Lenka Šetková

Czech Republic

EGEI 2014 – 2015

Early summer breeze ruffling my hair and blowing the smell of beautiful peony closer to me, I was walking down the ‘Place des Palais’ street (Brussel) and thinking how differently would I live if it were not for the EGEI programme. Suddenly appeared another EGEI graduate, Sysi, my favourite Czech blondie, also living in Brussel and also working for the European Parliament. I do realise that ‘Brussel’ and the ‘European Parliament’ may not sound so compelling to everyone, yet mesmerizing indeed is that I can live the life I dreamed. Apparently so as Kristyna, telling me enthusiastically ‘I’ve got the job I wanted! Starting from September!’. And that is the way you can live as well!

In 1994, three professors from different European countries (Belgium, Ireland, Czech Republic) decided to put an enormous amount of their energy, passion and belief in quality international education into the creation of unique master’s degree program. Having the same age as the European Union itself, EGEI is also constantly developing and has been mapping the main economic changes in parallel with the development of the EU. Regardless some changes, the love for the art of teaching and mentoring young people from all around the world in order to give them unrivalled opportunity to discover their personal preferences (meaning who you really are and what do you want) in between wide variety of subjects and international experiences, has been preserved up to now. You will definitely feel it. Professors that have worked for the important international government organisation (such as FED and ECB) or are able to intertwine Shakespeare’s verses into micro-economics modules can certainly enrich your perspectives. Thus comes without any surprise that EUA (European University Association) honoured this program in terms of international cooperation, wide range of partner-universities and multi-discipline nature of this program.

But do not be deluded by a misperception that EGEI is just doomed to be one of those highly-theoretical programs. In no way. Studying, analyzing and critically-evaluationg real-life micro/macro-economic cases in relation to their theoretical basis plus thinking about econometric models (therefore practically working with data), are the skills that very probably created the so called ‘fertile soil’ upon which EGEI-graduates, now working for the IMF and other international institutions, could further build-up their professional skills.

EGEI was the key that opened the door to the desired workplaces of many of my classmates: KPMG, KBC, DELOITTE, ECB, European Parliament, MARS, etc.). But more important, EGEI embedded in us the belief that no matter who you will become (whether top-manager, self-employed person, volunteer or whoever), you should always preserve clarity in your thoughts, eagerness in your attitude and respect toward others.

To conclude. If you feel ready

  • to travel the world
  • to enrich your spirit
  • to get out of shadows
  • to welcome the light of new perspectives that enlightens your life

I can tell you that after EGEI your personal and professional life will rock. You will be able to think out of the box, which is what the world – even the whole Universe – really wants!