I combine politics, history and practical work
I have always had a great interest in the Middle East. I have many friends from the region and travelled extensively there. In addition to that, the Middle East is an ever-changing region. Middle East Studies at SDU gives me the chance to combine my interest in politics and history with more practical work, as the 3 months internship is a part of the programme.
The teachers are good at guiding us to the right sources, not only academic sources but also blogs and webpages. I especially like that the course is in English which means we have students from other countries than just Denmark.
Right now the main challenge for me is to find an internship in the region. There is a lot of competition for the good positions both in the region but also in Denmark.
I know that most people who have studied Middle East Studies at SDU end up working for the Danish state but some also end up at NGO or businesses. I believe that most students can "design" their own profile while studying.
It is still too early to say anything my future prospects. At the moment I hope to be able to do a PhD and then later become a teacher but it is also tempting to use what I have learned in an NGO in the region. I think my internship will help me to decide my future.
Mads Qvist Frederiksen, student at Middle East Studies
There is a need for us
Understanding human action
Middle East Studies is an important study programme because it gives a better understanding of why other people act as they do. Although we constantly through the media are informed about the Middle East, we do not always know what is really happening in the area. Palestinians shoot, for example, in the air when they celebrate an occasion, like a wedding or when a child has been born. It is a tradition, just as it is a tradition for us to hoist the flag all over the place when it is someone's birthday. But if you as a stranger do not know the story behind, the Palestinians will be labeled as violent and Danes as nationalist. Therefore Middle East Studies is important.
The Middle East moves closer…
The Middle East is close to us, and we need journalists who can write about it but also know about Middle Eastern history. I feel that the courses here give me a knowledge I can use both in Denmark and abroad. In the future I can see myself sitting abroad at a United Nations information office and work based on a better understanding of the Middle East.
It's about communication
Communication can fail completely if you do not understand why people act like they do - if you do not know their background. I have become a better journalist.
Christine Drud, journalist, MA in Middle East Studies