Job Perspectives Arts and Culture

Your best choice

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© 2010 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht | text, interviews and concept: Marketing & Communications, Department Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) | text editing: Femke Kools, www.femkools.nl | translation: Krijnen Communicatie, margot.krijnen@home.nl | Layout and production: Océ Business Services, Maastricht | Although this brochure was made with the utmost care, no rights can be attained from it.

Contents

Job Perspectives 3

‘Doctoraal’ Arts and SciencesKatja Weitering 4Marieke Houben 6Daan Nieber 8Simone Melis 10Marcia Luyten 12Karlijn van der Graaf 14Ariane Limburg 16Marlies Hanifer 18

Master Arts and SciencesEva de Valk 20Robert Buzink 22

Master Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and EducationKarina Kottovà 24Felix de Clerck 26

Master Media CultureKartika Oktorina 28Jan Smeets 30

Master European Studies on Society, Science and TechnologyCarlos Quiros Campos 32Michael Nagler 34

Servicepage 35

Job Perspectives

Since the start of the Arts and Culture programme in 1991 at Maastricht University, about thousand students have graduated. They have swarmed all over the world and work in all kinds of jobs. It turns out that their job perspectives are extremely favourable. Our alumni work among others in the art and culture sector, for the government, in trade and industry, at non-governmental organisations, in the communication sector, in politics, in education and in academics. In this brochure, we have collected several examples of jobs in which our alumni have wound up. This collection gives a representative idea of the professional opportunities for Arts and Culture students. The stories are told by alumni who earned their bachelor’s degree and/or master’s degree here.* They not only talk about the job they are doing, but also how they got there. It turns out, for example, that an internship is very important, especially if it is in line with your specialisation and thesis. An internship offers the work experience that employers demand and gives you the opportunity to fi nd out what exactly you want. More tips you will fi nd in this brochure.The opportunities are plenty, the choice is yours!

* The Arts and Culture programme started in 1991 as a ‘doctoraal’ programme Arts and Sciences (AS). The ‘doctoraal’ degree is comparable to the current master’s

degree. The last ‘doctoraal’ student graduated in 2007. With the implementation of the BaMa structure in 2002, the study programme changed into a three-year

bachelor programme in Arts and Culture. From 2005, fi ve accredited master programmes were added, namely the MA Arts and Sciences, MA Arts and Heritage: Policy,

Management and Education, MA Media Culture, MA European Studies on Society, Science and Technology and the research master MPhil Cultures of Arts, Science and

Technology. Alumni of this two-year research master programme are not present in this brochure because the fi rst cohort only recently graduated.

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Katja Weitering

Age: 32 Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 1999Job: curator of the Cobra Museum for Modern Art in Amstelveen

“AS was love at first sight”

‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences

Katja’s career consists of a series of steps that ultimately led her to what she likes best: working for a museum. “I am originally interested in art because my parents often took me to exhibitions. Therefore, I initially wanted to study history of art, but when a friend showed me the brochure of Maastricht University and I read about the Arts and Science programme (AS), I was completely sold. The wide interdisciplinary approach, which embedded my interest in art in a much broader context, was exactly what I wanted.”

Art criticDuring her studies she decides to study abroad for one year. “AS had incited my passion for writing and I wanted to gain more in-depth knowledge of art review.

I could follow a one-year master’s programme in Art Review at the City University of London. That perfectly connected with what I had already learned at AS: processing large quantities of information, learning to think critically, having an eye for complexity and writing different kinds of texts with a certain audience in your head. Skills I still use every day. An additional advantage was that I could graduate both at AS as in the master’s programme of Art Review with the same thesis. As it happens, that thesis studied the way art critics wrote about the destruction of the Cathedra painting of the American artist Barnett Newman in 1997. I had often seen this work in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and I found it beautiful.”

VARABecause her thesis was more or less completed when she returned from London, Katja had some time left for an internship. At the faculty she saw a notice from the VARA; they were looking for someone that wanted to make an inventory of their art collection. “It was a dynamic work place, where I was left entirely free. I made a small catalogue for internal use. And after my gradua-tion, this led to my first job. I was a member of the art acquisition committee and I organised cultural activities for VARA members.”After one and a half year at the VARA, it started to itch because she preferred to work in the art world. A teacher at AS drew her attention to a vacancy at the Bonne-fantenmuseum. “I could work there for seven months as a freelance employee for an educational art project. There, I developed a concept for a separate exhibition room for children and young people.”

Company collectionIn 2000, even before the seven months at the Bonnefantenmuseum were completed, Katja heard from a former AS fellow-student that ING was looking for a curator for the company collection. She was invited for a job interview. “The ING collection is one of the oldest and largest company collections and it consists of twenty thousand objects spread over all branches in the Netherlands and abroad. The collection consists of figurative art of mainly Dutch artists, starting with magic realists such as Carel Willink and Pyke Koch.” In 2000, Katja also started a part-time study programme in Art History at the University of Amsterdam. “I felt the need to specialise a bit more. I took courses such as visual analysis and iconography. After eighteen months I completed my propaedeutics and that was enough for me.”

HeartIn 2004, after four years at ING, she actively started to search for a job with a museum. “My heart is in the museum and not in the world of business. No matter how great the ING collection is, it still remains a large bank/insurance company where it is all about making money. One of the things, for example, we did with customers was taking them to large art fairs and advising them regarding the establishment, management and assurance of an art collection. I learned very much there, but I prefer making beautiful exhibitions for a broad public.”

She applied at the Cobra Museum and she was hired. “My experience as a curator at ING definitely played a role there, but also my background in AS. That academic background translates in your work as curator when it concerns research, text writing and thinking along about the exhibition policy. All of that counts.”

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Nermin Dizdarevic

Leeftijd:Nationaliteit: NederlandseBachelor European Studies: Graduated in 2006Baan: Medewerker pers en culturele zaken van de Nederlandse AmbassadeStandplaats: Wenen

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telephone interview in English. Subsequently, I was invited to four interviews in one day in Dublin, with people from various organization levels. I passed those interviews and then there was only the last test on the internet, before I could start there on 1 March 2007.”

Original Marieke is certain that her studies of AS and the Problem-Based Learning system of Maastricht University have definitely contributed to the success of her application. “In tutorial groups, you not only learn to cooperate, you also learn to open your mouth. During my interviews, they kept going on about your functioning in a team. The examples I gave all came from my years at the university. I told them, for example, about a research into intelligent transportation systems we had conducted with four persons and an example of a practical that didn’t work well and the way I solved that. Later, I heard that they found my examples interesting and original. It gave them a good picture about the way I work. UM is simply a good university that also holds a good reputation at Google. Many of the Dutchmen here are UM alumni.”

