Upload
lamtram
View
215
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Message from the Dean
The start of an academic year is
always a time of excitement and
trepidation for both students and staff. We are all excited by the
prospect of a new group of students with whom to engage,
and each new cohort provides us
with challenges. For students the double excitement of a new
course and, for almost all of our students, a new country and new
city in which to study is tempered by the unfamiliarity of so many
things. Despite attempts to
enhance student mobility by seeking international agreement
on qualifications and the attempt to move f rom inpu t -based
measures of numbers of hours of
study to output-based measures of the learning outcomes, what
you will know by the end of a course , there remain huge
differences in teaching styles and
assessment patterns between different countries.
The British system of higher education has always placed great
emphasis on self-motivated study
encouraging debate and discussion between student and
teacher and less on rote learning and simple reproduction of the
wisdom of the professor.
In Brussels we bring together students from all over the world, more than 40 different countries, who have experienced a range of different systems.
New
slette
rSe
ptem
ber 2
012
The UK‘s European University
Content
Letter from the BGU President
Job Hunting in Brussels
Student Story
Model NATO Youth Summit
Interview with A. Soltanovskaya
From Barracks to Brussels
BSIS goes Paint-Balling
Flashback BSIS Jan2012
Advice from an Alumni
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
Dear BSIS Students,
It's great to have the opportunity to formally welcome all of our new students this September term. We look forward to an eventful term together, and the BGU can guarantee that it's members will be available to help new students get orientated around Brussels. You will quickly learn the vibrant opportunities this city has to offer, and we look forward to supporting all of you. We strongly encourage that you regularly check for updates on events & conferences throughout the city, there are many events which us Kent students have free access to. Taking advantage of these events is definitely a good way to meet new people and potential references for future employment!
Your BGU
Welcome
New Students
2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Letter from the BGU President
Greetings and warm welcomes are in order for our returning and new students to BSIS. As your Graduate Union (BGU) President, my job is to make sure that your concerns are heard and relayed to the administration. The Fall term, with its new faces and renewed energy, is a critical time to set a solid academic and social foundation for the year to come and lay the groundwork for innovative ways to advance our Graduate Union in the interests of our students and Alumni. On Wednesday, 10th October, the BGU will sit in its first Joint Council Meeting with the administration. This is a chance for us to raise student issues this year immediately. If there is an issue you would like us to raise in these meetings, feel free to post on the BSIS Graduate Union Bulletin Board on facebook, or send me an email at [email protected].
Just two weeks ago, I made a trip to the University of Kent campus in Canterbury and met with representatives from the Kent Union there in an effort to consolidate our Union with the Kent Union in Canterbury, which has been ranked as one of the best in the UK. Included in the agenda were a joint Alumni network, increased funding, and cross-campus networking events. We were able to make some progress, but more work will need to be done to transform these ideas on paper to realities to our campus in Brussels. I’ll be passing these notes to your Vice President who will work with me to make further progress.
On that note, very shortly you will be electing your Vice President, Academic Officer, Welfare Officer, International Conference Chair, and Social Chair to the BGU elected student body who will represent your interests at BSIS for all matters big and small. Take the time to read the candidates' platforms and cast your vote from 3rd October to 5th October by sending an email from your @kent.ac.uk address to [email protected] with your top choices.
All formalities aside, have some fun while you're here. We'll have numerous social events throughout this term: a Halloween Party, a Beer-Pong Fundraiser, and a Christmas Party just to name a few. So stay updated on Facebook, the BSIS Listserv, and the BGU Bulletin Board in the lounge for further updates on these events and more throughout the term.
Rizwan Hasan
President of the BSIS Graduate Union
This represents perhaps the greatest challenge for both students and those who teach them, to ensure
that we are all engaged in the process of learning
on the same basis.
Whilst things often seem strange at first, the
process of engagement between students and their teachers can be the most rewarding aspect of a
programme. For the student, being listened to is
always a good experience; for the teacher, being challenged by a student, even being challenged by
a student’s inability to understand a point which was thought to be obvious, often makes us
question our own understanding.
Our alumni often say how it is only after they have left that they begin to appreciate some of the things
they have learned. The year in Brussels is not an
isolated experience, which ends when you leave, but is part of an ongoing process of understanding.
