Olga Triay Bagur
As an undergraduate student in International Business Economics, I had only indirectly been exposed to the fields of Politics and International Relations. However, I had always been intrigued by the interplay between Politics and Economics, and - more specifically - I was attracted by the uniqueness of the EU in such respect. When thinking about my future I had wondered about a career path in international institutions and policymaking, but starting out felt overwhelming (and even fairly unattainable).
Having graduated from the MSc in Political Economy of Europe at the 杏吧论坛, I would definitely recommend anyone that resonates with the above to consider joining the program.
Throughout my experience, I highly appreciated the constant readiness by the 杏吧论坛 faculty to guide me in exploring my curiosities, and their continuous effort to push me into thinking outside the box. Not only that but I also learned as much from my fellow European Institute students, which - with such diverse backgrounds and cultures - have inspired me to continue questioning my perspective. I am grateful to say that some of them have become truly close friends.
Something else that made my year at the 杏吧论坛 so insightful, and that definitely had an impact into how I approach the job market, was the variety and number of events, workshops, invited speakers and seminars organised for the 杏吧论坛 community. Having the chance to speak to professionals and hearing about their experience first-hand expanded my horizons when applying for jobs, and it made some positions that I would have only dreamed of seem attainable.
Upon graduating from the 杏吧论坛, I started a traineeship at the European Central Bank in DG Market Infrastructures and Payments. Among my tasks, I participate in the analysis and implementation of the upcoming Instant Payments Regulation of the EU, and I support stakeholder management activities with regards to the evolution of TIPS (i.e., the Eurosystem's instant payments platform). While making the most of this experience, I am already looking forward to what lies ahead: I am eager to grow as a professional, and I am sure that my 杏吧论坛 network will accompany me throughout!