From:
Matthew Neapole
Student #:
S3640973
To:
Sonia Mascarell-Ordovas
Contents
Introduction: 3
Application Process: 3-4
Scope of Applications: 4-5
COVID-19: Impact Before the Placement: 5-6
Before the Placement: Preparation: 6
Brussels and Belgium: 7
Overview of the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) and expectations:
7-8
General Summary of my Duties: 8-9
Personal Reflections : Advice for others on the application process: 9-10
On Think Tank Work: 10-11
Advice for non-EU citizens on moving within Europe: 11
Connection between degree, internship, and future career prospects: 11-12
Conclusion: 12
Introduction:
In the next few pages, I will briefly sketch out a picture of my experiences relating to the Placement requirement of our degree, in the Master’s in International Relations, at the University of Groningen. As a brief disclaimer, I am a Canadian citizen, and so not an EU citizen. Therefore, some of the difficulties I encountered are particular to those like me in similar circumstances.
It has been a particularly eventful year for me, even ignoring the effects of COVID-19. While living in Japan (2011-2019), I had come to the conclusion that I would like to focus more closely on a foreign or security affairs related career. Therefore, after looking at many universities, I decided on Groningen, and came in August 2019. I have immensely enjoyed my time in the city, but also the Netherlands in general. Time progressed, and the second semester of our degree program, the internship, loomed ahead.
Application Process:
Similarly to many of the other students, I spent some time thinking about what types of internships I would like to take on, beginning from the first semester. However, with the nature of internships, the application periods only begin a couple of months beforehand, so it is not always possible (but not impossible) to secure one early in your degree. They would often only begin accepting applications long in advance (for example, with the EU Blue Book internship), or only a few months in advance. Therefore, one is either already settled on an internship long in advance, or only a month or two before.
In a similar vein to the above, being from Canada, the manner with which internships are sought is different. In my experience at Canadian universities, one would go into a Co-Op or similarly worded office, where the staff there would have a conversation with you and would explain to you some of the options, whether through official agreements or not, related to what internships were possible. I expected this sort of treatment, as the internship is not voluntary, but a required part of the degree.
For better or worse, however, the internship application process is much closer to a job search process here at the RUG, except you have the added pressure of being unable to graduate on time, and pay tuition fees, unless you secure an internship. This is doubly a concern when tuition fees are so high for foreign students. The situation demands the student take charge of their internship (read: job) search, and I have no problem with that, and I am fully comfortable with that. Having had multiple experiences of job searching already, in foreign countries no less, I was and am perfectly able to do so. I understand that it is supposed to simulate job searching in general, and it is admirable
that these skills are taught. However, it was unclear to me how much influence the RUG had, or whether or how much they should be involved throughout the process. It was also unclear to me at first that that was the situation I was entering. The wording of the program led me to believe that it would be through the RUG or perhaps some services they had, that I would find a placement. I eventually came to understand that the RUG’s input, except for vetting the placement, is rather minimal. However, overcoming this confusion took time; I did not know what to expect. The process was unclear to me, simply put. Furthermore, no students I spoke to, whether Dutch or foreign, seemed confident in understanding the procedure, and many felt as if they were thrown off the deep end, with a ticking deadline in the back of their mind. Furthermore, finding an internship for only the summer, as is occasionally suggested, is rather hopeful. I propose, in order for this not to continue to occur, a possible solution to this situation: have two, mandatory, classes at the beginning of the first semester related to the expectations and realities of the second semester internship. Explain the role of the university, and student, in this process. Have a ready-made listing of prior placements on hand, in order to show what is likely – this is particularly helpful for foreign students, as they can, but not necessarily always, have the same opportunities as Dutch students. Foreign students in particular often simply do not know what to expect, and do not know what they do not know. Posting information on a webpage, or one-off information sessions, is not sufficient, especially for foreign students who must often go outside the Netherlands because the common placement offers given by the Career Services office are often only in Dutch. The problem, really, is not so much the placement program itself, but its presentation and explanation.
