares a strip with his beloved Southampton Football Club. For someone who loves nothing more than watching and playing sports, Madrid has lots to keep him busy outside the classroom.
Being a student in Madrid has been educational thanks to IE University, but it’s also been lots of fun. Jack’s been amazed by this city of culture, art, music and dance. There’s so much to do—from parks to entertainment venues, restaurants and more. Furthermore, there are always people out and about, sipping delicious café con leche or cervezas at the many outdoor cafes. This huge array of extracurricular activities has helped Jack make lots of great friends among the other students. For him, it’s a capital city that almost feels like a small village, mostly due to the fun and welcoming people of Madrid.
IE University was Jack’s first choice because of its international reputation, practical approach to teaching and global student cohort—and he hasn’t regretted it for a second. It’s only been two months into the program, but Jack has enjoyed every minute and can’t wait to see what the future holds, both at IE University and for his career.
