Livia Țurcanu, alumna MA European Studies on Society, Science and Technology
Alumna Livia Țurcanu studied the master’s programme European Studies on Society, Science and Technology (ESST). In our interview, she told us more about her experience with the master’s programme and her student life in Maastricht. We asked Livia why she had chosen the ESST master's programme. To which she replied: “To me, this master was the perfect combination of society and technology studies, as I already had a professional background in this field. I was interested to learn more about innovation, how technology is shaping society and what the implications are for different aspects of our lives.”
According to Livia, the programme was unique due to the approach used to study such a complex topic. “We had a variety of theoretical lectures, in-class debates, fieldwork activities, group projects, and individual research papers.
This allowed us to discover the connection between innovation and society from different perspectives. Also, the ESST programme offers a curriculum that is based on a multitude of disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, history, risk analysis, economics, etc. Learning about technology from a philosophical perspective, studying ethics and technology, this is something only ESST can offer.” The course Livia liked most was the one where she looked at political and institutional dimensions and implications of innovation and technology in contemporary societies.
We also asked her what her biggest challenge was during her academic career. To this, she replied: “The biggest challenge for me was adapting to a new way of teaching and studying, the PBL approach. It was very different from what I was used to but turned out to be fun in the end. Back in my country, teaching and studying are done in a traditional approach, very much focused on delivering the information to the student, while the practical approach is almost missing. Thus, it took a while to adapt my student mindset to this new approach where you read and learn the information knowing that tomorrow you are going to discuss it in class, have debates with your classmates, or explore the topics in your research papers.”
Livia looks back on an educational and fun period during her studies in Maastricht. “I use to say a lot that my life is divided into two parts, before studying in Maastricht and after studying in Maastricht. I've returned to my country with a luggage full of memories, new skills, and perspectives, but also with a list of countries that I have visited for the first time, since Maastricht is so close to France, Belgium, and Germany.”
Currently, Livia works for an international development-consulting firm as a technology advisor, leading the IT-related portfolio in a 5-year project focused on enhancing the competitiveness of Moldova’s transformative economy sectors through the use of technology. “I work with a multitude of stakeholders such as the Government of Moldova and different public institutions such as the e-Government Agency, but also with the private sector and startups, as well as with local accelerators and incubators. Thus, there is a perfect match between my academic background from ESST MA at Maastricht University and my current professional activity, since throughout my studies we have learned to explore innovation through different lenses such as politics, society, science, and technology. I have learned that innovation goes beyond economic factors alone and that a purely technical approach is insufficient for understanding the contemporary knowledge society. This is something that I am trying to apply in my job.”
When we asked if Livia still keeps in touch with FASoS students or staff, she answered: Unfortunately not that much since all of us are in different parts of the world, and while social media is a useful tool to communicate globally, I think we need more opportunities to engage as a group.
March 2024