That is one of the reasons we are keen to keep in
contact with our former students, wherever they may be. And we find that many of them remain in
Brussels for at least some time as they seek to gain more experience in applying what they have
learned; they remain part of our family and are
always welcome at events. Our new entry of around 100 students will see us complete the fifteenth year
of BSIS during which some of the plans to widen the scope of our programmes with the addition of
new international opportunities will finally come to
fruition.
Roger Vickerman
Dean of the University of Kent, Brussels
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
2
Internship and Job Hunting in Brussels.
F i n d i n g a n internship or job
is a challenging, and sometimes
daunting, task for
both EU and Non-EU BSIS students
looking to start off their careers in
B r u s s e l s . I t
requires many of the seekers to know how to sniff out opportunities
ahead of the competition, while having some real understanding of the legal obstacles that can be
suddenly blindside them even when an offer is within
reach.
My experience in the summer of 2011, when
I was searching for an internship through the University career program, is essentially a classic
example of how things can go wrong with respect to
the job hunt and legal barriers for many Americans. It was the first time in my post-undergraduate years
that I came out empty handed in my search for either a job or internship, and began to really
understand my mistakes given the difficult reality of
the job or internship market. It was not the case where employers were not responding to my
applications, but rather that I applied to only a handful of places and depended heavily on the few
applications to secure an internship. Additionally, out
of my applications I received two offers thanks to the generous help of Mona Shair and Kamil Mroz, who
promoted my CV extensively for the internship positions. The reason why the organizations were
not able to take me on board was due a Belgian law
that had gone into effect that summer pressuring many employers to hire candidates who needed
internships to graduate from their university. From this experience, I would strongly suggest BSIS
students to start early in the semester to research
potential opportunities and apply to as many places as possible even though studies can take up a big
part of their schedule.
Regarding my job hunt after finishing my
studies at the University of Kent, I had better luck
because of the network of people who were going out of their way to refer me to job openings and
contacts within organizations. I secured a six month contract as an external staff at the European
Commission after interviewing for a position.
However, prior to receiving a formal offer from the hiring personal at the Commission, I had to pass a
version of the EPSO test at the interim agency that was responsible for assigning me to the position.
The agency had to later apply on my behalf for a
Belgian work permit, which is generally granted if certain requirements, such as employment period
and salary, are met. Unlike the past experience in the summer before, I was more aware of the legal
requirements because I had already spoken to
several people regarding my work status situation. Even when there were moments where I was afraid
that the offer could be retracted due to my situation, I sought out help and luckily found a solution
through people’s advice and guidance.
In combination with knowing how to find opportunities and being a part-time lawyer, the
single most important advice that I can offer to future BSIS alumni in their job or internship hunt is to
really develop a network of contacts, be it career
adviser, BSIS faculty, or other friends at the university because one has a much stronger chance
of succeeding with the help of many, than being alone in this game. Regardless of the short time
frame at the university, developing strong and lasting
relationships with your peers, BSIS alumni, career adviser or professors will play an important part in
ensuring that you know how to enter the job market with better awareness and confidence.
Lastly, I would like to extend this article to
those who have gone above and beyond to assist me in my search and provide me with the much
needed guidance to navigate the countless drawbacks that can come up in Brussels job market.
I am sincerely grateful to everyone at BSIS, and wish
the current students at the University of Kent all the best in their future endeavors here in Brussels.
Fahim Husain
M.A. International Political Economy
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
DON‘T FORGET TO VOTE
BGU ELECTIONS
03. - 05. October!
3
Student story for BSIS
Student story for BSIS
Newsletter: September
issue: Aanas Ali
Intro:
Bonjour/Hallo/Hello!
My name is Aanas Ali
f r o m B a n g k o k ,
Thailand. I’m starting an
M.A. International Law w i t h I n t e r na t i ona l
Relations this fall at the
BSIS, University of Kent. Having studied in Thailand, the
USA and France, I’m intrigued by unique education
system each continent has to offer. As such, my
curiosity in getting
e x p o s e d t o t h e
British system goes
without saying. While
I’m not so fanatic
about ‘british’ accent,
be ing in a smal l
c l a s s r o o m w i t h
d i v e r s e a n d
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
environment were
someth ing I was
looking for. An urge
o f mas te r i ng my
French was another
r e a s o n , a m o n g
others, why Brussels
h a s b e c o m e m y
destiny.
I had some preconceived notions of BSIS, which were
later proved quite inaccurate. I’d imagined it being “not-
as-good” in comparison to its main campus in the UK.
