Ondrej, tell us more about why you chose to continue your studies in the EMP programme!
I chose to study the EMP programme at the IIIEE because I would like to, hopefully, contribute towards mitigating one of the greatest challenges of our time. That might sound a bit lofty (sorry!), but I’m very curious about how the world works in general. This might, perhaps, explain my choice of a bachelor’s in economic history: I see studying the EMP programme as part of my broader curiosity of the natural environment. Since we are rapidly losing ground against climate change (in most measurable metrics), it’s time I did something about it.
Also, having heard about the international profile of the EMP programme, I knew I would be at right at home. Having lived in 5 countries, it is always a pleasure to meet like-minded people from all around the world. I am happy to say that I have definitely found my crowd at the IIIEE.
Where do you see yourself in your career in five years?
That’s a tricky question. The truth is that I am very eager to learn about lots of different areas and am very curious about them too—I have a background in student journalism but also a significant interest in international relations, geographical information systems (GIS), history, economics and, of course, the environment. So, I could see myself doing anything from another academic degree (in, let’s say, biology) to pursuing a career in international climate negotiations.
I think it’s very thrilling and inspiring to be in the room where these agreements of international importance take place, with delegates from all over the world coming together to reach a compromise. Being part of one of these would be the dream for me.
A quick note about those climate negotiations: recently, I was assigned to write a paper about the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, an international treaty about the regulation of the cross-border movement of genetically modified organisms. During my research I came across first-person accounts of the negotiations, and they seemed so… exciting! I think it’s very thrilling and inspiring to be in the room where these agreements of international importance take place, with delegates from all over the world coming together to reach a compromise. Being part of one of these would be the dream for me. Maybe not in five years, but perhaps in ten? So, if you, reader, are organising Sweden’s next COP delegation, count me in!
What are the key insights from your studies in the bachelor’s programme Economy and Society that you found useful in your current studies?
Despite what an outsider may think, economic history is an incredibly relevant field, even today. Broadly, it makes you consider the wider implications of key historical events in a new perspective (e.g. the lasting impact of settler colonialism or the adoption of the gold standard). I genuinely believe this kind of knowledge, despite it not being intuitively linked to environmental management, is very helpful.
Economic history is an incredibly relevant field, even today. Broadly, it makes you consider the wider implications of key historical events in a new perspective.
I have already been part of in-class discussions about policymaking or industrial processes where my knowledge of economics (and history!) been useful. Perhaps the most important insight is that our actions have impacts we may not be able to foresee.
What do you find to be the biggest differences between studying a bachelor’s programme and a master’s programme?
The workload, by far. It’s not even funny how much more work my master’s is. I am not sure if every master’s is like mine, but the fact that we have to spend many days from 8-17 in the classroom is quite impressive. I think this difference is accentuated because my bachelor’s degree was in the social sciences, where self-study is emphasised. That being said, I am very grateful for the many contact hours we are fortunate to have at the IIIEE—despite the long days!
Share with us your fondest memory from studying at LUSEM.
Since I started studying during the Covid-19 pandemic, I unfortunately saw very little of my classmates. However, there was a brief lull in the pandemic measures at the beginning of the 2020 autumn semester, and my class got together for a classic sittning (a type of festive student dinner) at a nation (kind of like a fraternity) in Lund. There were lots of singing, dancing and people having a good time. It was my first-time experiencing Lund’s famous student life!
