Meet our students

First name LAST NAME	University	Country	Self-description
Eirini AIDINI	University of Geneva		Throughout those years, and bit by bit, a deeper urge grew on me towards the topics of Corporate Social Responsibility, Development Economics, and Sustainability. During a 3 months internship for the Permanent Mission of Greece at the WTO, I had the opportunity to take part in discussions related to trade barriers, subsidies, SMEs and their growth potential, technologies in developing countries and among all, follow up negotiations in international level and impact that got me inspired to a point that I wanted to pursue more. And there I fell onto the Master of Standardization, Social Regulation and Sustainable Development (STAREG). Geneva has gained a special place in my heart, broaden my horizons and unraveled new international paths for me. But most importantly, the door I am willing to open now with this Master.
Yazid ALAOUI	University of Geneva	Morocco	Harmony with governing dynamics produces sustainability. Uncovering them, designing and implementing consistent strategies drive me.
Nikhil Sayi AMDYALA	Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad	India
Matteo AMEN	University of Geneva		I have a genuine and strong interest for geopolitics, as well as problematics of poverty and inequality. Moreover, environmental, insecurity and social justice problems. The STAREG represents for me a very interdisciplinary master's degree, which touches on all these issues and this is the reason why I applied. I want to acquire knowledge to gain new skills in the area of sustainability and make a positive impact on society.
Léa ANDERSSON	University of Geneva	Switzerland, Norway	I graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor in International Relations from the University of Geneva, towards the end of which I spent a few months as an exchange student in Singapore. This past year, I have worked in a financial technology company involved with numerous international civil society actors, which further aroused my already growing interest for the third sector, particularly when related to Global Health. The nature of my Bachelor convinced me of the importance of multilateral action and international regulatory framework to answer the challenges of both crippling public health sectors and other global development matters, and I look forward to deepening my knowledge of the technical and practical approaches to these topics for the next two years.
Altynai ASAKEEVA	Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University		As a young professional who is well-acquainted with work of international organizations, such as: UNDP and Qatar Charity in Bishkek, WSIS (ITU) and UNECE in Geneva, I had a great opportunity to work on issues related to international law, international relations and the United Nation system. Which is why I believe that the knowledge and experience that the STAREG Master program is offering will help me in learning more international practices and enhance my professional skills;
Natasa BECANOVIC	Faculty of Media and Communication, Belgrade, Serbia		I applied for the STAREG programme due to a perceived need to broaden my understanding of the concepts of sustainability and standardization in order to put these elements into practice in my professional career going forward. Academically, I have recently focused on the themes of conflict sensitivity, diplomacy and institutional capacity building. This has awoken my interest and desire to delve deeper into how countries can chart pathways towards development that do not have adverse impacts on economic, social, political or environmental conditions for the generations to come.
Jesswin BERTSCH	University of Geneva		I cultivate a strong interest in issues of sustainability, innovation and technologies that can empower communities.This curiosity led me to contribute to the creation of projects in the sanitary field in South India and Ethiopia through an association and then to do an internship in an NGO working on access to water in South-East Asia. These experiences reinforced my idea of applying for Stareg, which is unique in that it takes into account the social and economic aspects as well as standards in the notion of sustainability, making this master's degree all the more complete and relevant in today's world. As standardization is becoming increasingly important in the corporate world and in the international development branch, I hope to acquire real expertise in the field before continuing my career.
Arnaud CHATTON	University of Geneva		My professional goal is to contribute to a more environmentally friendly world by increasing the responsibility of firms. Thus, I would like to work as a Sustainability Consulter or Complier and help the corporations of our world to respect all the standards needed and also to put in place real actions that would give the opportunity for human evolution to continue with respect for nature. One of my best experiences at university was to coordinate the Sustainability Week of Geneva at UNIGE in collaboration with the Graduate Institute of Geneva.
Leslie DE OLIVIERA GONCALVES	Laval University, Quebec City, Canada		I have always had a particular interest in International affairs. After following a class on Global Health, my curiosity for sustainable development heightened. Upon finding out about STAREG, I knew it would be the perfect fit. The multidisciplinary approach gives me the opportunity to further my knowledge in the matter. Especially from an economic point of view. STAREG also offers a practical approach which is so important today for future professionals. I would like to pursue in the field of sustainable development and I am hopeful this Master's program will provide me with the necessary tools and experience to achieve my goals.