Despite its size, I found BSIS to be truly capable of
providing me with a high-quality postgraduate
education, granted what I sense to be an excellent
member of faculties and ample academic resources, not
to mention a vast career opportunity in this Comic City.
I’m also happy to see great efforts the BGU put together
before the start of the term in facilitating the students’
academic and social life. It has definitely made me feel
more welcome!
Getting-settled: I made a few appointments with
potential landlords via websites (e.g. immo.vlan.be and
ikot.brik.be) prior to my departure from Bangkok. When
arrived, I met with those landlords, but wasn’t too happy
with the places I saw. What wound up happening was, I
called a few numbers appeared on the orange “A Louer”
signs on random buildings en route my flat-hunting
errands. I was lucky to find a place I really like (with an
awesome landlord) just around Cimetière d'Ixelles area
and signed a contract a few days after. So this part of
the story went rather hunky-dory!
Orientation:
Though I didn’t get the “love at first sight” impression
from the orientation since some of the programmes
were slightly disconnected. Having said that, I found the
week to be quite practical and resourceful - definitely a
great starter for new students as it helped me to sort out
some settling-related issues, not to mention the
academic aspect of it
all.
First-week:
So the Michaelmas
term has begun! I’ve
been shopping for
modu les , aud i t ing
d i f f e re n t c l a s s e s .
Meanwhile, I find that
t h e s t u d e n t
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n
department has been
quite efficient and
prompt in providing all
necessary tools and
information to kick
s t a r t e d w i t h t h e
academic life. What I’m slightly concerned however is,
there are so many great courses offered at the BSIS,
and one is sadly only allowed to take a few! I might wind
up taking a few non-registered courses this term! After
all that rambling, I suppose I’ll try to (and I’m sure I will)
benefit from the BSIS – academically, socially and
professionally – as mush as I could while enjoying good
beers, mussels and the Belgian (French) fries. Wait, what
did I forget?...waffles and chocolate and…oh well!
Aanas Ali
M.A. International Law with International Relations, Candidate
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
Networking Event, October 25th
Hosted by key2advance, "Network Brussels" brings together young professionals, interns from the European Parliament, students and alumni from the Brussels-based English speaking universities in a social setting. About 25 representatives from various organisations will be present to answer questions
about their professions, opportunities to access their sector and insider tips. These representatives will be given the title of "ambassador".
Entrance: Free of charge
When: October 25th, 2012
Time: 7.00 pm onwards. Happy hour will be from 7:00-8:00pm.
Address: Place Jourdan, corner of Rue Froissart - 1040 Brussels
To guarantee your participation, please register before Wednesday the 24th at 6:00pm.
http://key2advance.com/Networkingevent.htm
4
Model NATO Youth Summit 2012 (MoNYS) was a unique event in
Europe and the largest simulation
of NATO’s decision making process in the world so far. This
project was the result of the inspiring initiative of a group of
Romanian students of the
Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), the support of NATO
Brussels Headquarters, the ATA (Atlantic Treaty Association, and
the ULB. MoNYS 2012 took
place in Brussels between July 8th and July 13th and brought
together almost 260 students from North America (the USA and
Canada), Central and Eastern
Europe (Romania, Poland, Czech Republic), the Caucasus and the
Balkans (Georgia, Serbia, Turkey, Greece), the Baltic States and
Northern Europe (Estonia, Latvia,
L i t h u a n i a , D e n m a r k ) , a n d Western Europe (France, the
United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium). Other countries have been invited
to participate too, among which
Azerbaijan, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, India, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, South Korea, China,
Japan, and Australia.
The participants, divided into 29
delegations, have been debating
t h e t h e m e : “ P o l i t i c a l responsibility through leadership,
innovation and strategic thinking in the XXI century” and had the
unique chance to meet with
NATO officials, including H.E. NATO Secretary General Anders
Fogh Rasmussen (watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/
w a t c h ?
v=sOuzTl_dA-0&feature=youtu.be), and H.E. Ambassador Kolinda
G r a b a r- K i t a r o v i c , D e p u t y Assistant Secretary General for
NATO Public Diplomacy Division,
toge the r w i th many o the r personalities from the security
world and academia. MoNYS 2012 represented a unique
opportun i ty for the young
generation to get first-hand experience of the challenges
faced by the Atlantic community such as smart defence, cyber
terrorism, and emerging security
threats.
