Ece Aydin - Class of 2023

I chose to study at UCG mainly because of the small scale education. I get a lot of energy from having discussions in class, sharing opinions and hearing what others think. This is how I learn best. UCG creates the best environment for that. It is also a bonus that you can interact so casually and comfortably with your teachers. I think that really adds to the learning experience.

I experienced UCG very positively. The year I started, lockdown happened about 7 months into the study and so m y experience in UCG the first 2 years was a bit limited. But when all the restrictions were finally gone in my 3rd year, I really made the most of UCG. I involved myself in a lot of different activities, was part of Caerus, became a mentor, worked as a teaching assistant and was the chair of the Faculty Council. So you can say that I experienced almost all sides of UCG! Not only did I learn a lot from these experiences but I also made a lot of memories that I look back fondly on.

The best part of UCG is the strong feeling of community! I know that I can still go back there any day and see familiar faces and have a nice conversation. This is quite unique in my opinion. I really miss cooking lunch in the kitchen and then studying with friends after. The small size of the faculty really allows you to develop close relationships with many different people and experience such a fun social life. There are also always so many fun events that you can attend which adds to the feeling of community.

UCG taught me a lot of different soft skills beyond the academic ones. When I left UCG, I felt that I was prepared to collaborate in a team, give good presentations and communicate effectively and efficiently which all helped me excel at my Master's and career. In addition to this, I was able to take many different courses on Health Sciences in UCG and see health from different perspectives. This allowed me to see what aspect of health I was really interested in which was public health.

I am now working as a researcher at the UMCG and the consultancy company Health-Ecore. I work on a research project on the Dutch healthcare system and how the general population perceives its accessibility, with a focus on the adolescent and migrant population. In February, I will start with an advanced master's on global sustainable development alongside my work.