Scope of Applications:
Throughout the course of my application process, I contacted a large number of institutions, or people, in various industries, such as Canadian government embassies, large multinational groups such as NATO, as well as think tanks. I limited myself to these sources. Unfortunately, Canadian government offices often simply do not have internships, or are limited only to those physically at Canadian universities and applying through the university (perhaps my confusion on the application process here at the RUG is clearer, now). I also aimed decidedly at East Asia, but also Japan focused opportunities, as I felt I could better leverage my language abilities and experience in the region better there. I narrowed my search mostly to Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. I began to search in a great amount of detail in Japan, but the opportunities for internship placements there were and are mostly related to business opportunities. While I am not against these in the future, I felt that I really needed government, or think tank related experience to help make my resume stand out more. I nevertheless contacted all of the people I knew who were still in Japan and tried to do as much research as I could.
Eventually, I began to receive offers, which came down to two main choices. The first of which was at a think tank in Singapore, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS,
https://www.rsis.edu.sg/ ), which is affiliated with Nanyang University. This opportunity was well
paid, and attractive on an intellectual level, as I would be helping with the Japanese security related scholars. It furthermore would bring me back to East Asia, which I believe brings me closer to my interests. Unfortunately, this opportunity was made impossible due to COVID-19 and was revoked.
The second of my options was here at the European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS,
https://www.eias.org/ ) in Brussels, Belgium. It was my “second” choice, not because of quality, but
because of the fact that the other suited me so well. EIAS remained steadfast in its offer, which I received the same day of my interview, and so was always high on my list. I learned later that there are many applicants, and so I am pleased I received an offer in the first place.
COVID-19: Impact Before the Placement:
Just as many others, I was unsure of how to gauge the severity of COVID-19 in the initial stages. However, as time progressed, and its impact grew, I began to expect that it would eventually impact regions outside of China as well. Therefore, it was not with complete surprise that my internship with RSIS, located on the island of Singapore, would be revoked, as the Singaporean authorities tend to be severe in the face of epidemics. However, its revocation truly rammed home the point to me that things in the world were (and continue to) be uncertain.
In this vein, even my internship with EIAS was in doubt, as crossing the border became impossible due to the lockdown situations in both the Netherlands and Belgium. As the RUG bases its policies on the Dutch government, it was entirely dependent on their prognosis, rather than the actual opening of borders. Therefore, as time stretched on, it became apparent that I would not be able to be there for the full six months but would instead have to perform parts of the internship digitally.
Additionally, COVID-19 also complicated funding opportunities. Specifically, I was slated to receive the GUF scholarship from the RUG, as well as the Erasmus+ scholarship. To summarize, the GUF was postponed due to COVID-19 until September 2020, and the Erasmus+ was conditional on the applicant actually being physically at the internship in question. Since it was impossible for me to cross the border, it was impossible for me to receive the scholarship, under these conditions. I did, however, begin to receive the Erasmus+ once I arrived in Brussels, to which I am very grateful for. Nevertheless, these setbacks further reinforced the impact of COVID-19 on having expectations.
Finding accommodation was challenging. Many of the companies who officially rent, do so only for set contracts and for at least a year. In addition, it was both a) expensive and b) difficult or impossible to spend the time going to visit the advertised places. Paradoxically, COVID-19 made my life somewhat easier in this regard, as there was actually a glut of choices on the market, since so many people had headed home, or were refused entry into Belgium for quarantine reasons.
Therefore, it is hard to say whether I found searching for an apartment easier, or harder, than usual. This meant that, against my usual practice and breaking some of my own ‘rules’, I had to start looking earnestly through social network sites. I finally settled on a place, and a person I would be subletting from who seemed trustworthy and was nearby to where I would work.
Before the Placement: Preparation
As previously mentioned, what I would normally prepare for is not what ended up being what I necessarily encountered. Initially, one of the extra hurdles a non-EU citizen would face in a mid-length internship (over 90 days) would be in securing a visa. This proved to be extremely complicated for numerous reasons, on the Belgian side, even before COVID-19 began to be fully felt. In fact, I received conflicting answers at times. In the end, the lockdowns and the resultant
shortening of the physical ‘in Brussels’ portion of my internship, made it so that, at best, I could arrive in Brussels from late June. Therefore, thanks to my already existing Dutch student residence card and visa, I could stay in Belgium for up to 90 days, and so the visa became a nonfactor. However, the general rules and expectations of what to do once I arrived in Belgium were not so clear, and the processing of necessary documents for foreigners seems to take an extremely long time here.