Because of its great success,
MoNYS will have a second edition in 2013, so that even
more students wil l get the
chance to experience what high-
level politics really is about.
For more information, please visit
M o N Y S o f fi c i a l w e b s i t e
( na toyou thsummi t .o rg ) f o r information and detai ls for
applications or e-mail Claudia Nocente at claudia.nocente@gpf-
europe.com.
Claudia NocenteResearch Associate,
Global Security
The European Geopolitical Forum
www.gpf-europe.comGSM +32 495 12 12 46
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
Congratulations to the winners of the
Scavenger Hunt September 2012
BSIS ForumsAs every term we have a number of discussion forums that are
voluntarily organized by our BSIS students. We highly
recommend to take part in these forums, to make the most of
your time at BSIS! Contact the forum leader for more information.
The forums offered thus far are:
• International Development ([email protected])
• International Migration ([email protected])
• International Human Rights ([email protected])
• Churchill Society ([email protected])
• Negotiation and Mediation ([email protected])
! Look out for an email coming this week with more information !
5
Interview with Anastasia Soltanovskaya
Anastasia Soltanovskaya has completed an MA in International Conflict and Security in March 2012 and has recently entered the labour market. Several months after leaving the program, we asked her about the reality versus expectations upon graduation and whether BSIS has served her in navigating through entry-level vacancies. “I believe it is still too early for me to judge upon the merits of having a degree in my field of work. Unfortunately, the reality is that to find a job in the exact and specific sphere I am interested in, Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (specifically the Education angle), it takes a lot of persistency and numerous application attempts to be able to find something, which will most likely differ from what you originally had in mind due to the competition level and the limited availability of entry-level positions.” “Having completed numerous internships, together with a wide range of languages – I thought the job hunt would not be as stretched out as I heard from fellow recent graduates. So I gave myself 3 months on my parents’ couch to apply only for those vacancies that I though ‘screamed’ my name.” “But through the search for jobs that you a) like, and b) are eligible for, you are bound to stray from what you originally had in mind. Unwilling to do so completely, I put my dreams of working in Africa on hold, and started to look around for options to financially cover myself until I figure out the next step. And so I applied for a temporary position at an Education agency in St.Petersburg, which I now see as one of the best decisions I could have taken. The job requires me to go on business trips all throughout Russia (Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Blagoveshensk and Murmansk for example), and promote the merits of international education to Russian high school students.“
“Through a wide range of contacts this opportunity provided, I now have a variety of options that are adjacently, rather than directly connected with my field of interest. While this may have bothered me earlier - having seen the direct path I wanted to pursue in front of me, these opportunities shed light onto different aspect of the issues that one may be interested in, and have not considered prior. I believe that it is exactly the familiarity with this range that provides experts with their solid background, whether through experiencing a variety of organizational structures, types of organizations, or simply by focusing on different target audiences of the same issue, say education. So perhaps, it will all lead in the direction I initially aspired to take, but through a different path and with a few added benefits by the time one gets there.“
Top 10 safety tips in
Brussels...
by Laura Mantilla Gonzalez
1. Watch your belongings at all timesto avoid potential pick pocketing! Public transportation (such as the metro, trams, and buses) are notoriously known for principle areas where pick pocketers target their victims. One too many of our students have experienced this and were amazed at how quick and unnoticed the crime was! If you wear a backpack or messenger bag, make sure it is fully closed/zipped and keep your eye on the people in your surroundings.
2. Avoid walking alone at nightMost of us think we are invincible, and as strong as batman, but trust me, you never know how your reaction is in an emergency situation. Therefore, avoid walking from the bar alone (especially women!). Make sure you are either with a group or a friend, who is walking in the same direction. Remember, if there is no one to walk you, it is better to pay a little extra for a cab to make it home safely.
3. Watch your beverage!When at a bar, or party, always.watch out for your drink. Have your hand gently placed over your drink to avoid having somethign slipped into it. It is common sense, but after a few drinks we tend to forget that others might be completely sober and watching your every move. So just keep an eye out and please, don't accept free shots/beers/mojitos from sketchy people.
4. Keep your wallet in order...What do you absolutely have to have in your wallet? Well.. not your passport, multiple credit cards and large amounts of cash.. Stick to the essentials, which means: 1-2 forms of identification, your basic debit card (ING cards are great because they are impossible to use if you do not have the PIN), and some cash.. other than that, keep all valuables
and secret passcodes at home.
