1. Why did you choose the IBEI Master’s?

After finishing my studies in Political Science and Administration, I was sure I wanted to study International Relations, as it was the area I enjoyed the most during my degree years. I chose IBEI’s Master because it had great professors and was interdisciplinary and research-oriented; in addition to that, it was based in Barcelona, a city I wanted to live in.  

2. What is your experience at IBEI? 

I do have great memories, but I must admit it was an intense year as we had to work a lot. The quality of the teaching was excellent, as I expected, so I enjoyed the courses very much, as well as the international environment. And, most importantly, I made very good friends with whom I am still in contact with.

3. Describe your career path since graduating from the IBEI

After graduating, I worked for a year in the Human Rights Institute of Catalonia; after that, I spent half a year in Vienna doing a traineeship at the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. When I came back to Spain in 2010, in the midst of the economic crisis, I decided to start a PhD at the Law Department in the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). Soon after, in September 2011, I started working at IBEI as a research assistant, where I worked in different positions until last year.

4. What is your professional experience (your current position, your main functions)?

I am currently a professor at CEI International Affairs, an Affliated Center to the University of Barcelona.  There, I am the coordinator of a new Master on Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda, that will be launched this year 2020 in September, and I teach in the Master in Diplomacy and International Organizations,  a very consolidated official program in the field of diplomacy.

I am also a part-time lecturer at the Law Department of the UPF and collaborate with IBEI in the UniRegov project, which analysis the higher education governance.

5. How did the master programme prepare you for the work you're doing now? 

During the Master, I improved my academic background in the field of international relations and, even more importantly, I enhanced my research skills.

6. Is this more or less what you pictured yourself doing after the master programme?

When I finished my Master, I doubted if continuing my career on NGO-related work or on research. Fortunately, I am currently doing both things.

7. What advice would you give to current students who want to follow this career path?

That volunteer work can help young graduates to gain knowledge and experience. And also can be very rewarding.

8. Some advice to future IBEI students?

To enjoy the Master! After you start working, life gets complicated, so it is difficult to find time to read and go deeper into the subjects you like; consequently, the Master’s is the perfect time to read as much as you can, reflect and discuss with other students. I would love to have the time to do that now…

9. What do you miss most about IBEI? 

Again, the time to read, write and reflect about subjects you are interested in but are beyond the areas you currently work on. Over time, you must focus on specific areas and subjects, so I miss the time of the Master’s because it was very interdisciplinary. It was great to read about different regions of the world from different points of view all in one year.