Katarina, International Security

>Katarina Vehovar graduated Summa Cum Laude in International Security and passed studies of Russian and Eurasian Politics and Economics at King's College London as part of the dual degree programme with distinction. She is now a Schuman trainee at the European Parliament's Liaison Office in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

What advice would you give to current and future PSIA students? 

I recommend that students take advantage of the numerous debates hosted by PSIA to expand their academic (and professional) horizons. For me, volunteering at the second edition of the Paris Peace Forum was a particularly enriching experience because it reinforced my interest in global internet governance; a year later, the normative clash between defenders of the “multistakeholder model” and proponents of “digital sovereignty” was already the topic of my dissertation at King’s Russia Institute! I believe this underscores the importance of taking part even in discussions which, at first glance, may appear unfamiliar or novel.

On a more technical note, I would say that studies at PSIA also taught me to be more versatile in my academic output. Lecturers who are scholars or diplomats often have diverging opinions on what constitutes a good paper. Rather than uncompromisingly adhering to one and the same template when writing policy briefs or essays, I would therefore advise students to remain flexible, and not to ignore each individual lecturer's advice.

Finally, at the risk of sounding clichéd, I also urge students to enjoy life in Paris, and to immerse themselves in French culture; the Master's programme will be over before they know it!

What skills and/or strategy helped you to succeed at PSIA?

I believe that social scientist Seymour Martin Lipset often quipped that “a person who knows only one country knows no countries”. What had already attracted me to Sciences Po’s undergraduate programme in Dijon was the strong emphasis placed on comparative studies of politics, sociology and law across Europe. Similarly, I appreciated the fact that PSIA allowed students to seamlessly incorporated different dimensions of international security into their studies: I myself had the opportunity to explore topics as diverse as African history, securitisation theory and American military power in just one year! 

I would therefore say that the key to succeeding at Sciences Po is to renounce parochial thinking; instead of compartmentalising knowledge, I  encourage students to draw on different disciplines (and professional experiences) during studies at PSIA. After all, one of my favourite aspects of studies at Sciences Po was the opportunity to gain insight into fellow students’ experiences from their native countries. Similarly, I myself have always sought to integrate my knowledge of East-Central European politics into my academic work. By adopting such a transdisciplinary approach, students will not only reflect the ethos of Sciences Po, which rightly prides itself on its holistic programme, but also produce more insightful and original essays. I’m certain this is something professors - and colleagues - will appreciate greatly!

What part of your PSIA experience do you think will be of greatest help in your career?

Learning to craft better policy briefings under the tutelage of course convenors who have such rich backgrounds in academia and government alike has proven to be a great asset not just during my subsequent studies of policymaking in Russia at King’s College London, but also during my traineeship at the European Parliament. For this reason, I wholeheartedly agree with many other students (past and present) who emphasise that PSIA offers an unparalleled springboard for a career in policy consultancy.

• About the Schuman Traineeships
• About the Master in International Security