For the career minor I interviewed Matei, and these were here his answers: 

Which minor did you do? 

Matei took part in the Career Minior from the Faculty of Arts. 

What were the subjects you had in your minor? 

The minor is split between the 2 blocks. In the first block they had a course called Humanities at Work, in which he had many guest speakers from different career backgrounds, such as policy and government work, military, IT. Also, students had to choose an elective theme, which in Matei's case was Working in and on Governance, a similar, practical course, in which he learned what does government work entail, whether at a local, central or NGO level. They also had a field trip to The Hague, where they did 3 ministerial visits. In the second block he chose to do an internship at a Groningen NGO called the Center for European Security Studies. 

Why did you choose this minor? Would you choose it again? 

Matei chose this minor because he wanted to explore the more practical sides of his degree, and the fact that the minor also included an internship was the main driver of his decision. He gained a lot of professional experience out of it. 

What motivated you in choosing this minor and finishing it? 

He would definitely choose it again, as it allowed him to discover what he am actually good at doing in regards to the IR degree. It also allowed him to meet great people, make professional connections and how to promote himself on the job market. 

As he mentioned above, the most decisive factor in his decision was the internship, which turned out to be also the best part of the minor. Finishing it was a pleasure, as being involved in actual work at an NGO level was rewarding but also challenging. 

What kind of person should choose this minor? 

In Matei's words ''Honestly, I would say that anyone could choose this minor. But more specifically, if anyone is unsure as to what can they do after finishing the IR degree, I would definitely recommend it. It also opens a lot of doors in terms of connections, as you are constantly in touch with guest speakers, professionals and, if you decide to conduct an internship, with your colleagues.'' 

What was the hardest part of your minor? 

According to Matri the hardest part was fining an internship, because the university will not help you in a meaningful way. It is up to each student to find opportunities for themselves. However, what the courses from the first block do is to teach you how to make yourself seen, whether we talk about LinkedIn, or writing a motivational letter. So there is some help in that regard. 

What was the most fun part? 

Again, the most fun part has to be the internship. Matei said he was lucky to find an opportunity at an NGO that worked in a domain very close to my affinities, security sector in Eastern Europe. But even if students do not find an inertia themselves, the university provides a “backup” project with companies, which he heard to also be very interesting. 

Did the course meet your expectations? Yes, why/ No, why not 

Matei said the course definitely exceeded his expectations. he learned so much practical information, discovered what he is able to do with the academic knowledge gained from 2 years of IR, and, as mentioned multiple times, met with many talented professionals from our field. 

Do you think that your minor will be useful for your future career? Yes, why / No, why not 

In Matei's own words '' I think it goes without saying that yes, the minor was very useful for my future career.'' 

What would you say to future IRIO students who consider this minor? 

He would encourage them to give it a try! Sure, there are many other interesting minors available, but the main strength that the Career Minor had was its emphasis on practical, professional work/education. Many of his older friends told me that there is a sense of lostness once you finish your degree, as you are not really sure what you can do professionally. This minor, he believes, helps at least fill that gap partially. It is in no way perfect, but it is a different approach in comparison to the other minors.  

Was the minor doable? (1 very hard 10 very easy) and how was the workload? 

The minor is doable, however, in the first block you are confronted with a lot of stress, as you have to both focus on the two courses, which have weekly assignments, and also on finding an internship. Of course, you can start looking during the summer break, but most companies/ institutions do not give you the time of day when you contact them, so many people are ending up still looking for a place in September. But the teachers are very supportive and understanding, so there is support on this side. He would overall give it a 3, ''so hard but possible. ''