Field Reports

Ana María Gutiérrez Suárez (Colombia)

I chose IOCM because I felt truly inspired. It was a dream to find a Master’s program that could offer me the tools I need to achieve my goals and I found it here. Academically speaking, the study program is very complete, theory and practice are intertwined, and it offers a whole new vision of global phenomena; the interdisciplinary outlook of the program, as well as its one of a kind approach to crisis, conflict and peace make it completely unique. The quality of the Professors, the lectures and seminars are simply outstanding, through them I have come to realize that critical thinking is the base of the learning process and it just keeps motivating me to go one step further.

Beyond academics, I have had the chance to connect and build relationships with people from all around the world, I believe that is one of the most valuable things of IOCM. The international component is not only present in theory, but also in my day to day life, and it is something I truly appreciate about the program. IOCM feels like a family, its focus on having great professionals, but also great human beings, is exceptional and certainly one of the things I would highlight the most. Jena has also been the perfect scenario to develop as a student and as a person, it is a new city filled with things to explore, filled with opportunities, new perspectives, new friends; it is very kind to international students like me, and most definitely a platform to keep on growing. I am very grateful to have the IOCM program and FSU backing me up in my mission to raise my voice as a global citizen, and for providing me the knowledge and experience to make a positive difference.

Cody Bassham (United States)

I chose to continue my studies at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena due to the uniqueness of the IOCM Masters programme. First and foremost its broadening of understanding about peace and conflict studies, by offering a more complex understanding, which has included challenges such as refugee flows, pandemics and human rights violations. I am of the belief that these topics should be at the forefront of global attention and support, and therefore it was very enticing for me to find a course of study which touched upon these.

Secondly, I chose to sit the IOCM programme due to its offering of a possibility to study abroad during the duration of the course. I was fortunate enough to study at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, and believe my experience there helped further my understanding of the topics covered within the IOCM curriculum from a different perspective. I think it is of utmost importance to sculpt one's learning from as many different angles as possible, and therefore I jumped at the chance to apply for a programme which enabled this.

Finally, the location of Jena appealed to me in a way which motivated my application. I grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina in the United States, and the hillsides surrounding Jena reminded me of the comforts of home. The numerous hiking trails that surround the valley provide for ample opportunities to unwind after exams and distract from the stresses of revising. The proximity to Weimar and Erfurt provides for numerous cultural experiences, including the former concentration camp Buchenwald, a humbling location which I can recommend any prospective student to go and visit.

Anna Fleischmann (Germany)

I decided to study IOCM because the program is unique, diverse, and comprehensive. In my opinion, it is the perfect mix of scientific education and practical exercise and therefore an excellent preparation for a career in international organizations and the field of crisis management. We learn not only about international organizations as crisis managers of natural disasters, refugee- or economic crises, but also what it means when organizations themselves or even global orders are in distress.

The practical module in the second semester brings us into contact with practitioners from the field and gives us insights into how international organizations function and operate – for example, with a simulation of an OSCE conference. During Summer School we can dive into a topic of peace and conflict studies and crisis management, discuss with experts from academia and practice, and exchange our ideas and thoughts with our fellow students. The exchange semester in the third term is a great finale to our studies and at the same time offers us the chance to discover one of FSU's great partner universities. I followed the MSc Crisis and Security Management at Leiden University in The Hague, which was the perfect complement to the program in Jena and provided me with valuable impulses for my master's thesis.

Finally, the interdisciplinary track with a broad range of courses to choose from presents us the opportunity to deepen our individual interests – for example, I focused on international law and human rights – and the language courses serve to prepare us perfectly for the start of our professional careers. In addition to the excellent lectures and course projects, the IOCM team is very dedicated to ensuring that we students have a diverse and exciting everyday study experience. Whether it is guest lectures in class, guest talks as part of the IOCM Lecture Series, or the study trip - we get the opportunity to gain the most versatile and hands-on insights into the world of international organizations and crisis management. Last but not least, Jena is a wonderful city to enjoy your student life. Whether culture or nature - both are only a stone's throw away from the university library.