Each new semester, the Vienna Master welcomes 3-4 ambitious young professionals or current students who wish to gain valuable work experience and expand their knowledge at the intersection of human rights and art & culture. The Program Assistants (PA’s) seize this opportunity as an Erasmus+ Traineeship, and enriching experiences await those who embrace this adventure.
As a Program Assistant, you gain in-depth knowledge of how programs are designed, organized, and managed. The tasks and responsibilities related to the PA’s role evolve over time and include support in the following areas: administrative tasks, academic coordination, curricular activities, events, communication, and research. Along with the internship, you acquire practical skills at the entry level of office work, project management, leadership, and more. Throughout the internship, regular and valuable feedback, as well as personal guidance and support from the permanent staff helps you enhance skills and expertise in the field you wish to advance in.
Former Program Assistants had planned and executed an amazing welcoming lunch and an impressive one-week onboarding program – once again, thank you Gabriela, Elias, Sofi, and Anita! Now, as the Summer Semester of the academic year 2023/24 begins, an exciting journey commences for the three of us, the current PAs at the Vienna Master of Arts in Applied Human Rights – Bruna, Lina and Marína.
Lina Čop
I am coming from Ljubljana, the capital city of the rather small country of Slovenia. After completing my bachelor’s studies in sociology in my hometown, I felt a strong need to move abroad and dive into something totally new and exciting. I decided to continue my education in Sweden in the field of human rights and international social work at the University of Gothenburg. I have always been drawn to Scandinavia for its inspiring wild nature, strong social state, and distinct educational system. I spent my months in Sweden by stunning lakes and endless forests, dedicating myself to both studying and trying to observe and volunteer at different local-non governmental organisations which dealt with various social issues.
The opportunity to be a program assistant at the Master of Applied Human Rights and Arts is a unique experience for me to gain valuable insights in my field of interest and to develop both professionally and personally. As this is my first formal experience, I am genuinely excited to work in such a motivated and organised environment, collaborate in a team, meet many new people, visit various inspirational events and explore different places. I’m really looking forward to experiencing new sources of inspiration, whether they impact my daily life, offer fresh perspectives, or contribute to my career development. I’m happy to see how this six-month journey will shape my growth in different areas and the (self) discoveries that will happen.
Upon completing this internship, I hope to formally finish my master’s studies and begin to explore future career opportunities. With my interest spanning across all social sciences, I remain open and curious. So far, my primary interest lies in working in the social development field, both practically and academically. In times of fear of the future, I like to remind myself that ‘all roads begin with one foot in front of the other.’
Bruna Galani da Silva
Greetings everyone, I’m delighted to connect with you as an Program Assistant at the Vienna Master of Arts and Applied Human Rights. Originally from Curitiba (Brazil), I lived in Porto (Portugal) for the past 4 years, and currently I embraced Vienna as my new home. This city and this Erasmus internship program is bringing me exactly what I was missing: inspiration attached with professional experience!
“Woman, immigrant, and ecofeminist in constant (dis)construction”, that’s how I like to describe myself. I’m also a fan of cinema and a cat lover. Museums stun me, and I can spend hours at second-hand shops and flea markets… I advocate for veganism, and my passion for promoting culture and the arts is reflected also in my volunteer work at the “Porto Femme International Film Festival” for 3 consecutive years.
Regarding the education background, I’m a master’s student in History, International Relations, and Cooperation, with a specialisation in Political Studies, at the University of Porto; and a graduate in International Relations, from Universidade Lusíada Norte (Porto) and UNICURITIBA (Brazil). As a researcher in the field of Feminist Theories and International Relations, my academic journey includes a Thesis on Ecofeminisms and their implications in International Relations.
Education and communication are the main areas of my professional career, and I’m always open to new connections and dialogues. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn (brunagalani). Together, we can explore the intersections between ecofeminisms, art and international relations. We can inspire each other to become the change that we want to see in this world.
Marína Machalová
I come from the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava, where I spent the formative years of my childhood and adolescence. Through being a Slovak folklore dancer, I had the opportunity to travel the world from an early age, which led me to develop a deep admiration for not only my own heritage, but also for the diverse cultures worldwide. This fascination with cultural traditions and their associated communities inspired me to study a social sciences programme of European Studies in the International city of peace and justice, The Hague, where I moved at the age of 19 to fully emerge myself into the International world that I always felt a part of.
Living in The Hague and my academic journey in European Studies have furthermore shaped me into a deeply committed person who seeks justice and truth in all aspects of life. Surrounded by institutions of numerous International organisations and living in the heart of their actions made me eager to become an active part of the change this world needs, particularly in addressing issues like climate change and sustainability, topics I explored in my Bachelor’s Thesis.
I see the traineeship position at the Vienna Master as an exciting opportunity for me to deepen my knowledge in human rights, meet new inspiring people and combine it all with my ever growing passion for arts and culture, which I personally believe are the key drivers for peace in this world. I am therefore immensely excited to see where these 6 months will take me both on a personal and a professional level.
Looking ahead, I wish to pursue a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, focusing primarily on the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental advocacy, while also continuing to improve in the areas of personal passion, being the arts, creative writing and media.