How has your Master’s degree in International and Comparative Education prepared you for your current position?
The Master’s degree in International and Comparative Education provided me with the qualification, research and professional expertise to successfully apply for my current position as a Marie Skłodowska Curie Research Fellow at the European Doctorate in Teacher Education, which I undertake jointly at the University of Innsbruck and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. The solid theoretical and methodological knowledge acquired through the Master’s degree prepared me to critically reflect and analyse educational systems and phenomena from an international comparative perspective. Moreover, the research papers we produced for various courses helped me to improve my academic writing skills and adhere to scientific rigor, essential qualities for writing a thesis and producing publications. Through the Master’s degree, I also had the chance to undertake an internship at Education International, researching factors that influence the status of teachers and the teaching profession, and thus acquiring professional experiences.
Have you made a career change since obtaining your Master’s degree in International and Comparative Education?
The Master’s degree in International and Comparative Education helped me to follow and strengthen my career perspectives as a researcher in international comparative education. Since obtaining the degree, I conducted a traineeship at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Education and Training (CEDEFOP) in which I was responsible for a comparative analysis of the state of play of apprenticeships in Europe. To date, I am conducting a comparative case study research of teacher education policies and practices in Austria, Greece and Hungary for the purposes of my PhD thesis. My experience and knowledge of education policy in several countries have also been valuable for providing expertise in international consultancies and policy organizations dealing with education.
