One of the things that encouraged me to choose the master's programme in Violence, Terrorism and Security (VTS) at Queen's was its versatility and the complementary and extracurricular activities organised throughout the year. This programme fosters students' critical spirit and analytical and discursive skills, not only in the classrooms but through a series of events during the first two semesters of the year, such as the VTS speaker series.

This year, the speaker series ended with a four-day trip to Belgium, where we had the opportunity to visit various institutions related to the programme and meet and hear about the experiences of many professionals in the area.

Our trip began at the doors of the Lanyon building, where a bus picked us up to transport us to Dublin Airport. From Dublin, we took a direct flight to Brussels, and from Brussels, we took a train to Leuven, which was where our accommodation was located on the campus of the Irish College in this city.

Arrived in Leuven!

Irish College Leuven

The Irish College was our host during this trip. Its facilities located in Leuven were quite modern and comfortable. In addition to resting, we were able to receive various talks from different academics on topics of interest to the participants. Our schedule was organised between discussion spaces with experts from different organisations and guided visits to institutions in Brussels.

The Irish College was also our place of stay, a place where we could learn and share our knowledge. Its spectacular location in Leuven also allowed us to explore the streets of this beautiful city and taste the gastronomy and drinks of Belgium.

Enjoying some drinks in Leuven

EU Parliament and NATO Headquarters

On the days we visited Brussels, we had the opportunity to go to the European Parliament and NATO buildings. In addition to touring these immense facilities, we participated in various discussion forums about the agendas of these institutions of great importance at a global level.

In each of these places we were assisted by professionals specialising in topics related to our programme, who provided us with information about the functioning of each of the organisations, their experiences working for them, as well as the different career paths that can be undertaken within each of them.

With my friend Alex outside the EU Parliament

These visits were very useful on an academic and professional level because they meant an approach to the future of work that several of us would like to aspire to, as well as the different sectors of employability to which we could redirect our careers.

Visit to the NI Executive Brussels Office and the Permanent Representation of Ireland in the EU

Likewise, since we were in representation of a university in Northern Ireland, of course visiting the organisations of this beautiful island was part of the agenda. On the one hand, we went to the NI Executive Brussels Office, where we met the director of this office who shared with us Northern Ireland's commitment to maintaining relations with European countries and showing how valuable and significant it is for them to deepen relations with the Northern Irish territory.

A visit to the Permanent Representation of Ireland in EU

On the other hand, during the visit to the Permanent Representation of Ireland in the EU we were able to learn about the different job opportunities that you can aspire to in EU countries.

International Transparency, UN, and EPC

Visiting these organisations was also part of our agenda. In them, we were able to learn about the mission, vision, principles, and values ​​of each one, as well as the structure of their agenda, the different roles involved, and the tasks that are developed.

Many of the professionals who work there have academic backgrounds that have an affinity with the topics covered in the VTS programme, so we were able to have, at the same time, other types of perspectives to how we can exercise our careers.

The magic of Brussels

During our free time, we had the opportunity to walk the streets of the beautiful city of Brussels, enjoy its gastronomy, and talk with its people. It is a beautiful city with a lot of history; and a great love for chocolates, waffles, and French fries.

Waffles in Brussels!

In short, this trip to Brussels was a great opportunity to network, and learn about job opportunities within the continent, as well as have different perspectives and approaches about the professional future that we can aspire to after graduation.

It was a significant way to end my academic year, and to be able to work on our dissertations optimally, knowing that the future has various possibilities in regard jobs opportunities and that it is not limited to a single path.

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Study Violence, Terrorism and Security at Queen's

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Information for students from Colombia

Isabella Barros De La Rosa Violence, Terrorism and Security | Postgraduate Student | Colombia Hello, my name is Isabella Barros, I am 24 years old and I am from a beautiful city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia called Barranquilla. I am currently pursuing my master's in Violence, Terrorism and Security at Queen’s. I am very into running and outdoor activities. That's why Belfast is so amazing to live in, because of the landscapes, and the spaces for this kind of hobby. Besides running and studying, you can find me in any bookstore, wandering around the city, or enjoying a pleasant coffee in a cute cafe!