Filipe DE OLIVEIRA VILACA	Haute Ecole de Gestiton Geneva	Portugal	With a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, I'm looking to further my academical training in the field of Sustainable development. International current affairs were always something whose I have a particular interest. It is then, during my years into the Business Administration School of Geneva (HEG), I had the opportunity to follow several courses related to globalization, international norms and organization governance. This academical courses finally compel me to get involve on these current affairs and confirm where my future carrier should be. Today, I have chosen this Master to provide me the overriding tools and solid knowledge to overtake all the issues we are facing today.
Marina DE PALMA	University of Fribourg	Switzerland, Italy	Having an economics background, I am also interesting in the social and environmental aspects that were, in my opinion, missing in my previous formation. The master in Standardization, social regulation and sustainable development is a perfect match for my interests and it allows to look at the standards considering the social and environmental impacts.
Ricardo FERREIRA FLORES FILHO	Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil	Brazil	I graduated in 2017 for the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), with a B.A. in International Relations. As an IR student, I am fascinated by global governors and how they interact to create the set of rules that governs our globe. Since I started my bachelor, I have always had a particular interest for regulation, trade and sustainability. It was probably about the third when I first started learning more about standards and the role hey play in the world. Along my studies, I was able to assist in research projects related to globalization and development issues at UFRGS. Also, I worked for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for roughly two years, where I could collaborate with a team of advisors shaping a more sustainable approach for developing countries when negotiating investment treaties. These factors all together have made decide for pursuing this program.
Lewis GASHAZA	University of Lausanne	Switzerland, Burundi	I graduated in July 2018 from the University of Lausanne with a B.A in Political Sciences. During my Bachelor, i’ve naturally takes classes which were focused on topics related to international matters such as Security, European policies and Governance. The various approches i was able tu study increased my will to dig deeper and increase my knowledge. The stareg program addresses some complex and interesting issues that are directly linked with what I expect to learn, in order to propose different solutions regarding local or global issues. As a second activity, I'm also a photographer.
Nina GESTRIN	Helsingin Yliopisto Helsinki	Finland	For the last 10 years I have been working with asylum investigation and other immigration related issues for the Finnish Government. I have a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki. My major was sociology with a focus on ethnic relations and multiculturalism. In the future I would like to participate in the development of long-term solutions and therefore I wanted to complete my experience with this Master. Through the studies I expect to obtain a deeper understanding of globalization and the dependence relations within it.
Pablo GUILLAUME-GENTIL	University of Neuchâtel	Switzerland, Spain	I have always been interested in sustainable development and in what way it is possible to respond to global warming and all its consequencies. With this idea in mind, I have studied social sciences in order to open up doors for studies with such purposes. So now here I am, beacause I think I will be able to meet my challenge in my future profesional life thanks of this master.
Ekaterina IDRISOVA	Webster University Geneva	Switzerland, Russia	With a Bachelor Degree in Management and Business Administration I am currently working in International Air Transport Association. For the past 2 years as Training Operations Support Associate my role in the team has not only been limited to the operational matters related to training co-ordinations but also being involved in quality control checks, business contingency planning and audits to achieve an ISO Certification. Now working with top management and seeing the complexity of business requirements in this very dynamic and progressing aviation industry I am always eager to take on more even though my knowledge at the moment is limited in the business management. In the near future I foresee myself working in the role of quality control and development where it is essential to enrich my expertise in the field.
Putri IRVANA	University of Brawijaya, Indonesia		The comprehensive curriculum offered by the STAREG program and the university’s established reputation have reassured me of the opportunities for me to gain profound knowledge in the field of standardization. I am specifically interested in the Voluntary, consensus based-standards course, which will provide insights for my research objectives to write a dissertation on social and economic benefits of voluntary standards related to the implementation of SNI in my country. Upon completing my study, I intend to return to my home country to dedicate myself in BSN by providing effective solutions on how to increase the implementation of SNI among SMEs and to disseminate the information related to SNI standards.
Micaël JENNI	University of Lausanne	Switzerland	I graduated last July with a B.A in Political Science. During my studies, I have been looking forward to combine environmental subjects as "Environmental psychology", "International environmental policies" or "Environmental and Sustainable development didactics" with my political point of view. I saw the combination of both fields as a great challenge, which highly motivated me to continue in this path. I considere standardization - especially ISO standards - as essential in the present and the future of private and public entities. Thus, a field as important as Sustainable development requires strong standards so it can play the crucial role it needs to in our society. I am higlhy excited to take up the challenge of making society sustainable and combine social, human, political, economic and environmental fields.
