Eline Bolt recently graduated from the MSc Climate Adaptation Governance (CAG) at Campus Fryslan. She has now a position as a project employee at the same consultancy firm she did her internship. In this post, Eline tells her opinion on the added value of this MSc.

Industry alignment

How effectively does the programme align with the latest trends in the CAG-industry, considering its direction and future developments (optional: specify how it aligns with research and/or other professional opportunities)?
The programme offers students many options to specialize in a certain topic, for example in choosing a topic for an essay. For example, I was very much interested in citizen participation within climate adaptation challenges. The programme enabled me to focus on this. This topic but also other main topics in the programme, like inclusion, disaster risk management, cultural considerations are also very relevant in society currently. 

It also has made me much more aware of the climate adaptation challenges there still are globally. Although you do learn about the local and national context regarding climate adaptation, the programme is very much internationally oriented. 

Since I knew I wanted to work in the local area, the option to choose your own topics and focus, helped me to focus on this more.   

Real-world Application

What practical, hands-on skills has the programme equipped you with that are directly applicable in the workplace?
Since education at Campus Fryslân is small-scale, engagement in the lectures is high which enables great discussions. This helped me to be conscious and critical. Also, at Campus Fryslân I became much more comfortable with standing in front of a group and presenting, since this is something we often did. Lastly, the programme consisted of a good combination of group work and individual work, which taught me to do both well. 

Networking Opportunities

Does the programme offer networking opportunities? If so, which ones (i.e. industry events, guest lectures, partnerships, alumni networks etc.)?
In the programme we had many guest lectures and excursions, for example a bike excursion from the water board, an excursion to the Afsluitdijk, and to UNESCO heritage site Veenhuizen. At Campus Fryslân also interesting events are organized which could possibly help you with networking. I think possibilities for this are everywhere, once you take an initiative yourself!

For me, a guest lecture got me into contact with a company where I did an internship for 6 months, in the time I extended my master's by one year. After the master this is also the place I got offered a job. Currently, I work as a project employee at a consultancy firm where I work on policy and projects mostly regarding spatial planning and sustainability. I’m really glad and lucky I got into contact with the company during the master's!

Is there anything else that you believe a prospective student should know?
I think the programme is very interdisciplinary and this is what makes it interesting. Climate adaptation is a very pressing issue currently and it relates to many fields, and thus careers!