Great employerMarieke has been working for one year now in the Adwords department that is responsible for the sponsored links you see on the right-hand side of the Google website. She designs campaigns for Dutch and Belgian customers. Besides that she gives product training to new staff members in the Adwords department. “I discovered that I did not want to become an account manager. Fortunately, Google always offers you the opportunity to do projects that interest you, next to your ‘main position’. That is how I wound up in the internal Learning and Development Team that provides all kinds of courses, ranging from a presentation course to time management courses. Now, the teaching and development of the product training has become part of my main task. I show the new employees of Adwords the way in the publicity policy. Great to do.” PracticeShe did not abandon her original plan to find a job in science communication. “I will definitely stay another year at Google, because there is still so much to learn here. If there is not enough challenge after that year, I will start looking for something else. I hope that ultimately all the experience I have gained from various employers will come together in that one science communication job. In any case, in a position in, for example, the cultural sector,

I will be able to make good use of my experience here in business, both in designing and giving training for all kinds of groups and my knowledge of online advertising.”

Interieur Google Dublin

Google Dublin

Marieke is very interested in sciences and technique. Therefore, her choice to specialise in Technological Culture during her studies of Arts and Sciences (AS) was obvious. After earning her degree at Maastricht University (UM) she completed a master in Science Communication in Dublin in 2006. “I got a good basis from AS, but I wanted to go into communications, preferably at a NGO or in museums. After my master thesis about medical exhibitions, I wanted to conduct research for exhibitions in science and technique museums. But that is a very small world; if there is ever a vacancy there, the competition is enormous. When I received the umpteenth letter stating that I was one of nine hundred applicants, I realised this was going to be a step-by-step plan.”

Strict selectionBack in the Netherlands, she started to work for a temp agency, while she continued her search via all kinds of job offer websites. That is how she found a vacancy at Google in Dublin. “From the technological culture perspective, Google is a very interesting company, because it launches so many new products and because of the way that the users are already involved in that during the development stage. It seemed exciting to work there for a while and see how it functions.” What followed was an extensive and strict selection procedure. “I had to carry out a series of assignments, such as design a publicity campaign, analyse a number of websites and write a letter to an angry customer. Those assignments I sent along with my CV, which led to a

Marieke Houben

Age: 28Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2005Job: Adwords Account Associate and trainer with the Learning and Development Team of Google in Dublin

“UM also has a good reputation at Google”

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Singapore. “The TWA is the research department of an embassy. They conduct research commissioned by the government service or Dutch trade and industry; they keep up with developments in the field of technique and science in the country of their residence and they examine if these may have an added value for the Netherlands. In Singapore, I conducted research into the legislation that makes it possible to clone human embryos for stem cell research. Singapore is almost the only country in the world were this is possible. I wanted to know how this law was established. Which arguments were for example used for it? I also looked at the economic and scientific appeal of such a law. Because of this possibility there are currently scientists and companies from all over the world in Singapore. I spent three months there and it was great.” Gas extractionAfter his return from Singapore, he started to work on his final thesis. “I studied the political and scientific debate regarding the gas extraction in the Wadden Sea. Fascinating to study one single subject in depth, but I worked too long on it. It took me over a year and 180 pages to finally complete my thesis.” After his graduation, Daan applied with several agencies for communication advice. “I thought that would be the best place for an AS graduate. I could start with two agencies, and I chose Het Portaal, a small agency that organises debates, meetings and workshops on issues concerning urban renewal, sustainable energy, nutrition and green areas. What particularly appealed to me, were the multimedia projects; workshops where a certain theme was introduced by a film we had made in commission.”

TelevisionDaan was always fascinated by film and television. “While I was writing my thesis, I already applied to become a presenter at ‘Het Klokhuis’ and I was picked as one of the remaining six candidates. When the audiovisual jobs at Het Portaal strongly dropped, it was time for him to find another job, preferably in television. In the summer of 2007, he decided to enter a summer school at the Media Academy in Hilversum. There, he met people from IDTV and he was invited for an interview. In December, Daan started to work there as and editor of the television programme ‘De rijdende rechter’. “I also worked on a pilot for an experimental talk show with Raoul Heertje, for example. That is great fun to do, because you truly participate in developing a programme. I now work three days per week for IDTV and two days per week I produce news items for the website of DAG, a free newspaper.”

Added value“The important added value of AS is that you learn to look at problems from various perspectives and to think up unexpected angles. AS is a certain way of looking at the world. You learn to make matters understandable and to think along about many things. That was a great benefit in my work as a communication advisor and now in my work as a television editor. But AS not only professionally has an added value, I also learned a lot there personally.”

After Daan had explored the studies Political Sciences and Art History in Amsterdam, he chose Arts and Sciences (AS) in Maastricht because that involved both disciplines. “It was exactly that mix of political sciences, (art) history, philosophy and more that I liked so much. I always say: ‘Many people who don’t know what they want choose to read law; many people who do know what they want, but don’t want to make one single choice, choose for AS.” He chose to specialise in Technological Culture because he found that was a sound and well-organised programme. “It was a direction that was directly related to day-to-day reality. Everyday artefacts were studied in a non-everyday manner.

One of our teachers, for example, had written a fantastic book about ‘the bicycle’.”

CloningAs an Erasmus student he went to the University of Edinburgh for six months. “There, I could follow courses from the master’s programme Science, Society and Technology. I consciously chose this exchange because it was a good addition to my specialisation. In Edinburgh, there was more attention for the influence of economic motives on technique and science.”While he was in Scotland, Daan succeeded in arranging a research internship with the Attaché for Science and Technology (TWA) of the Netherlands Embassy in

“AS is a certain way of looking at the world”

Daan Nieber

Age: 27 Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2005Job: editor for IDTV in Amsterdam

Location IDTV Amsterdam

‘Never go for the second best’

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Nermin Dizdarevic

Leeftijd:Nationaliteit: NederlandseBachelor European Studies: Graduated in 2006Baan: Medewerker pers en culturele zaken van de Nederlandse AmbassadeStandplaats: Wenen

Recently, we investigated by means of a survey the work satisfaction of the employees of the National Health Service. The report I wrote on that is now used by unions in their negotiations with the authorities.” Dream for the futureSimone is very happy about her work situation. She can take courses in project-management and there are many opportunities for training on the job. The only disadvantage is the lack of career opportunities because the firm is too small for that. As a next step, she would like to become team leader with a bigger company. Secretly she dreams about a job with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva.“That would be fantastic! The ILO is part of the United Nations and they strive for the improvement of labour conditions throughout the world, for example in China, Russia and Myanmar. These are still only dreams for the future. For the time being, I still have enough to learn here. And when I walk to work in the morning and I pass the Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral, I think ‘Wow, not bad for an AS graduate!’