I furthermore chose to write my thesis and do my placement both in the second semester. This meant that it was absolutely imperative that I progress significantly enough through before I began my placement, so that I could perform my full-time internship duties alongside it later. On balance, I believe I did so, and I am happy that I chose to do it this way. While it naturally places more pressure on the student, if one prepares ahead and puts the time in, it is absolutely doable. With that being said, I had the luxury of beginning my placement in April, and so I had a couple months head start to work on my thesis; it would, naturally, have been more difficult if it was immediately in February.
Having made the jump from country to country multiple times already, I have become fairly used to the preparation needed, and how to organize myself and my things, and so the actual, physical moving from Groningen to Brussels was fairly smooth.
Brussels and Belgium:
I had already passed through Brussels earlier in the year on a trip, and so I was somewhat acquainted with its layout and feeling, at least from a tourist’s perspective. It has various different characteristics, from area to area, and it is very refreshing in that regard. Some may find this to be disconcerting, however, if they are expecting a strongly ‘Belgian’ experience. Brussels, being the home to EU and international organizations, attracts many different peoples, and it maintains an international flavor. It is easy, for example, to find many types of food, to hear many different languages, as well as interact with many different people. I personally enjoy the mix, but it is
sometimes jarring with how big the difference between atmospheres is, from commune to commune. It can also, oddly enough, make one feel both at home, and not, at the same time.
I was lucky in that I was only a few minutes’ walk to the downtown, Grand Place area, and so I always had a good meal or a good beer within easy reach. Belgium is especially well known for its beers and trying out different types has been a great way to explore different parts of the culture of the country. Sadly, travel is slightly difficult, though I have made short trips to historical places such as Waterloo and Ghent. However, with COVID-19, I have been part of gradually strengthening
measures, meaning, for example, that masks are mandatory everywhere now, and so walking around and enjoying the atmosphere is decidedly different than usual.
Brussels is probably one of the most expensive cities I have lived in, though my points of comparison are Groningen, Japan, and Canada. For example, a decent beer could perhaps cost you 5 Euros at a restaurant, and a meal anywhere from 15-20, for even somewhat simple offerings. Rent, in addition, can be expensive, but there tends to be a greater selection of short-term choices compared to Groningen, and you tend to receive more space than in Groningen. If I could estimate my costs, it would be 800-1000 Euros, if you want to go out occasionally.
Overview of the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) and
expectations:
EIAS is one of the leading think tanks in Brussels, and one of the few which deals exclusively with Asia-EU relations, an extremely important topic. It is primarily research focused, producing reports, op-eds, and in-depth analysis of topics on request from clients. These clients can be from the private side, such as with news outlets, or public, as with embassies. The other important facet of EIAS is its ability to hold conferences and talks, such as on current topics, book launches, or for embassies if they wish to deal with a certain issue. Accompanying senior colleagues to embassies and
events are, normally, also quite common. It is located in the heart of the EU institutions, on the Rue de la Loi, and so is perfectly placed to interact with it.
I chose EIAS primarily for two reasons. The first of which is that it would deal very much with the region I am most interested in, East Asia. Having spent so many years in Japan, I was eager to put my experience to use, but also to branch out into other spheres or subject matters in the region. Secondly, as a Canadian citizen, the EU can be a bit of a mystery for me. Therefore, a chance to deepen my knowledge of this institution, so important to Europeans and outsiders alike, both on personal and foreign affairs levels, was a chance I was eager to take advantage of.
As far as expectations were concerned, since I had already begun doing some research and writing work for EIAS before I physically arrived, I had a good idea of what to expect research wise. Furthermore, since we had had weekly video meetings, things were fairly clear to me. It is not a cop out when I say I did not go into this situation with much in the way of expectations, since COVID-19 had helped me to get rid of planning too far ahead. I expected to be working more closely, however, on Japan or East Asia. As I will lay out later, I was almost exclusively set on Central Asia. While it was not what I expected, I was also interested to delve into a new area of studies that I was unfamiliar with, but is growing rapidly, both economically but in also in general importance, to foreign policy actors.
