Why this programme

Hi! My name is Kathy. I was born and grew up in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is one of the most fertile deltas in the world, producing half of Vietnam’s rice and providing livelihoods for around 18 million people including my family. 

The Delta is my home, but every year it sinks by 1 – 3 cm due to impacts of climate change. Already several years when I was in secondary school, my parents had taken me home on our scooter with the water up to our knees. Research estimated that by the end of this century the Delta will be completely under water. I might be dead by then, but if I have children and grandchildren, I fear that they will never know that home. 

I decided to study in the Netherlands in hope to learn about the Dutch way of managing delta, At the same time, I also wanted an interdisciplinary programme which focuses on solving the interconnected issues from the public management level. 

MISOC offers exactly what I needed. Courses like Global Development and International Migration helped me to see the nexus between climate change, policy responses, and social costs. From there, Policy Analysis and Allocation of Public Resources taught me how to best organize public resources to address such issues in ways that are both practically feasible and fair for the people involved. The programme has introduced me to different ways to saving the Mekong Delta, which I hope to explore further in my master’s and my work after graduation.

But it’s just not the programme that makes MISOC inspiring, it’s also the people in it. MISOC students are probably the most passionate and socially engaged bunch I’ve seen on campus. From running the Sustainability Hub to organizing guest lecture on social issues such as women rights in Iran to hosting a War & Justice essay competition, MISOC students are already pushing for social changes. 

So if I must summarise MISOC in one sentence: MISOC is the programme for those passionate about solving social issues using public tools, and for those who is not afraid to lead changes. I am very proud to call myself a MISOC student, and I’m confident you will too. 

I am Patryk, 21, and come from Olsztyn, Poland. I travel, cook, and meet friends, but I also want to bring about a positive societal change in the world.

My family’s history is mixed and full of migrations, for a long time I suffered from a disability and I believe both have made me aware of many challenges that societies face. In high school, together with my friends, I have founded an association - Olsztyn 2.0, helping other young people develop in my hometown in Poland, in a region with the highest unemployment rate in the country. 

Before studying Management of International Social Challenges at Erasmus University, I worked for the Zwolnieni z Teorii Foundation in Warsaw, where I co-created a programme for high school teachers helping them to introduce social initiatives as a school subject in Polish high schools. I loved it and wanted to further develop in Social Sciences, to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons behind social issues and the consequences of my actions. After a year at Erasmus University, I can already say that the programme has really broadened my horizons.

MISOC is not only a study programme for me, what I really love about it is the diverse student community, with mixed backgrounds and experiences. Apart from studying, I am enjoying my time having long conversations about the world, traveling together and in a way, I think my fellow students feel like a second family to me. Since I got to Rotterdam, I did not doubt that I have people I can count on. 

In the future, I would like to combine the understanding of the world that I get from the Management of International Social Challenges with a business master programme and become a social entrepreneur.

As our world and the news surrounding it becomes more complex every day, it is not difficult to find yourself overwhelmed. The world needs change and innovation, and the younger generations are aching to make a difference. But we often don’t even know where to begin. Many of us have a vast array of interests and choosing one subject to specialise in may close doors that we are not yet ready to close. There is, however, a potential solution in the form of the Management of International Social Challenges programme at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

One and a half years into my studies, and we have already delved into international migration, trade, law and regulation, political science, as well as economics and the make-up of the European Union. I find myself understanding, as well as critically analysing, the most pressing issues in society in a completely different way. Major political decisions, economic fluctuations, changes in demographics: these processes begin to make sense, and the solutions are now within our reach of understanding.

Aside from significantly furthering my knowledge of how the world around us works, I have made friends for life in a city that is pulsing with an enlivening student vibe. Its early days, but my post-high school life couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.

Hola! My name is Oriana. I am 21 years old and I am from Venezuela. I love walking in the forest, debating nerdy politics, cooking, and reading. Whilst I was growing up in a very conflicted country, many ideas on how to solve social problems crossed my mind. The situation back home was very difficult to endure, so I decided to go to study abroad. I thought that by getting a great education in a foreign country, I could one day confront the challenges of my own nation (and this is still the plan). However, in the Netherlands, if found more than educational resources, I’ve found a place to live a fantastic university experience and grow (excluding the bad weather).

In Management of International Social Challenges, I’ve been learning about the world in an interdisciplinary and multicultural way. We don’t only study international organisations or the development of foreign countries, but we study with people from all of the places we talk about. Even though I find the theories and skills that I’ve learned in my program extremely valuable, I believe that our study methods and environment have enriched me even more as a human. Our small-scale education requires a lot of interaction, which have taught me to communicate better and understand the background of different people. I think this is something very important to keep into account when choosing MISOC, you have to be ready to participate and discuss a lot!

In the future, I want to work for the United Nations. I am planning on following a master’s degree related to conflict resolution in the Netherlands. I hope that my path will allow me to help those in need, not only in my home country but in the rest of the world. I know it sounds ambitious, but our education prepares us for all kinds of challenges!