Calliope KARAVGOUSTITS	University of Fribourg	Switzerland, Greece	I graduated in July 2018 from the University of Fribourg with a bachelor’s degree in social anthropology. My studies and my various activities besides university have shown me the relevance of interdisciplinary approaches. I am thus very enthusiastic to undertake this programme since it proposes to tackle sustainable development through a broad scale. Furthermore, I’ve always been interested in international issues and I could experience the reality that some countries have to face because of a lack of sustainability on several perspectives. Therefore, I hope this master’s will provide me useful tools in order to implement efficient solutions in my future work.
Eva KEHOE	University of Chichester, UK		I have worked in several sectors – criminal justice, academia and education. Here in Switzerland, I have been working in two very distinctive areas – human rights and banking/commodity trading. The nature of my professional experience made me realise the rising importance of multilateral cross-sector action to address challenges linked to globalisation and its social, environmental and economic dimensions. I am eager to develop knowledge and tools in the fields of international regulatory framework and sustainable development to contribute to solving global critical issues.
Angela KESIER	Maasai Mara University, Kenya		I have a five years working experience in the sector of Administration and Procurement. I got interested with this program after attending several workshops related to sustainability development and globalization, i was inspired to pursue the course since it's a contemporary and applicable in all areas tackling social and sustainability development in a broader scale. I am looking forward to the interdisciplinary nature of the program that will allow me attain an acquainted knowledge and an analyzing skills with regards to standardization and sustainability development.
Alishoh KHUDONAZAROV	Osmania University, Hyderabad, India		I see the program as a great platform for me to learn more about social and environmental sustainable development and standard-setting, to combine theoretical and analytical knowledge and skills with a hand-on approach. Thus, I believe that the master’s program will give me an opportunity to make my contribution to my community, develop both personally and professionally, and build long lasting relations with peers around the globe. I believe that diversity and pluralism are contributing to improvement of society, to peace building, mutual understanding, friendship, respect and development.
Seohyeon KIM	Yonsei University, Republic of Korea		With my prior academic knowledge and experiences in International studies and International law, I expect myself to develop deeper understanding in sustainable development in a broad term. Moreover, Geneva and STAREG program will be the best environment to pursue my professional careers in International Organizations linked to standard-setting and sustainability.
Tarik LAZOUNI	University of Geneva		For the last five years, I have been deeply interested in the issues of Climate and Social Justice. This is what drew me to apply to STAREG. With its modern aspects and solutions-oriented approach, I believe this programme will give me the tools to better understand the dynamics at play between relevant actors beyond theory. In general, I consider my studies to be complementary with my societal engagement, which I find to be mutually beneficial and inspiring. After having been active in the European Youth Parliament, I am now one of the Swiss Youth Delegates to the United Nations, as well as the Co-President of the Young Greens Geneva. After my studies, I hope to be able to work in the pursuit of greater corporate accountability and towards more Climate and Social Justice from the public sector or civil society perspective.
Irina MATEEV	Lausanne School of Economics		STAREG caught my attention since it was the only one that emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach towards sustainability, that is embedded in the economic and political tissue of society. My aim is to get a better understanding of how change can be implemented (via regulations or voluntary standards amongst others) in a globalized society, where you account for the multitude of stakeholders and where you do not take the capitalist model as being inherently good for society.
Isabelle MOROSE	Stony Brook University		Having grown up in a developing country, I became especially intrigued by the concept of “sustainable development” which was often presented as an all-encompassing solution to many problems in the world, from poverty to climate change. The STAREG program appealed to me because not only does it provide the theoretical knowledge needed to analyze sustainable development from different perspectives, but it also helps develop practical skills such as standardization and project evaluation. At the end of the program, I am confident that I will be well equipped to contribute to sustainable development, whether it be in the public or private sector.
Veronika MOSOLOVA	Plekhanov Russian University of Economics	Russia	I became interested in the environmental and social regulations during my bachelor studies when I participated in various volunteering and educational initiatives that also included interactions with NGOs. My career interests are in the way businesses influence society and environment, including consumption and waste regulations as well as children's and animal rights.