General Summary of my Duties:
While still in Groningen, I was able to work on a simple op-ed, which is a work of only a few pages dealing with a very specific issue. Once I arrived in person, however, I very quickly acquired other duties which are and were substantially different than other interns. For example, my first duty here was actually to draft a short speech for a senior fellow at EIAS for a presentation he would give at a conference. Following that, I was tasked with making a detailed summary of some important points related to Uzbekistan and its recovery from COVID, in order to be used in another conference my supervisor was participating in. Immediately following this, a newspaper contacted EIAS, and I was asked to write a research summary for the reporter; I was directly quoted in many sections of the article itself. Soon afterwards, I was tabbed, along with this supervisor, to write submissions for a Call for Papers for a prestigious Central Asia related journal, which I will soon submit. I seemed to have garnered a great deal of varied responsibilities very quickly, though it is difficult to tell with certainty how different this experience is. Throughout this, as well, I am often asked to native checking other peoples’ writings, including my direct supervisors, and asked for my input on them. Though my main interests lie with Japan and East Asia, it has been very enjoyable for me to broaden my research horizons, since I have been involved almost exclusively with Central Asia since being at
EIAS. Furthermore, since Central Asia is a less covered topic, it allows you to take on a more active and independent role that you would not, had you been covering a more region, such as China, where there are many people with deep background in it. Therefore, I am actually quite happy I was able to get this chance. If I could give advice, it would be to find a niche that only you can cover, instead of fighting over popular, mainstream topics.
Sadly, however, the events and the possible networking through them, the part I was looking forward to the most, were completely eliminated during my time at EIAS, due to COVID-19. There is a glimmer of hope in September, but even if I stay in Brussels until then, there is the chance that, due to the vagaries of the COVID-19 measures, the event will not be possible. There will soon be a brief reception at the Uzbek Embassy I am invited to, along with a senior colleague, which promises to be very interesting!
On a personal level, the supervisors at EIAS, namely Ms. Lin Goethals, Mr. Alberto Turkstra, and the CEO Axel Goethals, have been phenomenal. I cannot begin to say enough about their patience with my complicated situation as a non-EU citizen and dealing with extra hurdles to jump, nor to their ability to be thoughtful and allow me leeway to deal with school related tasks such as my thesis. They are also, at all times, open to discussion regarding tasks. On a personal level, as well, they are very warm, and make a point of welcoming new candidates in, and also sending them off, in a friendly manner, which really sets them apart from previous employers I have had. The working atmosphere is very relaxed, and work hours tended to be extremely flexible due to COVID-19 and social distancing. Furthermore, I can state from my own experience so far that they are very devoted to trying to help you get your next step professionally, which, in my experience, is not near as common as one would imagine.
Personal Reflections
Advice for others on the application process:
First of all, try to begin a search for places you may find of interest, as early as possible in your first semester. While it is hard to juggle this, on top of normal school duties, in addition to trying to have a social life, it will pay off for you later. This is doubly important to do if you plan to work on your thesis as well. In addition, I would recommend you reach out to professors at the university who are involved in subject matter you are interested in – one of my professors actually came across something (that I eventually turned down). Finally, talk with fellow students, both Dutch and foreign, as they can give you a different take on how to tackle the application process. This furthermore
extends out to other people you may know, since they may be aware of some options or ways to tackle an issue that may surprise you.
Secondly, treat this like a job-hunting exercise, and that the university is solely there to “vet” your experience. Otherwise, except for contact between yourself and your RUG placement
supervisor, you can do all of the work yourself. While this may be stressful, that is why it will pay off if you begin early. In my experience, the majority of the opportunities that are offered through the Career Office were for fluent Dutch speakers – ask your RUG placement supervisor for a list of previous internships that were offered, particularly to non-Dutch speakers, which I found to be extremely helpful. In fact, it was through it that I found EIAS! Just Googling ‘think tank in Europe’ (which was something suggested to me) will not be helpful, and will bring up an overwhelming avalanche of information, which will be exhausting to sift through. I, for example, had never come across EIAS until the list was shown to me.
Thirdly, try to narrow down your subjects of interest. Start from the physical region, or subject matter (since some subject matters are less focused on in some physical regions). Then, as best as you can, try to decide which industry piques your interest the most. This may be the most difficult step, since for many, official work experience in this arena is not common before this step. You may not know what to search, or what you like, in these industries that are new to you. This should hopefully bring you to a rough list of about ten.
