Development, Education and International Cooperation (DEICO) is a long name.
Every time I tell someone I study DEICO, they ask me to repeat it. It does not help that my bachelor’s degree was in Government and International Relations (FIGRI), because at this point, nobody in my family remembers my academic path.
But the reality is that I did not choose DEICO because of its long and pragmatic name. I decided to study at the University of Jyväskylä because DEICO offers a mix of development and education. Two topics that are fundamentally connected but are often studied separately.
Before studying here, I was convinced that the turning point for development is education.
My master’s has not only confirmed that idea, but also given me different tools to analyse questions such as: What is development? For whom is development? And how does it connect with education?
I feel privileged to be able to compare my life in the Global South with the one I have today in the North.
From development theories to Finnish: A year of learning at JYU
So far, I have completed a year of different courses, from the basics of Finnish to Development Theories and Education for Global Sustainable Development. Again, big and long names, but behind them I have found amazing teachers, interactive classmates and the opportunity to reflect on my own perspective on the world.
Among all the lectures and activities, including the Development Days that JYU hosts once a year, I have been surprised by a few things.
The first big difference for me was how horizontal everything is. I can call all my professors by their first names, and I can email almost anyone at the university. They will probably answer in the most natural, non-hierarchical way.
I also really appreciate how small our classes are. There are a maximum of 24 students, and sometimes there are as few as five. This creates a sense of familiarity within the cohort and allows us to have closer relationships with our teachers.
Learning in a horizontal and international environment
I feel that I have grown as a person since starting DEICO. In terms of more specific skills, my intercultural competences have improved. I have learned to communicate with people of different ages, cultures and political views. I have also done a lot of group work, and I feel that I have developed a better understanding of development as a field.
My cohort is made up of people from Asia, Africa, Europe and America (including me). The same goes for our teachers. It is truly amazing to experience the “international cooperation” in the title of the master’s simply by being part of such a diverse, open and interesting environment.
I have learned a lot in DEICO, but I would say that the best part of studying it is living it.
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