Laura PAGEL	University of Montpellier	Germany	Having always been concerned about environmental and social issues, I realized their extend and complexity all along my personal and educational journey. I grew up in a multicultural environment with German parents in France close to Geneva. After school I took a one-year break working for 6 months in Honduras as a volunteer in an educational project and afterwards in Germany as a windsurf instructor. I then studied economics in the University of Montpellier to get a better insight of how our world functions. During that bachelor I already tried to link the different theories and tools to sustainable development. Through this master program I intend to acquire more expertise in regulation and sustainability and to combine it with my economic knowledge in order to help develop a more sustainable economy and society. All in all, I really look forward to join the program because it covers a variety of subjects and global issues and allows us to work with people from different backgrounds and institutions which is for me the best way to evolve.
Marc PEDERSEN	University of Geneva		I applied to STAREG because I want to have a different approach to the geography I saw in my previous three years. Such as linking geography and the environment to the economy, seeing the environmental aspects of economy, how the changing of society affects corporations. I wish to work jointly with businesses and sustainability because corporations are powerful and influential so they have the capabilities to adapt, which they currently need to, to the issues regarding climate change, contentious labor, etc. To be in line with the times! Here at Geneva I believe it's the best place to learn such things since it's THE international city.
Ana PIMENTEL	University of Porto		For the past 15 years I've worked mainly in Portuguese non-profit organizations in local development, social and environmental projects, but also in a company with a strong environmental core. I applied for the STAREG master's degree in search of an academic and international challenge that would give me more knowledge and help me reflecting on the issues that constantly arise in the job market. I chose STAREG because it’s a very broad master, which deals with many of the topics that I had contact with and that motivate me, from sustainable development, environmental economics, social responsibility, labor rights to health and others, all being related.
Tejes PRADEEP	University of Madras	India	Have always been naturally inclined towards sustainable development and ecological conservation. Hoping this program deepens my knowledge on the subject and gives me some handy tools to measure and analyse real world situations accurately.
Emma PROUTEAU	Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne		After my bachelor’s degree, I knew I wanted to pursue my studies in the field of sustainability, but I didn’t know which specific domain in this broad subject would suit the best my curiosity and expectations. Even though standardization would be a new subject for me, I thought it could be very enriching to learn about it and its links with sustainable development, so I applied to the STAREG master. After graduating, I would like to work in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility and maybe more precisely for certification labels that help corporations to show their involvement in the social and environmental dimensions of their activities.
Lior RENOUS	Ben Gurion University, Israel	Israel, Belgium	I have been working for social and political change organization for the last ten years. With a Bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology and anthropology, I was looking for my next academical challenge that can combine the two. I am looking forward to the interdisciplinary nature of the program that allows the students, to receive a well-rounded knowledge and analysis skills, of the issues and theories on sustainable development and standardization.
Miranda RUGOVA	Staffordshire University		My past work experience with ISO standards and businesses, has sparked an interest in me about everything that has to do with standards, regulations and sustainable development. I have chosen STAREG because I genuinely believe that both these three fields – standards, regulations and sustainable development are particularly important for the coordination of various stakeholders in a systemic perspective on the long-term consequences of today's policies for tomorrow's environment, society and economy. I am looking forward to receive a cutting-edge knowledge and hands-on experience from experienced and professional faculty members at the University of Geneva.
Anthony RUSPOLI	University of Utah	United States, Italy	I graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in International Studies in the fall of 2013. After graduation, I worked for a non-profit organization that promotes education technology in public schools throughout the US. This opportunity provided me with a platform to research national and state legislation related to education and development and, in turn, gain a better understanding of the interaction between development and the private sector. Through this Masters program, I can pursue my desire to contribute to social regulation, standard-setting, and sustainable development on the international level.
Patricia SCHLAGTER	University of Geneva	Switzerland, Philippines	Having just acquired my Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at the University of Geneva, I decided to further my studies with this Masters program as I believe it will allow me to gain the skills and knowledge to contribute in creating a more sustainable society. Resource management, the degradation of the environment as well as the equal access to decent living conditions are among the many growing issues that I would like to help solve in a future career. Early on, I have been actively searching to gain experience in the field of development and cooperation. As a teen, I was an apprentice at a swiss child relief NGO. And for 4 years now, I have worked part-time at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) assisting remote participation. Both experiences have led me to furthermore appreciate the opportunity of this Master’s program which combines a pragmatic, multidisciplinary and multisectorial approach necessary to promote sustainability in everyday practices.