Simone before building IDS

“After getting my degree in Arts and Sciences (AS) at Maastricht University and in European Studies at the College of Europe in Warsaw, I wanted what many social sciences graduates want: work with a ‘political think tank’ or in Foreign Affairs. I wrote dozens of applications, but because I didn’t have much work experience besides my internship at Clingendael, I always got letters starting ‘Thank you, but we received 250 reactions and we are looking for people with more work experience’.” A friend and former fellow student drew my attention to a vacancy with the Provincial Council of North-Holland. “They were looking for a policy adviser in European Affairs and I perfectly fit the profile. I had graduated from AS in Political Culture. In my third year, I conducted research during my internship at Clingendael into the impact of a certain European law on the Netherlands and the way the Netherlands had lobbied for that. This research again led to my thesis in the fifth year and on top of that I also held a master in European Studies.”

She got the job. It appeared a good place to gain work experience, but also to find out that she actually wanted something else. “I am reasonably impatient and want to see quick results, so public service wasn’t really right for me. Moreover, my boyfriend lived in London, so I decided to look for a job there.”

Work satisfaction“A friend sent me an advertisement from the English newspaper The Guardian and that is the job I got. I now work for IDS Contract Research, a commercial British research institute in the field of labour and employment. For me, this feels as my true first job. I feel completely happy here. I now know that research and consultancy are really my thing. And I have found my subject: labour and employment. I am interested in everything that has to do with that, such as migration, unemployment and economics. We work, for example, often for trade unions.

Simone Melis

Age: 28Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2004Job: senior researcher-consultant with Incomes Dates Services (IDS) part of Thomson Reuters in London

“For the time being, I still have a lot to learn”

“AS is a great study programme and it offers you a broad basis. You learn to think about social problems and to form an opinion. You learn to express yourself well orally and in writing. I still benefit from that when I have to give a presentation for a client or draw up a report. I would recommend people to choose a clear profile, for example by linking an internship to your final project. That often has a catapult effect to a first job. Just as in my case, that first job doesn’t necessarily have to be the ideal job. But it gives you the opportunity to find out what you like and don’t like. I have now found the field in which I want to continue working. I found that by starting to work.”

Tip

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Passion for writingIn 1999, Marcia was hired by the newspaper. Besides her work for ‘De Volkskrant’, she led debates, established the think tank ‘Waterlandstichting’ and wrote for the e-zine of the think tank: ‘Waterstof’. In 2001, she left with her husband, who she met during diplomatic training, for Rwanda. He worked in the Kigali embassy and she worked as a correspondent for ‘Het Parool’ and now and then for the NOS, Radio 1, the ‘Wereldomroep’ and Elsevier. In 2005, they returned to the Netherlands, but now she lives in Africa again, this time in Uganda where her husband works at the embassy in Kampala. “End of 2006, I moved to Kampala. Since then I have mostly worked on my second book ‘Ziende blind in de sauna’. It is a true AS book: it is about how the Netherlands look more and more like Africa. Politics, culture, economics: it contains all disciplines. Writing such a book is really the greatest thing I can think of.”

Children in Pabbo, biggest camp in North-Uganda

Charcoal in Kampala

In high school, Marcia was extremely good at economics, which was why she chose to study International Management in Maastricht in 1989. The Economics programme particularly disappointed her from the intellectual viewpoint. “I really didn’t have to think there, so when Arts and Sciences (AS) started in 1991, I imme-diately registered. AS was a tremendous discovery for me; it felt as if Jill had found her Jack. I thought it might be superfi cial, but that was defi nitely not the case. It was multi- and interdisciplinary and at the same time very substantive. We studied cultural history from several perspectives, from classical antiquity to the present. Problem-based learning worked particularly well for AS. The tutor groups were led by a full professor, everyone was enthusiastic and inspired; this was what I always wanted.” Because she felt it would be a shame to quit Economics after three years, she graduated in both programmes.

Intellectual baggageDuring her AS studies, she still thought she wanted to become a theatre director or work in the art business. But she found out that she was actually more interested in political-cultural and social subjects than in art philoso-phy. So, she chose to specialise in Political Culture and for that programme she did an internship at the political-cultural debate centre ‘De Balie’ in Amsterdam. “Two things have been crucial for everything I now know and can do: the AS programme and my internship with De Balie. Almost all my background knowledge comes from AS and via my network at De Balie I got my fi rst freelance jobs for various newspapers.”

After her internship she wanted to become a political reporter in The Hague, but unfortunately that didn’t work out. She could, however, do an internship at the art editorial staff of ‘Het Parool’. “Also very nice, but by thenI had completed my studies and had to work in bars in the evening to earn some money. So, I felt it was time to fi nally start earning real money instead of trying everything I liked.”

Paper workWhen she read an advertisement for diplomatic training, she decided to take a chance. “As for the content, it sounded great. Europe, NATO, Dutch politics and Dutch foreign politics; those were all themes that very much interest me.” She easily got through the selection procedure and was hired. “I got a job with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the directorate of multilateral development cooperation. There they dealt with the World Bank and the IMF; all development cooperation goes via that department. In principle they work on fantastic dossiers, interesting issues, but the work at the ministry wasn’t really my thing. Mostly, massive quantities of paper were pushed from one desk to another: that made me thoroughly miserable. So, when a former fellow student drew my attention to an advertisement in which ‘De Volkskrant’ asked for young academics with journalist experience, I didn’t need much thinking.”

Marcia Luyten

Age: 37 Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 1996Job: publicist/journalist

“AS felt like Jack and Jill”

Charcoal in Kampala

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besides my council membership. Politics can be volatile, it is never sure that you can come back after four years, so I didn’t want to bet everything on that option.” Selling pointsBut she did come back. In 2006, she was elected member of the Maastricht City Council. She did not take part in the national elections. “I seriously considered it. At the time, I had a few good selling points: I was young, female, had received much publicity and I had political expe-rience. I decided not to do it, because I had become a mother and my husband did not want to leave the area because he had his own business here. I was, however, a member of the nomination committee presided by Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven and that was a very valuable experience.” Since October of last year, she also works for the programme ‘Culture Café’ of L1. “I noticed that I felt the desire to go back to arts and culture, after having done little in that area for a few years. Politics can also be tough in a certain way: you always have to defend yourself and try to keep your head above water. That is super-interesting and I feel privileged to be a member of a city or provincial council, but I missed the art and the culture that have interested me since my adolescence.”

NetworkThe next two years, Karlijn will remain in the city council. She is not sure about the direction she will choose after that. “I would like to combine my knowledge of arts and culture with my political network. I very well know the alderman and provincial deputy for culture. They both happen to be members of my party, but I also know them because I participated in both committees. Maybe I can help artists and people with good ideas to set up things, facilitate them… That may help realise them quicker. Who knows, maybe I will start my own agency one day. For now, I am still happy with my city council work and Culture Café.” When Karlijn studied Arts and Sciences (AS), she chose to

specialise in Cultural Theory and Art Practices, but given her career it might as well have been Political Culture. As an adolescent, she read a great lot and also occasio-nally wrote a poem. Because she did not want to become a teacher, she decided not to study Dutch Language and Literature, but Arts and Sciences. She graduated with a thesis on the alleged fascist sympathies of the Limburg poet Felix Rutten.

