Summer School in Asia
In his final year of his bachelor's at University College, Ernst also participated in the Netherlands-Asia Honors Summer School (NAHSS). With that, he spent three and a half weeks in Hong Kong and Vietnam. "The idea of this is that Asia plays an increasingly important role in the world, while we in the Netherlands often understand little about it. It was a short but intensive introduction to that region. For me it was a valuable addition and it only strengthened my interest in an international career."
Master's degree in London
Those first international experiences tasted like more for Ernst. And no sooner said than done: he opted for a master's degree in Political Economy of Late Development at the London School of Economics (LSE). "It was a fairly small-scale program, but incredibly international. I was the only Dutchman and the rest literally came from all over the world. I found that very inspiring."
His living experience in London was also special. Through the university, he found a room in a student complex within walking distance of Tower Bridge. "That was really lucky, because normally in London you live an hour's travel away from the city center. Here I was in the middle of the city, surrounded by international students. Every day I cycled past the highlights to the university - it was great."
The study culture in London was intense, according to Ernst. "The semesters were short and full. A lot was expected of you, and most of your fellow students were a bit older and already engaged in their careers. That really gave me an 'eye-opener': ambition and hard work were key everywhere. You automatically get sucked into that atmosphere." In addition to his studies, Ernst participated in student associations, played sports and worked on a student consulting project.
New step in Milan
After London, Ernst had a taste for going abroad. He recently started a second master's degree, this time in management, where he will visit several countries and has now started in Milan. "The contrast with London is great. In Italy the atmosphere is much more relaxed, but also more formal in lectures: lecturers talk through their slides and there is less discussion. Where London was very academic and critical, this is much more practical and applied."
Broader perspective
What have all these experiences abroad brought him? "First of all, it has made me more ambitious," Ernst says. "In London you see how hard people work and that is contagious. In addition, it broadens your world view. You learn to look at things differently, understand other cultures better and also become more critical of yourself and your own background. I think many students would benefit from studying in an international environment."
Future plans
For now, Ernst is not out of college. "What exactly I will do I don't know, but I would like to live and work abroad for several more years. At the same time, I also notice that the Netherlands is very well organized and that it is nice to be able to really take root somewhere. Maybe in time I will return again, but for now I mainly want to gain more international experience."
