What is the best thing about your programme?

It is difficult to choose the best thing about my programme since there are so many things that I really like about it. Most teachers are super enthusiastic about their filed of research which makes you as a student feel excited about their subject as well – it sparks engagement and curiosity! Further, the programme offers a great mix of theoretical and practical tasks so regardless if you are to become a researcher or a practitioner it makes a good fit. But if I must choose one single thing it is the fact that the programme is interdisciplinary and that all my classmates come from diverse backgrounds. It gives such a good mix of knowledge and perspectives!

Why did you choose the Master programme in Strategic Communication?

I have a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, but apart from that I have also studied Media and Communication and French. During my time as a bachelor student I further wrote for a student magazine and I broadcasted student radio on foreign affairs. When I started to think about what master’s I wished to pursue it became clear to me that I wanted to continue within the field of political and strategic communication as it clearly reflected my interests. The Master programme in Strategic Communication constitutes a perfect springboard for me to develop competences such as how to comprehend and plan political public relations.

What do you think of the teaching style?

There are a lot of group work and home assignments which I am used to as a Swedish student, so in general I like it – but it is not always easy. Since we have such a variety of backgrounds in my class it can be challenging at times to make group work run smoothly, but in the end of the day every single minute spent with your group is invaluable because you develop a lot of necessary skills, such as patience and flexibility, that prepare you for entering work life. The teachers are always responsive and there to help whenever it is needed. And as I already mentioned, there is a perfect mix of practical and theoretical tasks in our programme which I really appreciate. For example, in our Organizational Communication course we conducted a consultancy report for Malmö City which was a very practical exercise, but we were also asked to base our recommendations on theory which gave the report an academic dimension as well.

Do you have any favorite places in Helsingborg?

I have lots of favorite places in Helsingborg! Nature, history and gastronomy is enormously present in the city. I love to go for a run in Pålsjö forest and pass by the beautiful Pålsjö castle, pet the horses in their pens and gaze out towards Denmark from the incredibly beautiful vantage point at the edge of Landborgen – which is a naturally developed elevation point of 20-40 meters above the sea level. I also love to go to Pålsjö beach in the summer and go for a nice pizza at the restaurants Regio or Benchwarmers. And do not miss the wines at L’Enoteque, just next to Benchwarmers. Last but not least, the old medieval square Mariatorget is as picturesque as it can get with a gothic church from the 15^th century – it is a must see.

Do you have any advice for students considering to study at Lund University and Campus Helsingborg?

There are many great network opportunities! Why not try to get engaged in the entrepreneurial hub VentureLab? It is located at campus and it offers a lot of good opportunities if you want to get into the start-up business or if you are just interested in learning more about it. What concerns the Master programme in Strategic Communication I want to advise you to be prepared to deliver on short notice in class. On several occasions we have had workshops where we have been expected to be creative and fast thinking. For instance, once we were asked to write a press release on short time in groups we just had been divided into. Another time we did a crisis communication simulation where we had to act fast but well-reasoned in response to the present crisis.