Her political career started in the third year of her studies. The then alderman of Nuth, the place where she grew up, said: ‘I believe you are the right person for politics.’ “I had never really considered that, but it seemed quite

interesting”, says Karlijn. “I had always been the girl in elementary school that mobilised the class to do something nice for the teacher’s birthday and who became class representative in high school. I often take on that pioneering role. Apparently I enjoy representing other people. That alderman was quite right about that.” In 2002, she participates in the city council elections in Nuth for the PvdA. One year later, she puts herself up for the Provincial Council and she is elected with ample votes. “Prior to the elections there was a mega-campaign, that was great. I was 23 then, very young for a provincial council membership. Because I was such a young woman, who also had something to say, I received a lot of publicity. I decided, however, to also continue my studies

“I like to represent others”

Karlijn van der Graaf

Age: 28 Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2004Job: Member of the Maastricht City Council for the PvdA (Dutch Labour Party) and editor of the Culture Café of L1 radio (regional radio station)

Karlijn at the ‘Markt’ in Maastricht

Karlijn in the City Hall of Maastricht

Nermin Dizdarevic

Leeftijd:Nationaliteit: NederlandseBachelor European Studies: Graduated in 2006Baan: Medewerker pers en culturele zaken van de Nederlandse AmbassadeStandplaats: Wenen

‘Never go for the second best’

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Cultural sectorIndirectly she heard of that the then Limburg Centre for Amateur Arts (the present Limburg House for the Arts) in Roermond was looking for a staff member for the Museum Inventory Project (MusIP). For this project, she was willing to move back to Limburg, because it gave her the opportunity to gain experience in the cultural sector. “It was a national project that was carried out per province. The objective was to create a database that would classify the sub-collections of all Dutch museums with a view to improve among others the collection mobility between museums. This database has since been available on the Internet. When this project stopped after one year, I could start to work as a general consultant at the House. I mainly carried out projects in the field of dance, festivals, music and literature.” In 2006, after having worked there gladly for two and a half years, Ariane decided to apply for a vacancy at the Provincie Noord-Holland; that was the job she still holds. “I wanted to go back to the Randstad and gain experience with the government. Then, I already knew for a while that I wanted to be a policy advisor for the government. Realising projects is nice, but placing those projects inside a bigger framework and thinking about the direction in which you want to take them, that’s even more fun.”

Delay For Ariane it is now just a matter of time before her wish to be a policy advisor will come true. “If I could do it all again, I would choose an internship with the government and not at ING Art affairs. During this internship I helped with the preparations for the TEFAF. That was interesting and valuable, but I also found out that the commercial aspect of the art world is not my thing. As a result of that internship, I wrote a graduation thesis on Realism in the art of painting. I was very impressed with the realist art collection of ING, but ultimately I didn’t do much with it. Knowing then what I know now, I would have realised that an internship with the government would have been better. Especially because the government finds it important that you have that kind of work experience. Maybe some of my choices have led to a delay, but I don’t think I could have done it differently. Only recently, I got this feedback during a job interview: ‘Do you realise at all how much you have done?’ And that is true, of course. It is a matter of continuing to take steps and the next step is coming up now. I have gained the necessary experience and I have studied the right academic programme, because in government positions they want to have people with a generalist education, who can look across borders.”

Map of North-Holland

‘Provinciehuis’ North-Holland

Ariane is only one step away from what she really wants, namely becoming a policy advisor with the government. At the moment, she still works at the Subsidies department, but she soon hopes to switch to a policy position. “Now, I am mostly involved with the imple-mentation of policy; the assessment of subsidy applica-tions of cultural institutions. I would like to be at the beginning of the process, be more involved with the content. I have done a lot of different things to get there and I think I am ready for it now. After all, I did not do an academic study for nothing. If I don’t succeed here, I will try elsewhere, with a municipality or the State.”.

ExperienceWhen Ariane graduated in 2001, she could choose between two jobs: a gallery in Eindhoven or an antiquarian bookshop in Houten. “I chose the antiquarian

bookshop because I thought I could deepen my knowledge of history and books there and because the international aspect appealed to me. That antiquarian bookshop conducted business at book fairs all over the world. But in practice my work was very disappointing. I was mostly behind the computer entering and describing books along established lines. After three months already, I knew I had made the wrong choice.”Seven months later, she exchanged this job for a position with the inside sales staff for a company that produces among others security gates. “The labour market was bad at that time, especially for someone without work experience. I did simple work there, but it was a good experience and I had nice colleagues. I learned to workin a structured way and to meet deadlines.”

Ariane Limburg

Age: 29 Nationality: Dutch/French‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2001Job: Grant provider at the ‘Provincie Noord-Holland’ in Haarlem

“The government searches for people that look across borders”

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Language and politics are the theme of Marlies’ studies. “At Arts and Sciences (AS), for example, one of my essays was about the language of doctors in the communication with patients. I made an analysis of that on the basis of a series of language theories. In my final thesis I analysed the rhetoric Bush uses in his speeches after 11 Septem-ber.” While she was writing her final thesis, she also worked as a Social Studies teacher at a secondary school in Maastricht. “That job was a result of my internship. I really enjoyed teaching, transferring knowledge. And I earned money with it, which was nice because I was financing my own studies.”

Water metaphorAfter her graduation she didn’t want to stay in education but she wanted to specialise further. She won a VSB scholarship and studied International Conflict Studies at

the War Studies Department of King’s College in London. “I hoped to receive an education there that would be well attuned to practice, because I very much wanted to work at a ministry or NGO. When the programme turned out to be very theoretical, I still enjoyed it very much. I gradu-ated on the differences in rhetoric between the Dutch and the French when it concerns migrants, sense of security and the expression of own identity. Striking is for example that politicians in the Netherlands, whether they are for or against immigration, use the water metaphor. Wilders and Verdonk speak for example of the fact that the Netherlands is flooded by foreigners, but also ‘Groen Links’ uses descriptions that fall within this metaphor. Water is apparently something that connects the Dutch with each other. The French use the invasion metaphor. They speak of foreigners who occupy their country.”

King’s College has a very good reputation, so Marlies could have gotten a job in London as a country specialist with Janes Defence. “That is an institute that works in the field of defence and weapon technology. That conflic-ted with my principles. I didn’t want to contribute to a military weapon lobby. At NGOs, such as the Internatio-nal Conflict Group, where I did want to work I couldn’t find a job because I lacked work experience and was competing with the cream of the crop. There were fellow students who spoke more than four languages fluently.” CommunicationThen Marlies got a phone call from a friend she knew from AS. She was working with Schuttelaar & Partners, a communications advice agency for innovations in the field of nutrition, health and sustainability. “Did I know someone who wanted to do an internship in the depart-ment of Civic Consultation, a department that is occu-pied with the communication between government and citizens. I didn’t immediately think about myself, but after I put the phone down, I thought ‘why not’? It’s about communication and it is a good place to gain work experience. I wrote a letter, was invited for an interview with the director and I was hired. We just hit it off. There were already two AS graduates working there, so they knew what kind of generalists they were hiring and they really need those. AS has a good reputation!”

