Alumniverein - Alumni Master GPRE e. V.

„Lernen ist Erfahrung. Alles andere ist nur Information.“ - Albert Einstein

Die Studierenden des Masterstudiengangs Regionale und Europäische Projektentwicklung werden beständig mit neuen Ländern, Kulturen und Sprachen konfrontiert, von denen jede eigene Herausforderung, Besonderheiten und Erfahrungen mit sich bringt, welche die Studierenden auch nach Abschluss ihres Studiums prägen.

Die Studierenden müssen die Herausforderungen dieses einzigartigen Studiengangs jedoch nicht allein bewältigen. Sie können stets auf das Wissen und die Erfahrung früherer Absolvent*innen aufbauen.

Was als Studienprojekt begann, hat sich zum zentralen Ort des Austauschs zwischen aktuellen und ehemaligen Studierenden entwickelt: Der Alumni Master Gestion de Projets Régionaux et Européens e.V. Der Verein, der von der Deutsch-Französischen Hochschule finanziell unterstützt wird, organisiert für seine mittlerweile über 60 Mitglieder ein jährliches Treffen – die Alumni Days – und weitere Projekte wie Studienexkursionen und Sprachkurse.

 

 

Alle Studieninteressierten sind herzlich eingeladen, sich über Alumni.GPRE[at]posteo.de mit Jerome Friedrichs, dem Vereinsverantwortlichen, in Verbindung zu setzen, um mehr über den trinationalen Masterstudiengang zu erfahren.

 

 

Name: Maëla Barçon

Nationality: French

Current job position: EU Project manager at Hanse-Parlament

 

When did you start your studies?

I started my studies in September 2019.

When did you graduate?

I graduated in September 2021.

Why did you choose GPRE as your Master?

I chose the GPRE master’s programme for several reasons. I wanted to study abroad and the GPRE master's programme is one of the few that offers a trinational degree. I had already lived in Germany for three months and wanted to go back to the country. What made the difference was my participation in a European strategic partnership in České Budějovice during my last year of bachelor studies. This experience made me want to learn Czech and discover the culture.  I thought the study programme was comprehensive and could offer me various professional opportunities: it provides good knowledge in project management, allows to reach a good level in several languages and gives an international opening. I did not know it when I applied, but the WHZ gave me the opportunity to do an extra semester at the Uniwersytet Wrocławski in Poland. 

What was your best moment while studying?

It is a tough question, as there are several moments that cross my mind. I would probably say the evening after taking the last state exam. We celebrated all night long and I could feel that everybody was happy, and at the same time, sad that our last semester together was already over.

Where did you do your internship?

I did my internship at the Academy Made in France. It is an association based in Seattle, USA and in Oliva, Spain, which aims at promoting French language and Francophone culture. I was project manager and enjoyed the diversity of the tasks. I have very good memories of my internship, despite working 100% online because of the pandemic. I continue to support the association from time to time.

To whom would you recommend GPRE?

I would recommend the Master GPRE to anyone looking for adventure and ready to work in an intercultural environment. If you like languages but also economics, environmental management, marketing, and other subjects, then you should join this master programme. More than skills, you gain friends for life. You will not regret it!

Where are you working now?

I work at the Hanse-Parlament in Hamburg as a project manager. Hanse-Parlament is an association of more than 50 business chambers and 20 universities around the Baltic Sea region with the common goal of promoting SMEs. We are involved in several Erasmus+ and Interreg projects. 

Jerome Friedrichs

Nationality: German

Current job position: Policy Officer at the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA)

 

When did you start your studies?

2019

When did you graduate?

2021

Why did you choose GPRE as your Master?

After my studies in History and German Literature, I wanted to do something more practical and concrete. If I'm completely honest, I don't think I knew exactly what I was getting into when I started the GPRE programme, but what really attracted me was the trinational nature of the Master's and the prospect of living in three different – possibly even four – countries within two years.

What was your best moment while studying?

Our year was unfortunately the first and possibly the hardest hit by COVID-19. For us, the pandemic meant that we spent two of our three semesters studying mostly online, at a time when no one really knew how this would work and Microsoft Teams was an application none of us had ever heard of before. I therefore really enjoyed a field trip to the Sudetenland at the end of our semester in České Budějovice, as it meant not only getting out of our own room, but also meeting our fellow students.

Where did you do your internship?

At the European Association of Development Agencies, EURADA for short, in Brussels. During my internship, I worked on various tasks in a number of Erasmus+ projects and was tasked with some research. In general, I gained a good insight into the world of European projects and the missions and motivations of European associations.

To whom would you recommend GPRE?

To anyone who is curious about working on projects at European level and is interested in intercultural communication and regional development issues. Above all, you have to be prepared to adapt to different university systems, move around a lot and overcome the challenges that each semester throws at you. This is not always easy, but I found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Where are you working now?

At the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) in Brussels. 

Bettina Vonderheid

Nationality: German

Current job position: European Project Management department of a job center near Frankfurt

When did you start your studies?

2020

When did you graduate?

2022

Why did you choose GPRE as your Master?

During two internships after my Bachelor's degree, I realized that I wanted to work in project management and keep the intercultural European experience that I already had during my Bachelor studies. I really searched for something that was related to the values of the European Union and that gave me the opportunity to work in many different fields still related to the European Union.

What was your best moment while studying?

It's hard to say what was the best moment. I really loved the fact that we studied in three different countries and got to know different study systems. Studying itself was a lot of fun, especially because of the team spirit in our study group.

Where did you do your internship?

As project assistant for the Interreg Project 3Land coordinated by the Trinational Eurodistrict Basel

To whom would you recommend GPRE?

To everyone who is interested in the function of the EU, the funding programs of the EU, European cooperation and for sure project management

Where are you working now?

I'm working in the European Project Management department of a job center near Frankfurt.