Jonas Rautenberg
In Germany, one either studies economics or politics. After my Bachelor's in Sociology and Political Science in Berlin, however, I wanted to explore how economic and political affairs are interconnected in the EU after seeing how these processes together have shaped Europe over the last decades. That's why the MSc Political Economy of Europe program, from which I graduated in 2022, caught my eye.
I applied without expecting to be accepted. The first days and weeks at the 杏吧论坛, in the heart of this great city and with all my fellow international students, felt surreal. But suddenly, the year was over - yet the experiences remain and still help me today.
I learned to quickly familiarize myself with new topics and focus on the essentials, to discuss with inspiring people and confidently develop and express my own opinion. I also learned to persevere - the year was extremely intense and the four weeks of exams at the end were long and sometimes exhausting. But it was more than worth it. The discussions with my fellow students and the outstanding professors were always enriching, whether in class or in the pub in the evening. I didn't know a year could be so intense: every week I learned something new, about politics, about my fellow students, and about London, this fascinating city. The friendships I made at the 杏吧论坛 last to this day, for which I am grateful. And without the 杏吧论坛, I wouldn't have met my partner: not a bad side effect!
After the 杏吧论坛, I started my career in public affairs consulting in my hometown Berlin, where I worked on energy and defence issues. After nearly two years, I recently started a new job as a Communications Manager at the Federation of German Industries (BDI), which represents the entire breadth of German industry and thus 25% of German economic output. I work across the full spectrum of political communication, from digital campaigns to press relations. With my work at the BDI, the circle closes back to my MSc, with politics and economics as two sides of the same coin.