Last month students and alumni were able to network together in Brussels as part of the Careers in Brussels programme by LSE Careers. Over two days students attended different events, giving them the opportunity to visit the city and to learn more about various careers and employers there. Almost 200 students attended from LSE and they were joined for some activities by students from the College of Europe and Sciences Po.
Following visits to the European Parliament and European Commission during the day on Thursday, students were then able to attend an event hosted by the LSE Alumni Association of Brussels. During this event our President and Vice-Chancellor Larry Kramer spoke to 120 alumni and students about LSE and the workplace. He encouraged students and alumni to find ways to make a difference no matter the sector they might find themselves in. After this, students and alumni were able to meet and network over drinks.
The next day, students enjoyed a careers fair which gave them the opportunity to meet with local employers and to find out what kinds of jobs and careers are available in Brussels. The final activity was an alumni panel discussion featuring six different Brussels-based alumni. During this panel discussion, they each discussed how they entered their particular sector, positives and negatives of different careers, sectors as well as life in Brussels itself. Alumni represented fields such as public policy, the non-profit and tech sectors, food sustainability, communications and public affairs.
At the end of this panel, students were then able to ask questions on how to network effectively or entryways into particular careers.
Current student Elisa Sangrar (LLb Law) said of her experience of Careers in Brussels:
It opened my eyes to the way in which my studies could apply in a field that I hadn't really dipped a toe into. It really solidified what I could do in the future. It has given me the opportunity to see some incredible spaces and it really made me feel like I was at the forefront of policy, law, and decision-making in a European space.
Alumna Despina Manousos (MSc European and Political Economy 2006), who headed the alumni panel, spoke of how much she enjoys being part of the local LSE alumni group in Brussels:
I attended the very first event of the LSE Alumni Association in Brussels back in 2007 and ever since I've been to a lot of events and I always find them so inspiring.
Thank you to our alumni for attending our events in Brussels.
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