Testimonials
The atmosphere welcomed self-reflection, discussion, and mutual support
"This Master's degree has allowed me to read, discuss, and reflect on the economic and political systems from a very accessible approach. The small size of the group and the closeness to local grassroots organisations has made it easy for us to bring together theory and practice when looking at the collective attempts to bring about social justice. We have explored the role of public administrations, economic alternatives already in place, as well as historical and contemporary mobilisations. In addition we strengthened some of our creative skills. The teachers have encouraged us to thoroughly reflect on our positionality as organisers and ethnographic researchers. The atmosphere welcomed self-reflection, discussion, and mutual support. If you are politically engaged in a community, want to get introduced to critical frameworks, and qualitative research is of your interest, this Master鈥檚 programme might be a great choice for you."
Alumnus Amaia Yoller Masedo (Basque Country, Spain)
We went on multiple field trips to grassroots companies and local initiatives
"The thing I liked most about this Master鈥檚 is the critical stance. Instead of just looking and investigating the status quo, it looks at alternative ways of organising and is critical of our current way. During the programme we discussed political, economic and social topics from a theoretical position and at the same time we went on multiple field trips to grassroots companies and local initiatives. This way theory and practice are combined, making it easier to understand how social impact can be made.
In the second half of the master you do an internship, where you research and learn how complex and interesting making a social change is. This internship for me was very educational and gave me a lot of insights into how the world outside of academia works. The things we learned in practice were used in the lessons, and the things we learned in the lessons could be used in practice which made this master very valuable for me. The small group, the discussions and the teachers encourage you to reflect on your own positionality as an organiser, student and human. In the end, this programme thought me that we as humans oftentimes think change starts with institutions or governments whilst in reality most change starts bottom-up. Small changes lead to big results, giving us the power to change the course of history."
Alumnus Thomas van Montfoort (The Netherlands)
I especially valued the engaged thesis process
"My time in the Organising Social Impact Master's programme was an incredibly enriching experience that perfectly complemented my background in food justice activism. The hands-on, creative, and stimulating courses allowed me to dive deeper into topics and theories of my interest, enabling me to access opportunities I otherwise wouldn't have.
I especially valued the engaged thesis process, which involved field research with a super interesting organisation. The collaboration and network I built there have directly led to great work prospects.
Finally, a special word of thanks to the incredible lecturers and tutors. Their high-quality teaching and care for student wellbeing made me feel supported throughout the entire year, making my time at OSI not only productive but genuinely enjoyable."
Alumnus Mattea Wuethrich (Switzerland)