Jesse Rinsma, exploring opportunities to live & work in places abroad

“ERM appealed to me because of its multidisciplinary approach to sustainability issues, for example through economic and governance theories. The Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity specialisation caught my eye because it deals with both the natural functioning of ecosystems and its relationship to human well-being. I wanted to expand my knowledge about valuing ecosystems and how this could play a role in sustainable solutions.

“With the ERM Master’s degree, I expected to gain a broad understanding of environmental problems and sustainable solutions. And I did!“

“Although there are several compulsory courses, there is the possibility to customise your own specialisation by combining specialisation courses or by following elective courses of the faculty. Besides, a variety of guest lectures were given by environmental organisations, which I found to be very valuable. Some of the guest speakers were even alumni.”

“Although I studied at the VU for only a year and a half, it was a great time in which I made new friendships. Sometimes the days were long, but there are good study areas and plenty of lunch spots in the sun. Since all faculties are together, you can easily meet up with friends from other study programmes.”

“ERM offers very good support for finding a thesis project. One of my favorite choices was a project in collaboration with Suiker Unie, currently known as the Cosun Beet Company. The project aimed to make a comparison between the sustainability of sugar beet and sugarcane production methods. I was chosen together with two fellow students, and we each had our focus: the social, environmental, and economic impact (People, Planet, Profit). For the data collection of sugarcane production methods, we got the opportunity to travel to India. During one month we visited and interviewed both sugar farmers and sugar factories. Although it was sometimes a challenge to understand the respondents properly, we managed to collect enough information. We analysed trade-offs between five different production methods to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This thesis project is an example of a sustainability study with an external partner of ERM. It has been a great contributor to my interest in strengthening local stakeholders within production processes and supporting social changes to stimulate an inclusive, sustainable society. It was a valuable, unique experience!”

“Before starting a permanent job, I want to explore opportunities to live and work in different places abroad. Afterwards, I want to gain experience in sustainable or social organisations, for example by participating in environmental management projects or by participating in public-private partnerships that focus on creating societal impact. Eventually, it is my dream to work at an environmental organisation like Milieudefensie or WWF, to contribute on a broader scale and advocate for climate justice.”