«Невероятные приключения иностранцев» на программе «Политология»

 

Мы решили, что серия заметок «Невероятные приключения политологов» про приключения наших студентов в процессе обучения по обмену может и должна быть дополнена заметками иностранных студентов, приехавших по обмену в Вышку и вместе с ребятами-политологами посещающих курсы на бакалаврской программе «Политология». Первая заметка написана Даниэлем Лангиелем, австрийским студентом, приехавшим к нам из University College London.

 

I am currently attending three English-taught courses within the BA Political Science porgramme, Political Geography, Interest Groups in Decision-making and World Politics & International Relations. I was concerned at first. I had never done politics before and my knowledge of Russian politics was very limited. But I was proven wrong! All three courses are really interesting to follow, providing a well-balanced mixture of Russian and international issues and are manageable for people like me, who do not come from a politics background (I admit, I had to read up on some basic political science concepts).

All three lecturers speak excellent English and have multiple academic degrees with different specializations. They are quite young, making the lectures and seminars really engaging and interactive, combining classical teaching approaches such as the discussion of scientific articles with group works, presentations, videos or even by inviting guest lecturers from other universities, who often have different specializations, offering different points of view of a topic. Often there is no definitive answer and the teachers are really eager to hear your approach and opinion on issues.

This constant engagement with the matter makes studying more interesting and much easier and enhances transferrable skills that are useful beyond the university.

The content of the three courses is really comprehensive and includes aspects not only from politics but also economics, sociology, law and even philosophy. What’s more the teachers are competent to talk about any of these topics, within and beyond the sphere of politics. But what amazed and impressed me the most is the motivation and interest in knowledge of both students and lecturers. Often they stay in the class after the lesson has ended and engage in highly sophisticated discussions.

I am very satisfied with my course choices at the Political Science programme of the HSE and happy that I broadened my academic horizon.