Alumni Professional Stories
Laura Milà Tugues
IBEI Alumni 2017-18, Project Manager and Business Development, NTT DATA Europe & LATAM (Spain)
"I remember my experience at IBEI to be incredibly enriching, intense and fun. We had this mix of engaging discussions at class where everyone shared their insights and expertise, but at the same time I remember working a lot in papers, presentations and group assignments that required a lot of preparation and group meetings. But the most rewarding aspect was undoubtedly the friendships you make along the way."
Caroline Spanaus
IBEI Alumni 2017-19, Development Advisor, GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit); Abuja (Nigeria)
“My experience at IBEI was all that you could want from a postgraduate program. Studying in the bustling and dynamic city of Barcelona in a small group of very driven and experienced people was fantastic. Furthermore, IBEI gave me the chance to start an interview platform together with some other students and we were able to interview high-level speakers on topics relevant to our course, including Branko Milanović. In addition, I got to spend an exchange semester in Cairo.”
Bastian Koop
IBEI Alumni 2020-21, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, Policy Officer, European Commission, Brussels (Belgium)
“I greatly appreciate the time I spent studying at IBEI, especially the high level of flexibility to design the MIR program exactly according to your individual interest and thus optimally prepare for your future career path. Additionally, I was very happy to study alongside open-minded and intelligent fellow students, some of which have become very dear friends of mine.”
Diego Redondo Cripovich
IBEI Alumni 2017-18, Legal Officer, International Organization for Migration, Erbil (Iraq)
“The Master programme gave me the opportunity to learn how to think and express ideas in a structured and scientific manner; a skill much useful when designing, implementing, and reporting on humanitarian projects. Moreover, the support and freedom provided to me while conducting the final dissertation helped me further dig into human rights frameworks, specifically how LGBTQI+ rights and colonialism intersect. These frameworks have shaped the way I understand humanitarian work, institutions, and development.”
Annika Gostowski
IBEI Alumni 2012-13, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), Gender Equality and Private Sector Partnerships Specialist (UNV), Montevideo (Uruguay)
“Be patient and keep an open mind. Building a career in the field of international development or diplomacy is not easy. Take the opportunity to learn about different topics from the wide range of courses at IBEI and from fellow students from different backgrounds and world views. Doors may open in the most unexpected places and ways.”
Marija Obradovic
IBEI Alumni 2014-15, Head legal analyst, Tamarind Intelligence (Spain)
“My experience at IBEI was very positive. Professors are very knowledgeable, and the majority has good instruction skills and a way of keeping the lectures and discussions interesting. I enjoyed IBEI’s guest lectures and discussions on their respective papers. I miss the interesting daily conversations and debates in classes. The world has changed since 2014, and often I wish to be a fly on the wall in IBEI classrooms and hear the contemporary exchanges. The admission office and student coordinators were always extremely nice and helpful.”
Austin Ruckstuhl
IBEI Alumni 2015-16, Meta (formerly Facebook), Messenger Policy Manager, Remote (USA).
"The program taught me how to think through formal theoretical approaches and conduct rigorous research, which I still use today. I also learned how to think deeply about complex issues while considering diverse perspectives. It also opened doors for me that I had previously not been able to access. The year before IBEI, I was managing a restaurant in Los Angeles. Now I work on one of the largest Tech Policy teams in the world."
Susana Gonzalez Ruiz
IBEI Alumni 2004-05, Director of Knowledge & Foresight, AMEC.
"After having studied Sociology, I realized that what really appealed to me was the difference among different cultures and societies. The IBEI Master's in International Relations offered me a wide approach to this from economics, politics, culture, and law. Apart from learning all these different aspects of international relations, I’d like to highlight the experience of working with students from many other countries and learning from teachers who are experts in their respective fields."
João Lobo
IBEI alumni 2008-10 (part-time), Project Analyst, Union for the Mediterranean (Barcelona)
"At 40 years old I arrived at Barcelona wanting to make a radical change in my personal and professional career. I was looking for a wide-open programme. Since I was a kid, I had been passionate about international relations. IBEI programme’s curriculum seemed fascinating, and the part-time option looked perfect, as I had a part-time job at the time. It gave me a proper framework to work on international relations’ matters. Furthermore, courses such as those on Euro-Mediterranean Relations and European Policies, in particular, were very much related with what I am currently doing."
Rebekah Quixano Henriques
IBEI alumni 2020-21, Communications and Engagement Coordinator at Tzedek (UK) & International Events Assistant at bon’t worry (Italy/remote).
"The professors I had always seemed open to debate and appreciated input. They were demanding but also understanding. The support provided by my personal tutor(s) were exceptional. On the whole, they did their best to make their classes engaging and up-to-date. The courses I took gave me the vital knowledge needed to teach young people about topics of social justice. The capacity approach, Colonialism, Development models, writing proposal forms, migration, poverty, sustainability, governance and GDP are now all topics I can confidently discuss."