Fourthly, while in a perfect world, one out of those ten applications will be successful, there is a high possibility that it will not be. Therefore, as demoralizing as job hunting may be, try not to dwell too long on it, and get back to firing off applications again. Contrary to the beliefs of some, job hunting is often simply a numbers game, and so the more you fire off, the better you become at your cover letters, and the more comfortable you become with which opportunities interest you most.
On Think Tank Work:
Think tank work is, unsurprisingly, heavily reliant on doing in-depth, pointed research. Therefore, it is very dependent on reading a great number of documents, synthesizing them, and making a concise argument. The point of all of this is to say that, if you find paper writing to be a drag, think tank work may not be for you. I personally have immensely enjoyed my time at EIAS, but I question whether I would like to work in a think tank long term. I was once again reminded that I enjoy doing, rather than writing about things. Therefore, this placement has been very instructive as far as helping me to understand much better ‘what you are getting into’ as far as realities of think tanks are concerned. However, this is not to say I have a negative feeling towards think tank work in the future.
On the flipside, in a normal year, think tanks also put you in contact with many people who are involved in the subject matter the think tank is involved in. Embassies, academic institutions, and related associations. Therefore, it is a great way in which to stay in very close contact with these sources of thought, and to produce more cutting-edge research. Furthermore, if you are interning at a think tank, it will then naturally put you in more contact with people in the foreign affairs industry, who can then either provide advice for next steps, or could directly offer opportunities. With all that being said, it is somewhat difficult to decide whether think tank work is for, or not for me, as I did not have the normal experience of being at one because of COVID-19.
Advice for non-EU citizens on moving within Europe:
The simplest way to answer this question would be to truly emphasize the importance of doing the leg work necessary to understand what is actually required of you to cross the border, or to work in another EU country. This process is often enormously simple for the average EU citizen, and so, while many of your colleagues at your placement or at school are more than eager to help you, it is highly likely that they have never encountered the difficulties you will face, or even aware of them. Furthermore, speaking from personal experience, also be prepared to get conflicting answers from different sources (and even sometimes from the same source!), and to deal with the resulting confusion. For example, in my case, the Belgian Embassy in the Netherlands had a great deal of added conditions that I was not aware of and would have posed a significant problem had I not begun the process early and kept asking questions. Do not be afraid to seem obtuse; keep asking questions until your understand regarding visas, or whatever, is crystal clear to you.
Connection between degree, internship, and future career
prospects
I believe that there is a strong connection between my current placement at EIAS and my degree program at the RUG. In fact, doing an internship in general was one of the reasons why I chose to come to the RUG over other offers. Throughout my degree I was of course exposed to various different subject matters, but I had also kept a close eye on East Asian affairs. Therefore, working directly with and in East Asian affairs has been extremely relevant and helpful. Furthermore, it also helped me to better understand the complicated mechanism that is the EU, and to try to understand things from the viewpoint of Europeans in general.
As for connections to future career prospects, I truly believe that an internship program is absolutely helpful for students. I furthermore believe that this will apply to me, as well. Often times, the most frustrating part of job searching when you are first beginning is that everyone is asking for
experience, even for entry level positions; it seems no one is willing to offer it. With an opportunity like this, where you are given a chance to get your foot in the door, you really must take it, as it can possibly be the exact step you need.
On a personal level, this was one of the difficulties I faced. With an internship at EIAS, I believe I have gained valuable experience in this ‘foreign affairs world’. I believe I have checked off a box that will make me a more attractive candidate to HR departments, particularly in government agencies and companies dealing with East Asia or research.
Conclusion:
I can state, without a doubt, that I have immensely enjoyed my time at EIAS. I can also state that it has been a very complicated year, with many ups and downs, and not a little stress, just as it was for everyone. Remaining flexible, and relaxed yet focused, has proven to be very helpful for me in order to stay at ease. Through this invaluable experience, I truly believe that I will have some of the experience I need to get myself forward, and while I would have loved to have been in Singapore, I do not regret the path that took me to EIAS, and I can recommend them wholeheartedly. I am very grateful for the support I received from my Placement Supervisor, Ms. Sonia Mascarell-Ordovas, who was always there to answer any small problems I had. I am also happy to be with fun colleagues, and understanding supervisors, like Mr. Turkstra and Ms. Goethals. This has been an extremely (I hope!) abnormal year, but I am thankful for the chances and opportunities I was afforded, and I am
