14/08/2023
Studying at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs is an opportunity like no other to enrich your personal and professional profile through real-world experiences.
At IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, international skills development is at its most potent. We’ve designed each and every one of our programs to give students the opportunity to find what interests them most. Then they’ll build the skills they need to pursue their ambition. But, what makes us different is the number of opportunities available to our students to enhance their educational experience. This applies both personally and professionally. We strive to offer our students a well-rounded education whereby extricurricular experiences enrich classroom learning.
We caught up with some students to hear about the various opportunities at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs. Read on to find out more.
Learning international skills development in the field
Many of our programs at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs provide the opportunity for students to attend an Immersion Week to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field. Opportunities like these are tailored to a range of programs with specific industry talks and visits.
Each cycle, Immersion Week focuses on today’s most relevant challenges for our world’s leaders. From sustainability to maintaining effective international relations or the future of international development, Immersion Week showcases to students the shifting priorities in our global landscape and how top institutions are addressing them. Above all, it’s a chance for students to learn more about their future prospects and meet leaders in politics, economics or global affairs.
At a recent Immersion Week, students attended talks led by the European Parliament, NATO, the OECD, UNDP and UNESCO with a view to building hands-on experience to help their professional profile stand out.
Alec Barcenilla, Master in International Relations student, was particularly drawn to the program thanks to it being designed in partnership with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and the opportunity to attend an Immersion Week. Master in International Relations student Manuela Mesa described her Immersion Week as “an incredible opportunity to enhance our knowledge and gain practical insights” as well as
“engage and ask questions directly to professionals in the field, which provides a distinct advantage.”
Pursuing a personal ambition
Immersion Week aligns with students’ goals and interests. These trips offer firsthand, immersive exposure to leading organizations, including at institutions where many students may hope to work. Students get a taste of their future and an opportunity for international skills development.
With visits to the International Organizations for Migration, the World Trade Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, Impact Hub, and even the UN HQ in Geneva and UNSSC in Turin, Immersion Week offers students many opportunities to broaden their horizons. In fact, we designed the Master in International Development in partnership with the UNSSC. This stood out to Ruby Anastacio when applying. She was confident the program would enable her to connect with leading professionals in the field and especially within the UN ecosystem. And Immersion Week allows her to do exactly that.
Another Master in International Development student Cornelius Kyei hopes to work at the UN one day, so this experience was a “one-of-a-kind” opportunity to get a taste of what his future holds.
The value of networking for international skills development
During Immersion Week, students have the chance to see how these inspiring professionals work and ask questions directly. This chance to network plays a critical role in their future career ambitions. Both students and organizations alike greatly appreciate the opportunity.
Many of our programs offer Immersion Weeks as a chance to apply classroom theory to the real world. This is vital for international skills development that works on the global stage.
Konrad Gritschneder, Master in Applied Economics student, told us that the networking side of the experience provided him with a range of insights, which was an “extremely unique and great opportunity.”
Master in International Development student, Charbel-Jesus Al Daouk Nasr, claimed a highlight of his IE experience was the connections he made. He also emphasized the valuable opportunity to meet experts in the field, including UN representatives.
These networking experiences open students’ minds to the wide range of doors open to them. This is thanks to the skills they gain at IE University, which are a turning point in deciding career paths.
Master in Applied Economics student Sichen Zhou has also taken every opportunity to expand her learning beyond the classroom. Sichen Zhou attended the 22nd World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Saudi Arabia as an extracurricular opportunity through her program. She gained selection and sponsorship to attend the event, where she met global leaders and discussed sustainable tourism.
Opportunity is at the heart of our philosophy
Many of our programs at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs offer a range of opportunities closer to home.
Master in Applied Economics student Diego Parisi has also made the most of the resources available to him at IE University to help decide his career path. He says that the IE Talent & Careers team and the IE University Library provide hands-on learning experiences and extracurricular activities. The IE Talent & Career team organizes industry-specific talks, CV and cover letter guidance and job application workshops to help students take the next steps of their professional careers.
