Editor's note: The Master's programme Economic Growth, Population and Development changed name to Global Development, Population and Economic Change. The changes apply for studies starting autumn semester 2025 and onwards.
Hi Gonzalo! You graduated from the MSc programme in Global Development, Population and Economic Change in 2022. What have you been up to since your graduation?
Since graduating, I have worked across humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and international development. I spent nearly three years with the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, supporting the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement in conflict-affected regions such as Antioquia and Chocó.
More recently, I became the Regional Manager for Latin America at FutureSense Foundation, where I oversee education, health, livelihoods, and community development programmes across several countries.
The experience I gained during my master's programme, together with the research and analytical skills I developed at LUSEM, helped me make the transition into the UN system and later into field-based roles.
During the 2026–2027 academic year, I will begin a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford at the Blavatnik School of Government. Looking back, my time at Lund played an important role in shaping both my professional path and my commitment to working on development challenges in the Global South.
How did you get your first job after LUSEM?
Like many graduates, I applied to many positions before finding the right opportunity. I was particularly interested in international development, so I focused my applications on organizations working in that field. My first role after LUSEM was an internship with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, where I worked on innovative finance and capital markets.
The experience I gained during my master's programme, together with the research and analytical skills I developed at LUSEM, helped me make the transition into the UN system and later into field-based roles. In particular, I believe that my research internship (during my masters) through Lund University and the University of Ghana, and the exposure it gave me to Sub-Saharan Africa, played a significant role in helping me obtain my internship at the United Nations.
What do you enjoy most about your current job and what are the main challenges?
What I enjoy most is seeing the direct impact of our work on people's lives. Supporting local teams, strengthening educational programmes, and helping communities create opportunities for young people is incredibly rewarding.
The biggest challenge is balancing strategic planning with operational realities. Working across different countries means adapting to diverse cultural contexts, managing limited resources, and responding to unexpected situations while ensuring programmes continue to deliver meaningful outcomes.
Why did you choose your programme at LUSEM?
I wanted a programme that combined rigorous economics with a broader understanding of development. The MSc in Global Development, Population and Economic Change (previously Economic Growth, Population and Development) offered exactly that. I was particularly drawn to its interdisciplinary approach, which connected economic theory with public policy, institutions, and social development.
I wanted a programme that combined rigorous economics with a broader understanding of development. The MSc in Global Development, Population and Economic Change offered exactly that.
Being in Sweden, a country whose model of development is widely recognized around the world, provided me with many valuable insights. At the same time, being far away from my own country and experiencing a different culture allowed me to reflect more deeply on Peru, appreciate it even more, and strengthen my own identity. Lund also offered an international learning environment where I could learn from classmates with very different experiences and perspectives, something that greatly enriched my education.
What skills from your studies do you use the most today?
Analytical thinking is probably the skill I use most. The programme taught me how to evaluate evidence, interpret data, and approach complex development challenges from multiple perspectives.
I also continue to rely on research skills, policy analysis, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to different audiences. These have been invaluable whether working with UN colleagues, government officials, NGOs, or community leaders.
What are your favourite memories from your student days in Lund?
One of my favourite memories is simply the international community that Lund creates. I met people from all over the world, many of whom remain close friends today. Those conversations, both inside and outside the classroom, broadened my perspective in ways that textbooks alone never could.
I was also fortunate to build strong relationships with several professors whom I greatly admire and learned a tremendous amount from. I am very grateful that I am still in touch with them.
We also built a strong Peruvian student community, which is still active today. Through that community, we continue to support new students arriving in Lund, and it is where I met some of my closest friends.
I was also fortunate to build strong relationships with several professors whom I greatly admire and learned a tremendous amount from. I am very grateful that I am still in touch with them. Lund became much more than a place to study; it became a place where I grew both professionally and personally.
