Seventeen students of a two-year Master’s programme International Development Studies – GLODEP had their graduation ceremony at the Faculty of Science Assembly Hall. This joint Master's programme is provided by the Palacký University Olomouc in cooperation with foreign universities.
"I consider getting a Master’s degree as a significant step in my life. The possibility of sharing with others the situation in my country regarding democracy was also important to me. I want to return to my previous employment as a disaster preparedness officer, where I was responsible for prevention, conducting analyses and disaster assessment in the office of the Prime Minister of Uganda. I want to make use of my newly acquired knowledge. In case it fails, I will look for other options based on my previous experience to improve my job position,“ said Raymond Kirungi from Uganda.
The GLODEP study programme offers the opportunity to study at three European universities that implement programmes regarding development studies and development economics. In addition to Palacký University there is also the University of Clermont Auvergne in France and University of Pavia in Italy. The aim of this programme is to prepare students for work in the area of development policies, therefore other non-European universities are also involved in the cooperation.
Romina Palacios from Ecuador will look for a job in an international organization or a non-profit organization (NGO). "At GLODEP we have learned many quantitative techniques that are important in order to monitor and analyse development programmes. I would like to work in the fields of human rights, good governance, democracy, or environment. I will search all over the world and I want to choose the best offer.“
Professor Jean Francois Brun and professor Maria Sassi from partner universities in France and Italy also took part in the graduation ceremony of the International Development Studies at the Faculty of Science. They were also present at final state examinations and at diploma theses defences.
"We are glad that we could welcome these esteemed guests in Olomouc. Their speeches and anthems of both countries were heard at the graduation ceremony. Since almost all students were from distant places, such as Bhutan, Pakistan, Uganda and other countries, it was difficult to invite the closest families. Nevertheless, this moment was very important for all students,“ said Miroslav Syrovátka, director of a consortium of three universities from the UP Department of Development and Environmental Studies.
