| Since the start of the program in 1998/99, almost 300 students have graduated with a Master of European Studies the Center for European Integration Studies (ZEI), University of Bonn. ZEI Alumni have entered various career sectors: they work in EU institutions and international organizations, NGOs, national administrations, lobby groups, in the field of science and research and have found success in the private sector. The range of organizations and companies that recruited ZEI graduates is far reaching.
Graduates from the Master of European Studies face excellent job opportunities in different career sectors. 13% of the Alumni work for EU Institutions, where fellows like Inga Buchkremer or Johannes Noack started their careers as EU officials at the European Commission. ZEI alumni have worked also in cabinets of Commissioners. A large number of former students (14%) started to work for ministries, embassies or parliaments in their home countries. For instance, four Turkish MES Alumni, Ipek Aynuska, Seyda Hanbay, Onur Saylan and Erman Topcu, work for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thus shaping international policies of the EU candidate country. One of four North Korean Alumni, Ung Chol Ri, is deputy Ambassador of North Korea in London.
Several MES graduates successfully started a political career: Vasko Naumovski has become deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia in 2009. He joined Antonio Milososki, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, in the Macedonian cabinet, who also is ZEI Alumnus.
MES Alumni not only succeed in national and international organizations and administration but also in many different international companies and consultancies. Former fellow Lars Kindervater now works for Deutsche Telekom AG and Martin Zimmek has become analyst for Bombardier Transportation. They are among 16% of alumni who work for internationally operating companies. 18% of former MES fellows work for consultancies often directly related to European Union affairs. Matthieu Bertrand, Elisabeth Cousin and Anke Müller work in consultancies in Brussels focusing on European affairs where they apply their knowledge gained at ZEI every day.
MES provides a solid theoretical background enabling fellows to deepen their knowledge in many topics related to European integration: Accordingly, 11% of ZEI alumni have continued their research at different universities such as Ayþe Aslýhan Çelenk who became Assistant Professor at Erciyes University in Turkey. Among others Tobias Buchmann and Nickolaos Chasiotis decided to start PhD studies at different universities in Europe. ZEI alumnus Karlis Svikis stayed with ZEI where he has been coordinating ZEI’s Master of European Regulation of Network Industries (MERNI) since its beginning.
These success stories underscore the high quality education provided at ZEI. ZEI is proud to be part of the career paths of excellent young professionals from all over the world. ZEI keeps in contact with its alumni in order to strengthen the network between alumni and current students. Students have the chance to meet alumni during field trips and events held in Bonn.
For detailed information please check the Alumni survey (last update March 2010). |
