Recent graduate of the MA in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe in Natolin.
Email: jelle.van_den_wijngaard@coleurope.eu
Phone: +47 9230 1940
I recently completed my Master of Arts in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe in Natolin, and have a background in Technical Computer Science. In the second semester of my Master's, I wrote my master's thesis on status-seeking behaviour by the Netherlands in leading the F-16 coalition for Ukraine. My major was in the EU and its Complex Neighbourhoods. Thus, I developed an understanding of the regions surrounding the EU and the EU's attitude towards them.
Following this year at the College, I intend to apply my solid analytical foundation from my bachelor's degree to my knowledge of public policy, the European Union and its neighbouring countries in an international setting. Ideally, I would conduct research and I could continue using and improving my foreign languages.
The REDEMOS research is a Horizon Europe project, led by Dr. Madalina Dobrescu at NTNU. As a Research assistant to the team, I helped the coordinating team in various ways. My tasks included helping organise events such as conferences and keeping in touch with the consortium.
As a student job, I did some freelance programming work, mainly in front-end development using React and sometimes back-end development using Python.
The Program Committee advises the Program Management of Technical Computer Science at the University of Twente and approves the Education and Examination Regulations. It helps with quality assurance and gives the Program Management a student and staff perspective.
At Dutch universities, the bedel now holds a largely ceremonial function. The bedel of the University of Twente arranges PhD defence ceremonies and inaugural lectures and has a role in ceremonies such as the opening of the academic year and the dies natalis. As a student bedel, I had the honour of being bedel at PhD defences when the bedel was preoccupied. I also assisted and received guests at the dies natalis.
As a service desk employee in one of UT's more significant buildings, I helped visitors who may have questions, complaints, or other needs. In this role, I became familiar with the daily tasks of running a building, facilitating everyday needs. There was always something to do, from lending room keys to scheduling maintenance.
The College of Europe is a multicultural postgraduate institute for European Studies. In the first semester, we developed a broad basis to better understand the EU. This included courses such as EU law, macroeconomics, history courses and foreign policy analysis, among other subjects. In the second semester, I focussed on finishing my master's thesis on Dutch status-seeking in leading the F-16 coalition for Ukraine, and I selected the EU and its Complex Neighbourhoods major.
I took part in an Erasmus exchange with NTNU, where I was doing my minor. During my time in Norway, I took various courses in the social sciences and learned Norwegian. It was during my year at NTNU that I took an "Intro to the EU" course, taught by Prof. Dr. Tobias Schumacher, which made me enthousiastic to pursue a master's degree at the College of Europe in Natolin.
Technical Computer Science is Computer Science with a focus on the technical aspects. Cyber Security and Mathemathics were considered essential fundamentals and taught as part of all other modules, and additionally we learned about topics including Computer Networks, basic Electrical Engineering, and Human Computer Interaction.
The Europamobil project, organised by Stiftung Genshagen, brings together twenty students from accross Europe on a mission to "bring Europe into schools." With three other students, I developed a workshop in which pupils from visited high schools learned about the EU's three main decision-making bodies: the Commission, the Council, and the Parliament. We taught them through creative and interactive methods, including a simulation game in which pupils participated in a "trilogue," acting as a commissioner, member of the EU Council, or Europarliamentarian.
As chairman of my study association, I guided a team of enthusiastic volunteers through our full-time board year. Inter-Actief has over a thousand members and over 150 activities each year, both educational and social. We were responsible for managing the association, including its budget of well over 300.000 euros in our year.
As functionary speakers of the Symposium Committee, I ensured that great speakers would give exciting talks at the symposium of the study association Inter-Actief. The committee decided that 2018's symposium would be called "Vigilance," and the subject of the symposium was cyber security.
Over the past years, I have acquired good studying and reading skills. My bachelor's in technical computer science also gave me a broad analytical foundation.
At the College of Europe, I have developed an understanding of public policy, the EU, international relations, and the EU's neighbouring countries, as well as a basic understanding of economics and law. Thanks to my many experiences in student volunteering at the University of Twente, including a board year, I have learned to communicate well and work together pleasantly and organized, both with fellow students and external partners such as international companies.
As chairman of the study association Inter-Actief and during my studies, I have given many presentations for diverse and sometimes large audiences. I have always enjoyed public speaking and have often received compliments for my ability to teach and convey a message. This is also exemplified by the extra classes on macroeconomics that I organized for my fellow students at the College of Europe, which were well-attended and well-received.
Having been on the advisory board of a sizeable student-led conference (the SNiC) and part of the program committee for Technical Computer Science at the University of Twente, I have learned to express my opinions respectfully and considerately. This has allowed me to build fair and productive compromises. Participating in various simulation games at the College of Europe has enhanced these skills.