Arts and Culture

Florian Damke, Student Ambassador Arts and Culture

Florian comes from Germany and is currently studying Arts and Culture at Maastricht University.

Why Florian chose the bachelor's programme in Arts and Culture:
“I want to understand what is happening around me in society and why people are the way they are. In this bachelor’s programme, we are learning and researching what European society is and where it came from. Diving into the philosophical, political, and economic backgrounds that brought us where we are today, will help me understand why certain things are happening. This is crucial knowledge if we want to find solutions. At some point in my life, I would love to become a writer. Preferably for a journalistic organisation that is focused on critical research and portrayal of contemporary issues.

In the past, I have struggled with education systems that demand from students to simply listen and refrain from engaging actively with the material. I found the learning methods at Maastricht University to be more focused on active students that flourish in discussions and personal research with little monitoring from supervisors. These qualities were my main reason to come to Maastricht. My favourite spots in Maastricht may vary according to the season. For example, on summer days, I enjoy sitting by the river across the Landbouwbelang building, which is cultural freezone in an old grain warehouse. Whereas in fall and spring I very much enjoy the Stadspark, which then offers beautiful scenes of either red and yellow leaves.”