NOS newsMarlies has been working at Schuttelaar & Partners for three years now. “At first I was thrown in at the deep end; ‘just do it’ was the motto. I learned a lot from that; from organising meetings and writing communication plans to conducting qualitative research. Now, for example, I am working on an information plan for municipalities about asbestos and on a project about sustainable purchasing. The project I am most proud of is organising awards for innovation and sustainability. For that project I contacted the press. Great, because we didn’t only get a lot of publi-city in the newspapers, but we also made the NOS news! My speciality is that I don’t have one. I am a generalist and that is what I want to stay, but it has to be about something I find worth wile. Innovation and sustainabi-lity in society, those are important themes to me. The relationship between government and citizens is essen-tial in that respect.

I’m the one you need when something has to be done quickly and there are deadlines; then I am at my best. I can switch very fast and pick up a lot of information in a short time. I know how to quickly set up a structure for writing a piece, whether that is a web text, a communica-tion plan or an offer. All that, the quick switching, writing and analysing, I learned at AS and that is something I still benefit from every day.”

Marlies Hanifer

Age: 26 Nationality: Dutch‘Doctoraal’ Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2004Job: Junior advisor at Schuttelaar & Partners in The Hague

The Hague

“I am a generalist and that is what I want to stay.”

20 21

FreedomAfter earning her bachelor degree, she wanted to conti-nue in that philosophical direction. Therefore, she chose to enter in the continuing master’s programme in Arts and Sciences. “This master offers you a lot of freedom and it gave me the opportunity to organise the pro-gramme the way I wanted it. My thesis, for example, described the influence of Walter Benjamin on the histo-rical works of Hannah Arendt. An interdisciplinary subject with both a historical and philosophical component; no better place to study that than in Maastricht. In that same period, I also wrote columns for the Observant, and I very much enjoyed that.” She did an internship at the Art Directorate of the Minis-try of Education, Culture and Science. “I found this intern-ship via an Arts and Culture alumna. I worked on the information programme for the Action Plan Culture Range 2004-2007. I had to select a series of projects that were successful thanks to government subsidies and subsequently write a report on those projects. I also organised work visits to several of those projects for Medy van der Laan, the State Secretary of Culture at the time. An enjoyable and valuable internship, although there I discovered that my character does not fit in with an official environment with a strong emphasis on diplo-macy.”

BooksFor her internship with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, she passed over an internship with the His-torical Publishing House in Groningen. “When I tele-phoned to ask if I could still do an internship with them, I could start immediately. This meant that I collected my degree certificate on Thursday, and started to work in Groningen the Monday after.” After a couple of months, the internship was changed into a permanent job. “I did editorial work and the sales of titles to foreign countries. The publishing house employs four persons and they publish about eight titles per year. When I worked there, Douwe Draaisma was the biggest success. The translation rights of these books have been sold to about twenty countries; I did a lot of work for that. I edited his latest book ‘De heimweefa-briek’, of which fifty thousand copies were sold. It so happened that I had already read Draaisma at Arts and Culture as an example of how you can write good acade-mic texts that are accessible at the same time.”

BerlinOn 1 May 2008, she started as a PhD candidate at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. After having worked for about two years at the publishing house, she missed the

writing and the research. She applied for one of the seven research positions at the faculty of literature and was hired to her great surprise. “My research is about the acceptance of the GDR history in the unified Germany on the basis of debates about cultural heritage from the GDR period. Should buildings from that period be demo-lished or should they be given a different function? What about street names; ‘Rosa Luxemburgplatz’, can you still call it that? I want to analyse the discussion about that by means of discourse analysis.” The idea for her research subject originated during her stay in Berlin. “I saw that those buildings were torn down and I read about it in the papers. My time in Berlin has been very important for my studies. I look forward to

returning to Berlin for my research now. That is also an advantage of Maastricht University, the fact that they give you all opportunities and active support to do internships and go abroad. At other universities, a stay abroad often means a study delay, but at UM that is not the case.” One of the reasons why her research proposal was accepted is that the VU is setting up an interdiscipli-nary research institute into cultural values. “My research fits in very well with that. The future of academics lies in interdisciplinary research and Maastricht is the forerun-ner in that area.”

Master Arts and Sciences

Philosophy and writing are two of Eva’s passions. In the fifth semester of her bachelor programme, she went on exchange to Berlin, where she studied both ‘Kulturwis-senschaft’ and philosophy. “There I found out that I parti-cularly liked this abstract approach of philosophy. I would never have guessed that in high school. For my bachelor dossier in Berlin, I wrote a piece about Hannah Arendt.

I received high grades for that, because they found I wrote well and had an original approach. I learned that in Maastricht. There, I learned to write and think critically. I found that the students in Berlin were much more accepting of everything they read. Contrary to what I had learned: keep asking questions.”

Eva de Valk

Age: 24Nationality: DutchBachelor Arts and Culture: graduated in 2005Master Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2006 Job: PhD researcher at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam

“Good writing I learned in Maastricht”

'Westertoren' in Amsterdam

22 23

After many wanderings Robert now really knows what he wants to become: a journalist. On 1 September he will give up his successful company in web communication in exchange for a dual master’s programme in Journalism and Media at the University of Amsterdam. “In total I have studied 10 years. Via Medicine and Psychology I wound up at Arts and Culture (AC). There, I finally felt at home. I could discuss subjects that truly interested me with teachers and students, such as post-modernism in literature and new media developments, for example open source. I wouldn’t want to have missed that broad education of AC. Because of that I now know in which subject I want to specialise: newspaper journalism. I would love to write for the scientific supplement of NRC Handelsblad. That is also what AC is about: thinking about science and critically examining it.”

Own opinionAlready in high school, Robert reads and writes a lot. He is in the editorial staff of the school paper and when he goes to university he looks for editorial work again. “When I studied Psychology I was a member of the editorial staff of the faculty paper; at AC I participated in the editorial staff of ‘Idee’, the faculty paper and in Mosaïek. I also maintained the website for Orakel. I have always been good with computers, so I was increasingly asked to develop websites. Besides that I also always was involved in student politics. I was a member of the faculty board, of the student consultative body (STOV) and of the educational committee. I find that very important; I want to be actively involved in the things that concern me. I always have an opinion about everything and try to do something with that.”

