Alumni dreams #237

For Samira, studying International Studies was a great way to engage with a program that was both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary. She chose South and Southeast Asia as her region and ended up graduating with a thesis on the history of the palm oil industry and the economic and environmental consequences of the industry. 

During her time at BA IS, she was an event planner and vice president of the Care Committee of BASIS. It gave her an opportunity to work within topics such as sustainability, equality and mental health, which she is really passionate about. 

After her bachelor, she started an MSc in Governance of Sustainability, which is equally taught at the Hague campus of Leiden University. She is now in her second year of her studies, and has spent last year pursuing a consultancy project for an organization working on land restoration called Commonland. Currently, she is busy completing her thesis, which researches the impact that the lobby for the meat industry has on multilateral climate-related talks and their policy outcomes. 

As far as any advice for current and prospective students, Samira encourages them to make the most of every opportunity given at the bachelor. ‘It might seem like a ‘broad’ program, but there is also the possibility of really zooming in and tailoring the program to your personal interests’. In that way, developing a niche specialization is most certainly possible. 

We couldn’t agree more, and we wish you the best of luck with the completion of your studies Samira!

Alumni dreams #245

Coming from the Philippines, Nicolas Malixi had a strong interest in the political, economic, and security landscape of his region. He chose International Studies to gain exposure to a wide range of disciplines, allowing him to explore these topics from multiple perspectives.

For his bachelor’s thesis, he wrote Modern Conflict and Globalization: A Case Study of Militant Islam in the Philippines. His research was driven by a deep personal connection to the country’s longest-standing conflict and a keen interest in security studies. Through his analysis, he explored the impact of globalization on modern militant movements and the broader implications for regional and global stability.

Beyond his core coursework, he pursued a minor in Cybersecurity Governance, successfully completing classes that included programming and technical subjects from the computer science department. This additional specialization not only broadened his skill set but also laid the foundation for his future career path.
Reflecting on his studies, Nicolas believes the most valuable skills he gained from International Studies were writing, analytical thinking, and the ability to conduct multidisciplinary research on diverse topics. These skills proved essential as he entered the workforce after graduation.

After completing his degree, he started working at a security consultancy before transitioning into cybersecurity. His current role as a consultant at NCC Group builds on both his professional and academic experiences, bridging international security studies with the evolving challenges of cybersecurity.

For current and prospective students, he offers this advice: “Keep learning every day. Knowledge and experience are everywhere if you look for them. BAIS provides great breadth, but I encourage students to develop depth in a specific topic, whether it’s a region, a class, a minor, or an internship.”

We look forward to seeing where you go next Nicolas!