....... continue next Page
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
6
....
5. Have SOS numbers on your phoneEmbassy & Police numbers are key to have as your first list of contacts in your phone directory. Have them on speed dial or memorize. In a medical emergency as a result of an accident, violence or a fire, call 100 (in Belgium) or 112 (valid throughout the European Union). Both of these numbers are free 24 hours a day from a landline, a public telephone or a mobile phone (even when networks are not available or overloaded).The Police emergency number is 101.
6. Always lock your door..Break-ins are more common than most people think. So keep your doors and windows locked when you are not home. Also, get to know your neighbors, make sure they know you are a student on a temporary living status. Give them a heads up whenever you are making plans to travel, that way they keep their eye out for when anyone should and should not be at your place.
7. Maps are handy not nerdyUse a map for this city, it's very easy to get around once you have a mental image of the distances and the general areas where most things are located. There is always more than one way to get from point A to point B, so when you see that the usual route you take is too dark and lonely or lurking with creepers, you can always take that other route you
previously planned
8. Pedestraians usually have the right of way...In Brussels pedestrians have the right of way at a eg. zebra crossing, however just make sure to apply the old “look both ways before crossing” trick, as not every driver always respects the rules.
9. A city of two dominant languages:Just take note that almost every street, metro stop, bus stop etc is written in both Dutch and French, and most times the two names look and sound completely different! (ex: Art-Loi and Kunst-Wet. Same Metro Stop)
10. Be careful with Belgian beer consumption!Yes, we all love Belgian beer andwhat better place to indulge on theirsavory flavor than here in Brussels.But just remember most of thesebabies are 9% + alcohol content!
From Barracks to Brussels
My leap of faith from a cushy
defense career into what I hope will
be a soft landing of good beer, great
company and an even bet ter
education.
I’ve been asked several times
recently why I chose to study at the
University of Kent in Brussels, and
the reasons are actually quite
pragmatic. I was looking to live in
Europe, and obta in a qual i ty
internationally recognized education
at a school that accepts United
Sta tes financ ia l a id . Staunch
reasoning aside, I was ecstatic when
I received my acceptance letter last
spring, and I decided to treat the
opportunity as a second chance. At
that time, I was working in a very
international setting and I wasted no
time gaining the advice of my
European peers on my big move. I
was told to go to Brussels early, to go
in July. At first I was hesitant. Going
straight from my overseas defense
industry position to find an apartment
early was a bit stressful. But when
school started and my classmates
were struggling to find housing, I
realized it was the best piece of
advice I had received. Upon my
arrival I understood my first mistake –
I speak neither French nor Dutch, and
enough people here do not speak
English. Socially, that would not be
such a big deal, but when the largest
electric company in town does not
have a single English speaking
customer service employee, things
can get complicated. Secondly, I did
not take an all-inclusive apartment,
so setting up gas, electric and
internet were an absolute hassle.
Thirdly, I have a strong dislike for Ikea
and discovered the hard way I must
try and learn to love it. Not all went
wrong my first weeks here. I arrived
early, joined a local sports team
(rugby) and have met many expats
and locals through our shared
i n t e re s t . I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r
discovering this great town outside of
the school circle, for a more authentic
experience. Of course hindsight is
20/20, but I have already learned
from my shortfalls and intend to
make it up to myself by having a rich
and unforgettable time here. I feel
confident I am on my way and I hope
my classmates find their niche here
as well.
Auset Mitchell
M . A . I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a w w i t h
International Relations, Candidate
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
7
October November December
03The State of the Eurozone: Safer and Sounder in September? @SOFITEL BXL
12Election Party @ BSIS House
17-18EuroPCom 20123rd European Conference on Public Communication
25Networking Event by Mona Shair - 7pm Place Jourdan
02Halloween Party - Location TBA
04China‘s lonely rise @BICCS
05Taking stock of China
12-13East West Institute - 9th. Worldwide Security Conference
16BSIS Beer Pong Tournament -Location TBA
14BSIS Christmas Party - Location TBA
15Last day of classes
More events can be found here:
www.euagenda.eu/2012/10
BSIS goes Paint-Balling
What’s a great way to pass a sunny afternoon in Brussels?
Well the energetic students of the BSIS recently put
together a fun and action packed afternoon of paintball
games. It was a friendly competition that took place about
20km outside of Brussels, with the sun shining and not a rain
cloud in sight, it was the perfect day for such an activity.