Robert Buzink

Age: 28 Nationality: DutchBachelor Arts and Culture: graduated in 2005Master Arts and Sciences: graduated in 2007Job: owner of web communication agency ‘Broot’ in Maastricht

“I always have an opinion about everything”

GesamtkunstwerkRobert’s master thesis is about open source. “During my bachelor programme, I wrote a lot about the danger of relativism originating from post-modernism and what you could do about that. I approached this problem then from the perspective of literature, on the basis of authors such as Herman Hesse. My master thesis also dealt with post-modernism. There, I state that modernism and post-modernism will be followed by ‘the liberation’. I did not study this liberation from the literature perspective, but from the angle of software development. Via my hobby, creating websites, I wound up in the world of open source. Open source consists of global collaborations of volunteers, semi-professionals and professionals, who make their own software. In an operating system such as Windows, you can’t change anything as a user, because the source code is not available. Microsoft will not give up its secret, because after all, money has to be made. Linex, for example, is an example of open source software as an alternative for Windows. The source code is available and can be adapted and changed by everyone. You may do with it what you like. One of the findings in my thesis is that open source is an art form. I see a programme such as Linex as a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’.”

WebsitesAfter his graduation, he establishes the company Wakawe Webworks with a fellow-student. “I was particularly interested in programming and my business partner in design. So, that seemed a good combination. The company also was very successful, but after six months we had such big differences of opinion that we decided to split up. Then, end of 2007, I set up my own agency Broot. Besides building websites I now also provide the content. My clients are among others research schools of UM, for example GROW and CARIM, but also foundations and local entrepreneurs. And I make many websites for visual artists. I can excellently live from my business activities.”

Quarter life crisis But it’s time to change course. Robert cannot not imagine himself sitting constantly behind a computer for the next ten years. “Maybe I’m in the middle of a quarter life crisis. I see that happening a lot among my contemporaries. You are in your first job and you think: ‘Is this it?’. ThenI registered for the master’s programme Journalism and Media.” Hundred and fifty persons applied for 16 places. Robert is lucky. “This master’s programme is so popular because you also get to do a six-month internship. Often you

already have a job before you actually graduate. I had to send in my CV along with a letter of motivation and a few essays. I submitted the essays I wrote at Arts and Culture, which were almost all about new media. Then I was invited for an interview. Partly thanks to my Arts and Culture studies (where you are trained to think about questions like ‘how have the media changed?’ and ‘what discussions currently take place in this field?’) I was able to prepare well for this interview. And I was selected!”

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Workshops for childrenAfter her graduation Karina wrote a number of (unsolici-ted) applications to museums in Europe. The Kampa Museum in Prague invited her for an interview. Her educational plans were well received, but the museum was really looking for someone to staff the museum store and the information desk. “I took that job under the condition that I would be given the opportunity to develop educational programmes, because they didn’t have those yet. I started with workshops for children. After three months they offered me a fulltime job as head of the Education department. Now I work there with a couple students on internships from the Charles University in Prague. One of these students will also go to Maastricht in the framework of her exchange programme.” Karina runs the department alone. “Nobody tells me what I have to do and I love that freedom. I write the subsidy applications myself, arrange the publicity and set up the programmes. Now I have really learned to appreciate the subjects ‘marketing management’ and ‘artistic venues’ from my master’s programme, because I now make optimal use of them. And of course of the know-how I acquired during my intern.”

Pioneer spiritThe Kampa Museum is a source of inspiration for Karina. In addition to her job, she has started a PhD research in Brno, three hours by train from Prague. Her thesis will

focus on ‘the democratisation of art, especially Czech art in the European context’. Several of the artists she studies come from the Kampa Museum collection.“My favourite artist is Frantisek Kupka. The Kampa Museum has a large collection of his paintings. He is one of the best-known Czech artists and one of the founders of abstract art. He created his major piece of art around 1910. I very much appreciate artists who made something of which they knew it would not be accepted in their time. I esteem that pioneer spirit. He is not very well known outside the Czech Republic and I want to change that.”

New YorkTo gain experience, Karina wants to continue working in the museum for a minimum of two years. She will also work at least three years on her PhD, one of which she hopes to spend abroad. Preferably, she would like to go to New York, because that city has museums with good educational programmes. “What I particularly learned in Maastricht is to push out my frontiers. That there are possibilities and opportu-nities I would never have thought of before. I think in a more international way and I have experienced that certain things I want are actually possible, even though I don’t have much money or experience. If you truly want it and work hard for it, then lots of things are possible.”

“I always found museums incredibly boring and I wanted nothing to do with them. But when I was studying in my minor programme I found out that a museum is not boring at all. On the contrary, it can be a place where you can try out new ideas. You can really try to change something from there.” Karina did this minor in Maastricht. During her bachelor studies in Arts and Philosophy in Prague, she participated in the Erasmus exchange programme. She chose a minor

in Arts and Heritage in Maastricht. She liked that first introduction so much that she decided to also enter into the master’s programme in Arts and Heritage. For her master internship she chose a museum: the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht. “Together with a few fellow students and the curator I made an educational programme for the National Museum Weekend. That programme was about the various ways you can look at art.”

Karina Kottovà

Age: 24Nationality: CzechMaster Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and Education: graduated in 2007Job: Head of the Education Department of the Kampa Museum in Prague

“In Maastricht I pushed out my frontiers”

Master Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and Education

Museum Kampa, Praag Workshop: accompanying the exhibition of Andy Warhol

Karina Kottovà

Age: 24Nationality: CzechMaster Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and Education: graduated in 2007Job: Head of the Education Department of the Kampa Museum in Prague

˘

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I also know about the economic aspects. Here, it is not only about my artistic view, but I also take care of the bookkeeping, draw up the estimate and applications for subsidies. Activities that were also studied in the master’s programme.” Authoritarian Via a cousin who studied psychology in Maastricht he wound up at UM. “I absolutely did not want to study in Belgium because the system is archaic and authoritarian. You are still addressed from the lectern. I very much preferred the education in Maastricht: you write many essays, you work in groups. It is very flexible; you can follow your own line.” In Maastricht he also, as he says, learned the assertiveness for which the Dutch are known in Belgium. “I dare to speak up now. For example, in my current job I have no difficulty telephoning the director of a museum and saying: ‘Hallo, here I am, what are we going to do together.’”

CommerceFelix has resolved to stay here at least two to three years. “The work is varied and I learn incredibly much. Besides the bookkeeping, for example, I also organise the annual Open AIR festival, a summer festival where an external curator composes a programme of music, word and visual arts. It is an excellent opportunity to present AIR to the public. I have found the direction in which I want to continue: close to the artist and far away from the commercial art market. As far as I’m concerned, I will remain in the non-profit sector. And who knows, maybe one day I can translate all these experiences into policy at a museum or in a research job such as the IBK (Initiative Visual Arts).”

Internship“Doing voluntary work or an internship is very important for your career”, thinks Felix. “The art sector is a small world and you never know how things turn out. I did voluntary work in Kortrijk at the Artists residence, comparable to AIR but then for the performing arts and much bigger. I also worked as a volunteer at the Cement Festival in Maastricht. Those were valuable experiences. That is why I want to offer students in Arts and Culture the opportunity to do an internship here. They are more than welcome.”