Manuela SCHMIDT	Zurich University of Applied Sciences	Switzerland	After studying Social Anthropology for one and a half years, I switched to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences to study Translation (current BA title: Applied Languages). Enthusiastic about languages and cultural diversity, I wished to deepen my communication skills in order to break cultural and linguistic barriers. After obtaining my degree, I worked as a language travel consultant for one and a half years; while I considered this opportunity to be a truly instructive experience, it also made me realise that I wished to continue my studies. Furthermore, different engagements as a volunteer in my second home country, Colombia, and within an asylum organisation in Zurich, raised my awareness on the conflicts our societies are facing nowadays. Inter alia, because of these personal experiences, I have become very interested in sustainable solutions for humanitarian and ecological crises and being part of the movement towards a more legitimate and inclusive development has become my biggest wish. I am therefore excited about this Master’s programme that hopefully will provide us students with tools and valuable expertise in order to become active in the field of sustainable development.
Ratchanan SITTIKAN	Silpakorn University, Thailand		Throughout this unique STAREG program, I expect to enhance my standardization and open wider in economic, political, social regulation and sustainable development dimensions to fulfill my professionals. After graduated, I plan to use this knowledge to contribute better efficient in my organization.
Nora SOHNS	University of Lausanne	Switzerland, Germany	When I finished High School in Ticino, I took one year break from my studies. I decided to go to a remote and quite poor region in the south of Ecuador, working as a full-time volunteer in a Kindergarten. Thanks to this project, I experiences firsthand the environmental problems and especially the social stress people have to face in their daily life in some parts of the world. I also became more aware about the way deregulation and its effects on consumption and emissions can cause illnesses and general malaise. After having graduated in 2018 from the University of Lausanne with a BA in Social Sciences (major: social sciences; minor: political sciences), I understood that my goal was to pursue a career in the field of social innovation and sustainability. I am very interested in getting to know more about International Voluntary Standards which define essential requirements to efficiently protect the health of the people and of our planet. I am convinced this Master Program could be a good starting point.
Elind SULMINA	University of Trieste	Albania	In 2018 I graduated from the University of Trieste, Italy, where I studied interpreting and translation. I translated and interpreted international affairs, business deals and institutional matters. The topic that caught my attention the most was sustainability and social innovation. That’s the reason why I applied for this master. I want to deepen my knowledge as I believe our generation must see this huge problem through. With this in mind, during my last BA year at the University of Trieste, I took Master’s-level credits in History of the International Relations and European Government and Political Parties. Moreover, I attended two Summer Schools on politics and law and a UN General Assembly simulation. These academic experiences are at the core of a wider effort of mine to understand International and more specifically International Affairs. Furthermore, I have challenged myself through a series of work experiences. I recently undertook an internship at the French Honorary Consulate in Trieste. However, the most important experience is undoubtedly my contribution as CEO and cofounder of a start-up, ToBePolo, a start-up that allows anyone to « be » a Marco Polo, i.e. live a hands-on experience of a profession or a trade they have always wanted to do but were never able to do for personal reasons. We bring demand and supply together on our experience-sharing platform.
Benoit SURDON	University of Lausanne		STAREG encompasses a lot of my interests: normalization (I come from two years of physics before-hands, and SI is the basics of physics), international relations, integration, institutions, climate sustainability. It was the only master I applied to after my bachelor. I would like to work for the EU if the opportunity presents itself, but in reality my main drive is to find a job in any company that would offer me opportunities to develop my skills and contacts.
Elisa WILK	University of Geneva		During my studies I had the great opportunity to study for a semester at the University of Hamburg where I met several people who were greatly involved in the fight for the environment. I have myself always felt deeply about social issues of our time mainly global change and inequalities. I saw STAREG as an opportunity to study hands on approaches on these issues and develop techniques of consensus based conflict resolutions, for further sustainable development. I am looking forward to the opportunity of doing an Internship during the last semester as an opening towards the professional world.
Liu YANGFANG	Beijing Normal University		In the four years of my law studies of an undergraduate degree in Beijing Normal University, I had some social science-related working experiences, for example, took part in a social investigation which researched on poverty issues and economic development of the rural areas in the northwest of China, worked on a social service project financed by the local government of Shenzhen and finally completed my thesis project related to Children's Welfare Policy which based on my internship in China Philanthropy Research Institute. I am quite interested in Child Protection, Adolescent Development and Social Responsibilities. And I strongly expect to learn multidisciplinary knowledge in an interdisciplinary master program and hope it will be helpful for my future employment.

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Meet our students