As part of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) 鈥淒iscovering Research in a European Context鈥�, organized by the Universit茅 Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, two 天美传媒 master鈥檚 students had the opportunity to explore the inner workings of research at the European level. Among them, 脡l茅a, a second-year Master鈥檚 student in Digital Politics and Governance, reflects on an immersive and enriching experience.
Two 天美传媒 students take part in a BIP on European research
A hands-on immersion into the world of research
Offered within the framework of the , , this hybrid programme brought together students from partner countries, mainly at Master鈥檚 and PhD levels. After a first week of online courses, participants met for a week of on-site activities.
The programme included research methodology, literature review workshops, seminars on science communication, and meetings with European researchers and professionals.
鈥淭he goal was not just to learn methods, but really to put us in the position of researchers,鈥� explains 脡l茅a. 鈥淲e were shown very concretely how to evolve in this field.鈥�
Students also took part in discussions on European funding opportunities and visited the University of Mons for the 鈥淢ardi des Chercheurs,鈥� an event bringing together PhD candidates and early-career researchers. An experience that fully immersed them in the academic environment.
Confirming a career path
For 脡l茅a, taking part in the programme was part of an already well-defined plan:
鈥淚鈥檓 considering pursuing a PhD in Europe. This programme allowed me to interact with PhD students and better understand the different possible paths.鈥�
Beyond the academic content, she highlights the practical advice provided by speakers:
鈥淭hey really managed to demystify the whole process and gave concrete guidance on what we can do now to secure funding, what comes after a PhD, and how to build a project in the medium term,鈥� she adds.
A truly intercultural experience
The BIP was also marked by strong international diversity, with participants coming from across Europe as well as from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Brazil.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very enriching to compare approaches,鈥� says 脡l茅a. 鈥淔or example, in some countries like Italy, PhD topics are often proposed by supervisors, whereas in France, doctoral students tend to take more initiative.鈥�
These exchanges helped participants better understand different academic cultures and their specificities.
Building lasting connections
Beyond the academic learning, 脡l茅a especially values the human dimension of the experience.
鈥淭he research world is quite small, so meeting other students and academics is a real opportunity.鈥�
She emphasizes the importance of approaching such programmes with an open mindset:
“You have to go with the intention of meeting people, exchanging ideas, and building connections. Everyone had that mindset, which made it possible to create genuine connections.鈥�
An experience she strongly recommends to all students interested in research and European opportunities.