Since February 2008, Felix has been ‘host’ of the five artists who work and live in the house of Artists in Residence (AIR) in the port of Antwerp. His search for jobs took seven months, but now he has found his dream job. Artist in Residence offers international artists housing and an accommodation to work. The ambition is to be a breeding place for contemporary art. “The artists live here between three and six months. I am truly at source here. I see how they live and work; I see how their work comes into being. The contact is very personal and where possible we advise them and bring them into contact with people from our network, such as gallery owners and curators.”

NetworkThe artists come from all over the world. “The interna-tional aspect is very appealing. That is also what I found so fascinating about the master in Arts and Heritage; studying in colourful and international company. I am still in touch with my fellow students. One of them now works in a museum in Prague. We have accommodations, she works a lot with Czech artists; maybe something interesting can develop from that. And another fellow student does our English translations.” Networks, that’s what it’s all about in the art sector. The board of AIR indirectly heard that Felix was looking for a job. He was invited for an interview and one week later the contract was made. “I had the right profile because

“Interns from Maastricht are more than welcome”

Felix de Clerck

Age: 24 Nationality: BelgianBachelor Arts and Culture: graduated in 2005Master Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and Education: graduated in 2007Job: Coordinator at Artists in Residence (AIR) in Antwerp

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Before she graduated she could do an internship with the Radio Netherlands World Service in Hilversum. “I worked for a women’s programme called ‘Suara Perempuan’ (A woman’s voice) that is produced in the Netherlands and broadcasted in Indonesia. I knew it from Indonesia; I conducted research into the influence of this pro-gramme on women in Indonesia. Because in Indonesia the radio is regulated by the government, it is much more difficult for women to express themselves freely. The World Service enables Indonesian women living in the Netherlands to speak out freely about all kinds of sub-jects. That is very important; they are role models for the women in Indonesia.”

DisciplineWhen she returned to Indonesia after one year, it was not easy. She was very much aware of the huge differences between Indonesia and the Netherlands. “I was disap-pointed in my country after I had seen how it could also be. The Netherlands is prosperous, beautiful, well orga-nised and people treat each other respectfully. Why couldn’t Indonesia be a bit like that? There, they can for example learn a lot from the Netherlands with regard to discipline. And then I thought: if I have so much criticism, I have to do something about it. Now, I am for example trying to make the new media art in Indonesia more widely known and gain more attention for it. You see, there is new media art here, but almost no one knows about it. I have brought together artist who are involved with this and our dream is to establish a museum for new media art. Moreover, together with a friend I am going to open a small school and library in August. This school is intended for children from the poor neighbourhoods of Bandung, who will have to work for their parents other-wise or beg in the streets. Now, we have room for thirty children between six and twelve years old, but maybe in the future we can expand with help from the govern-ment. I have been lucky, because I come from a wealthy family and I enjoyed good education.”

The differenceThe effect one year of studying in Maastricht had on Kartika, is enormous. “I have set up these projects and made a promotion at the radio station; I am now not only presenter but also programme director. Radio Sky FM is a small commercial broadcasting station, aimed at women between 20 and 40 years old. With my programmes I try to contribute to greater self-confidence among those women. I am also responsible for acquisition at compa-nies to generate income from advertising. From August,

I will start to work part-time with the radio, because I will teach radio journalism two days per week at Pelita Hara-pan, University in Jakarta. I hope that the people in Indo-nesia will some day experience a bit of what I experi-enced in Maastricht.”

Kartika with colleagues of Radio Sky FM

Bandung

Master Media Culture

In addition to her studies in International Politics at the Parahyangan University in Bandung, Kartika worked part-time as a presenter for Radio Sky FM. Therefore, after earning her bachelor degree she wanted to enter a master programme that had something to do with media. “Via Nuffic I received a scholarship to study in the Netherlands. That is how I wound up in the Media Cul-ture programme in Maastricht. Particularly the attention for new media appealed to me.”

Role modelMaastricht was Kartika’s first experience with Europe. “Initially, it was tough; I did not have much time to adjust, I immediately had to start studying. I realised that I was quite behind with my theoretical and philosophical knowledge of media. So, that meant hard work. I had never written essays in English before either. You can imagine that this too didn’t go well in the beginning; I got a lot of criticism on my texts, and that was hard. But I learned very much from it. I found everyone incredi-bly helpful and Maastricht is a beautiful town with a lot of culture.”

Kartika Oktorina

Age: 24 Nationality: IndonesianMaster Media Culture: graduated in 2007Job: presenter and programme director at Radio Sky FM in Bandung

“Via the radio I try to give Indonesian women more self-confidence”

‘Never go for the second best’

30 31

world. It didn’t damp my love for music, but the way music is dealt with.”

After Jan had seen during his internship how difficult it is to produce a record and earn money with it, he investigated in Media Culture what role the Internet could play there. “Via open source you can simply put your records online, so that they can be downloaded free of charge. By now, that has become an entirely new way of marketing in the music world. As a band we also offer our songs this way now.”

Sound hunterFor his final project he participated in the Sound Souve-nirs project. “It was all about the sound hunter from the sixties. That was someone who travelled everywhere with his tape recorder to record sounds of for example a fun fair or playing children to compose a sound diary. I conducted research into the modern sound hunter. These are for example musicians from hip-hop who use samples from the seventies. They are mainly interested in the production manner of the seventies. The recording was base, with a microphone hanging above the drum set, which created a certain nostalgic sound. Hip-hoppers take that sound, lope it and make a new song from it. During my master’s programme I also taught a workshop in sampling. Those workshops are now part of my work.”

CulturalAfter earning his master’s degree, he could start as an intern with Urban Myths in Maastricht, a platform for new media artists in the Euregion. “That platform ceased to exist after a year, but through that internship I did wind up with the ‘Kunsttour’. I write texts for their bulletin and help with the organisation of the ‘Kunsttour’ night. Besides that, I also work as a text writer for the Kompas Foundation. They aim at artist with a physical disability that I interview for the website and the newsletter. That is great work.” The next step for Jan is starting his own business. “Next to acquiring text writing jobs for cultural Maastricht I want to offer artistic and musical workshops together with my girlfriend Ilse, who is an artist. It’s a start: I do what I am good at and I am happy with that.”

After a year of Economics and an excursion to Psychology, Jan chose for Arts and Culture (AC). “Economics was too much about figures and money. AC was a relief, because it was not directly focused on one single discipline. You are given the freedom to work with your interests.” First and foremost Jan loves music. “At AC, I met Maikel, my musical brother-in-arms. There was a piano in one of the instruction rooms and we often went there to jam. On that piano, we created the first songs of our band ‘De Paradogma’s’. By now, we have played at the Mecc, the ‘Theater aan het Vrijthof’ and various other locations in Maastricht, so I now dare say that we are reasonably successful here. I rap and play the trumpet. Maikel writes and sings cabaret-like texts that treat themes of arts and culture in a light-hearted way.”