Finding the place proved to be a bit of a challenge, but once
there, everyone was in good spirits and ready to play.
On arrival, we had to put our French conversational skills to
the test as the owner was not keen on speaking English.
Everyone was equipped with a gun, paint balls, mask, jacket
and trousers. After a brief intro and a thorough
understanding never to take off your mask on the shooting
field, we were ready to go. The fun began as both teams
assembled themselves on their respectable sides and the
whistle was blown.
The boys were quickly out of their base with enthusiasm and
firing at will. Surprisingly the girls, Tara and Yasmin decided
to perch themselves on the hill behind some cover. As the
competition ensued the boys turned out to be no match for
the girls superior tactical skills. The pair methodically began
picking off their enemies one by one until there was nobody
left. This clever duo turned out to be too much for the fellas,
so the boys voted to separate the gals in order to even up
the teams. Reluctantly the girls agreed and from that
moment the teams were evened up and the boys were
happy.
T h e B G U i s
looking forward to
doing paintball
again this year
along with other
group events that
s t u d e n t s a r e
interested in. We
a r e l o o k i n g
f o r w a r d t o
organizing some
activities such as
b a d m i n t o n ,
s o c c e r a n d
tennis. There are
a l s o o t h e r
activities that one
can find here in Brussels such as ice skating and inline
skating. For those interested in skating check out Ice
Skating Poseidon on the web. The BGU is always looking for
ways to bring students together for group sporting events,
so if you have suggestions please drop me a line and we can
organize some events together.
Scott Sutherland
BGU Sports Representative
BSIS
So
cial
Cal
enda
r
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
8
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
International Conference
International Dinner
9
To The New Students From An Alumni...
My name is A n d r e w Gelston, I am a 24-year-old profess iona l who finished BSIS in 2011. Hail ing from New York, I have spent the past two years working in the field of policy
i s s u e s ( E U policy, healthcare) and communications. I have a BA in International Relations, French and Art History from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and my MA at Kent was in European Public Policy, with a focus on healthcare and PR/Crisis communications.
Finding a job here in Brussels, as an American was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The key to finding a job here in Brussels as an American is to have a network, a very strong and strategic network. Do not place all your eggs in one basket, diversify. I always believed that school was important, however when you are in the real world practicality overrides theories and knowing how to handle yourself and a certain situation will get you job, rather than knowing the difference between theory A and theory B. While you are networking, don't
forget the simple things such as a thank you note. And while you are selling yourself or giving your 'elevator speech', nobody is going to care at first where you worked for the first five years, they want to see you are a person. Come off as human, this is Europe, not America.
Once you find the job and go through the process of gaining a work permit (which is a hoot), then you can begin your career here in Brussels! For the first year of my working life I shot up to Account Manager at the EUobserver, handling a myriad of accounts and their marketing and communications needs. Due to this absolutely amazing opportunity, I am now switching jobs and taking the next step forward and up, to the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU as their Marketing and External Affairs Officer.
As an American, working overseas is a privilege and something I try never to take for granted. It has amazing perks and benefits. Since the age of 3, I wanted to get out of America and I know the chances of me moving back there for good are slim to none. Saying that, if you really want to work here and have your life be here, if this has been your dream, if the European dream was also your dream, then work for it, put in the effort and it will come back to you in the end.
Andrew Gelston
M.A. European Public Policy
Do You Have a Story to Tell?
There’s a lot going on at BSIS and in Brussels – and it’s important to tell people about it. The BSIS Newsletter wants to hear from you about the events you’ve attended, the internships you’ve obtained, and any other information that shows what makes our school unique.
If you want your article, or pictures taken by you to be featured in the next issue of the BSIS Newsletter, or if you have any further inquiries do not hesitate to contact the editor at: [email protected].
Newsletter contributors
Special thanks to this issue‘s writers
and contributors:
Aanas Ali, Andrew Gelston, Laura Manitilla Gonzalez, Rizwan Hasan, Fahim Husain, Auset Mitchell, Mona Shair, Nastya Soltanovskaya, Scott Sutherland, Roger Vickerman
Editors:Tara Hadviger and Amy Jermain
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ken
t, BS
IS N
ewsle
tter
Volu
me
4, Is
sue
1 Se
ptem
ber/
Oct
ober
201
2
10