Bosco Buseruka
BA: International Development and Media Studies.
My name is Bosco Buseruka. I am originally from Rwanda but now live in Ireland. I was a mature student who studied media studies and international development for my BA degree. When I started the course, my aim was to have the media studies as a “major” and international development as “minor”. When you are a mature student, most of the time you have all your plans settled, at least that is what I thought. Back in Rwanda, I was a civil servant, working in the Ministry of Finance dealing with public debt management. We did work with some development projects and that is why I thought maybe the international development course would be a follow up in that regard. And during my spare time I was a freelance sport journalist which explains my interest in media studies. When I started the second year, the choice was easy, I had tasted and explored what was at hand, I opted for “double major”, but when we entered the third year, I got the feeling that I leaned more towards the international development than media studies. I interacted more with my peers in the international development course than I did in the media. As I came to find out, the more you get immersed into the international development course the more interested you become. I would really recommend this course for people aspiring to work in the area of international development, you will enjoy the course and will learn valuable theory and practical skills useful for any future career.
Oliver Dunne
BA: International Development and Spanish.
Motivation
About ten years ago I entered a period in my life that was very testing. I experienced a lot of personal loss. These experiences inspired me to seek a more fulfilling way of life. I decided to pursue something different. I called several well-known NGO’s, such as UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontieres, inquiring about how one could enter the humanitarian field. They explained that most field workers were graduates of either medicine, or a specific discipline related to development, international relations, or logistics. I quickly concluded that the only way to be of real assistance and reach the field was through education. I began researching degree programs based in Ireland and found the Bachelor of Arts Degree and International Development at Maynooth University.
Currently
I completed the degree program in 2020 and I am now pursuing a Masters in Humanitarian Action. Primarily, I am most interested in immediate response to disasters or crisis. I feel that this is where I can be of most assistance. I spent some time volunteering in Calais before the closure of the unofficial refugee camp in 2016. It was shocking that nearly 10,000 people were living in such conditions in a developed European nation. However, it was also amazing to see and be part of the support and solidarity efforts, to people who had been through so much.
Course Content
The course is very broad giving an excellent all-round foundation for any aspiring humanitarian. Through the Bachelor of Arts degree, students can access several complimentary disciplines such as Anthropology, Sociology, and in my case languages. I chose a double major, International Development and Spanish. I was also able to take on Portuguese as an elective in second year. I feel that the ability to communicate with the population you serve is vital. Also, the command of Spanish and Portuguese allows me access to opportunities in Central and South America, as well as some Portuguese speaking regions of Africa. The strong theoretical content of the course is backed up by more pragmatic modules, which provide a vital introduction to practical application in the field. I was particularly interested in subjects related to Migration Theory, Peace and Conflict and Development Theory, particularly, Participatory Development. Subjects such as Participatory Development and Gender and Development, touch on issues of social justice and structural change, whilst Planning for Development and Humanitarian Action expose the students to real world application.
Recommendation
I cannot recommend the International Development programme at Maynooth University enough. Completion of the program has opened so many new opportunities for me. It has given me a greater understanding of the importance of context in any development or humanitarian response. The program emphasises participant ownership and sustainability, with long term solutions in mind. Initially, I just wanted to help in a practical way. However, I have been guided by some amazing development professionals and educators here in Maynooth, and they have shown me the power good academic literature and research can have on policy. Whether you chose to work solely in the practical context, or pursue change through research and policy formation, the Department of International Development is replete with educators experienced in all spheres of the humanitarian world.
