UM welcomes this year’s Fulbright students
Jade Connor and Maneesha Bhugwansing from the United States are joining the UM community as Fulbright / Maastricht University Award grantees this year. Every year, Maastricht University and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcome two Master’s students to study with a full scholarship at UM.
Students are selected based on their academic records, the quality of their study proposals, and the extent to which they will advance the aims of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The grant consists of a monthly allowance of €1,200 for 9 months, plus a full waiver of tuition fees. In addition, international travel up to €900 is reimbursed, and the cost of a residence permit in the Netherlands is covered by the grant.
Below, Jade and Maneesha introduce themselves and their studies at UM.
Jade Connor, MSc Governance and Leadership in Public Health
"I studied abroad at Maastricht University’s Centre for European Studies three years ago and I absolutely fell in love with the university and the city. I knew that I wanted to study public health before attending medical school, and when looking for programmes both in the United States and internationally, the MSc in Governance and Leadership in European Public Health at UM stood out to me.
This programme does not simply teach students about public health but also provides the tools necessary to make decisions about a variety of public health disciplines and implement programmes that can transcend geographic borders and demographic differences. This was exactly the kind of study I wanted, and when I thought about returning to Maastricht for a year, there was no other place I would have rather been!
After my Fulbright year, I will begin my medical training at Harvard Medical School. In my career as a physician, I want to improve the lives of patients with Alzheimer’s disease by researching and implementing public health initiatives at the local and even national level.
The Netherlands has many innovative national programmes for citizens with dementia, and I believe that I can learn a great deal from the Dutch system this year. I plan on visiting some of the dementia villages in the Netherlands and volunteering with the elderly here in Maastricht. Through these activities, I hope to learn more about the Dutch approach to care of patients with dementia first-hand. I’m so excited to be back in Maastricht and I cannot wait to see what this year has in store!"
Maneesha Bhugwansing, MA Economics
"I chose to apply to Maastricht University for my Master’s in Economics for many reasons, the top two being the problem-based learning approach, and the fact that my peers would be such an international group. I learn best by doing, so a programme taught in exactly that manner was appealing.
After completing my programme, my goal is to work in the area of economic development, likely internationally. This is a very broad field, and I hope to learn more about different career paths as I continue my coursework.
In just the first week of school, I've learned so much from friends and classmates about their home countries. That kind of perspective is an added bonus to the academics.
During my time at UM, I plan to get involved with on-campus activities, but also to explore the Netherlands. I'm compiling a list of things to do in and around Maastricht, and already have my Museum Card! The year has gotten off to a great start, and I look forward to the coming months."
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