Anke Schwarzkopf says that the controversial discussions in their international classroom have taught her to be careful about her own opinion and see conflicting points of view as a challenge.

Anke Schwarzkopf, a 26-year old student from Germany is currently in her second, and final, year of the master’s programme International and European Relations. They are currently working in groups according to the problem-based learning approach. Anke and her fellow students decide in teams on the research questions and issues to work with, but will also eventually work on the chosen topic individually. 

“The most interesting part of these assignments is the broad spectrum of opinions within the group and in fact, none of them are wrong.”
Anke has a background in Governmental Science and has done an internship in a German embassy, therefore, she was more interested in the second- and third semester of the programme:

“The first semester is mainly an introduction, afterwards it all becomes more specific and demanding when the semesters are concentrated on the EU and Global Governance. What makes the theory more interesting is, for example, the guest lectures we had by a writer of one of the books we read. These different perspectives and research knowledge make the course engaging.”
Although Anke is about to start writing her thesis, she is not finished with university yet:

“I’m not done with learning. Hopefully, I can continue with a PhD here in Linköping or elsewhere in Sweden. I am not completely sure where I see myself in the future but I am definitely planning on seeing more of the world and then I will just see what comes up.”