TurntableDuring his bachelor programme, Jan chose the specialisation Technological Culture. “The SCOTS theory

(the Social Construction Of Technology and Science) offered me a new outlook on reality and the role of technology therein. Look for example at the turntable; once conceived by Edison to reproduce music, but now mainly used as an instrument, think for example of scratching. Technology is never only what the producer meant it to be, but it always enters into interaction with the user.” The choice for the master’s programme Media Culture was obvious for Jan because he wanted to expand his interest in music and new media. Open sourceHe did a six-month’ internship with a record label in Amsterdam: the dance label Storm Records. “There I got an inside view of the tough world of music. Nobody thought about the social Construction of Science, it just happened there. What counted were sales figures and who you knew. How to sell something became more important than quality. I didn’t feel at home in that

Jan Smeets

Age: 28Nationality: DutchBachelor Arts and Culture: graduated in 2005Master Media Culture: graduated in 2006Job: musician and text writer in Maastricht

“Themes of Arts and Culture presented lightly” www.kunstvanhetkijken.nl

www.myspace.com/paradogmas

Maastricht

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BicycleMaastricht was his first introduction to Europe. “I lived in Lanaken and cycled each day to Maastricht. That was great! I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the ‘country’ and I liked not living in a big city for a while.” The ESST programme offered him the opportunity to get out of the technical work perspective. “Thank goodness!I wanted to concentrate more on the sociological aspects of science and technology. My fellow students all came from a different background, ranging from biotechnology to philosophy. It was such a valuable experience to see how everyone looked at science and technology in a totally different way. I especially learned to see technology in a wider perspective and that has very much broadened my professional opportunities.”

Second chanceWhen Carlos completed the master's programme, he became very interesting again for the ILRI, his former employee. Now, he works there again, in a completely different position. “My work here now is to do research on dissemination strategies for livestock related science and technology. Our institute develops, for example, vaccines for cattle. It is my job to study how we can best introduce these to the farmers. So, it is no longer just a matter of developing a certain technology, but also of implementing it. Just like I did in the ESST master programme, I am now engaged in the fields of science, technology and society.”

FutureCarlos would like to earn a PhD, elaborating on what he learned in the ESST programme. Preferably in Europe; Edinburgh or one of the Scandinavian countries. And he applied for a job with the United Nations. “I get further and further away from the technical field and closer to the sociological side of science and technology. I have applied for a position as project manager in the field of information technology. And all that thanks to ESST. Where before I was only concerned with computer programmes, I am now more interested in how people relate to technology and how technology can better be attuned to the needs of the users. Therefore, I can warmly recommend ESST to students with a technical background, who wish to broaden their knowledge and opportunities.”

ILRI Campus

Nairobi

Master European Studies on Society, Science and Technology

After completing the bachelor programme in computer sciences in Costa Rica, Carlos left for Nairobi in 2003. There, he could start to work for the ILRI, a NGO which works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity-building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. He developed software programmes for the institute. “With my technical background all I did was write computer

programmes. In fact, I had a very limited concept of technology and I also worked in a small niche; so small that my position was discontinued in 2006. Time to broaden my perspective! Then, a colleague drew my attention to the master's programme in European Studies on Society, Science and Technology (ESST) at Maastricht University.”

“I now see technology in a wider perspective”

Carlos Quiros Campos

Age: 30Nationality: Costa RicanMaster European Studies on Society, Science and Technology: graduated in 2007Job: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Targeting and Innovation Theme in Nairobi

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and Devices Group at Microsoft and I coordinate marketing activities with responsibility for the German market. I indicate how many pieces have to be produced of each product, which I subsequently must try to sell with the support of created marketing activities and campaigns. Due to the international character of Microsoft, I am working closely together with colleagues from all over the world aiming to identify and to discuss market opportunities.”

RacingMichael likes to play games himself, particularly ‘Racing’. “But I don’t see myself as a ‘big gamer’, who plays for hours every day. Apparently there are big differences between the game markets of different countries. In some countries, like America for example, action games are very popular, whereas in Germany games in which you can play together, such as family games (e.g. Guitar Hero) or strategy games (e.g. Civilization), are more in demand. I can’t imagine a life without the Internet or computer, even if it is only to stay in contact with my friends from the master ESST.” As long as Michael can remember he has been involved in

computer technology. For his bachelor in Multimedia Arts he studied in Cologne, Zurich and London. “I am not a hardcore IT guy, but I am interested in technology, in things like new web technology and trends, software as well as hardware or gadgets. My bachelor was about the creation of multimedia related content, media economics and marketing.” The master’s programme European Studies on Science, Society and Technology (ESST) in Maastricht appeared a logical continuation. “It was particularly the combination of technology with a social perspective that appealed to me. The programme is very open, you can decide yourself which direction you want to take; that was perfect for me. Ultimately I still graduated with a more IT related subject: open source software. I investigated the advantages and disadvantages of open source software for public institutions. You see, an important advantage is that you are not too dependent on one single company, for example Microsoft, which makes you more flexible in developing the ideal software for your organisation.”

InternationalAfter his graduation he more or less developed into a specialist in the field of open source software. “As a researcher at MERIT, a research institute of Maastricht University, I wrote a series of case studies about open source software for the European Commission. After having worked for eighteen months at MERIT, I decided to apply for a traineeship at Microsoft. After all, they are

the absolute leader in many IT projects.” He was not the only one who wanted to work at Microsoft. Of the thousand candidates that applied, only seven passed the selection, one of whom was Michael. “For Microsoft international experience and social skills were the most important aspects and of course a master degree. Fortunately, I had plenty of that international experience: I studied in several places abroad and lived in Ecuador for a while. And the master programme ESST was truly international. My fellow-students came from all over the world: Japan, America, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, you name it… It made me more open and flexible. It gave me more understanding of how people from other cultures think and which problems they face. With most of them I am still in touch.”

Games In 2006, Michael could start in a traineeship at the department of Partner Support, a kind of helpdesk for companies. “The traineeship consisted of twenty weeks throughout the world; four weeks in Paris, four weeks in America… The first part of the training focused more on software and technique and the second part more on leadership and teambuilding. After I finished the trainee programme, I applied end of 2006 for a role as Marketing Product Manager for Xbox 360 accessories and Games for Windows. Because of my interests, my media-related background and my wish to work in the consumer business, this position was perfect for me. Since March 2007, I work in the Entertainment

Michael Nagler

Age: 30 Nationality: GermanMaster European Studies on Science, Society and Technology: graduated in 2004Job: Product manager for Xbox 360 Accessories/Games for Windows, Microsoft Germany in Munich

“ESST showed me other cultures and other ways of thinking”

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a stimulating environment. Where research and teaching are

complementary. Where innovation is our focus. Where talent

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