Hi Julie, could you introduce yourself? Tell me where you are from, what your educational background is, if you had any prior work experience before your internship at HCSS?
Hi! My name is Julie and I come from France. I first arrived in the Netherlands four years ago to study International Relations and Organisations at Leiden University. I am passionate about defence and security, and this degree allowed me to pursue courses on topics such as counterterrorism, crisis management and regional security integration.
Before coming to the Netherlands, I was already passionate about the defence world and was particularly curious about the military. Through diverse military preps and internships both in the French army and navy, I learned about deterrence, naval diplomacy, but also about the role of organisations such as NATO in international security. This is why I then chose to study international relations at Leiden University to get a bigger picture of international security dynamics.
I’ve also always been fascinated by Asia, especially China’s regional strategy in the Indo-Pacific and followed a course that combined this regional focus with a security dimension. This course provided me with concrete insights and a solid understanding of the region, which I further deepened during the HCSS General internship, while also nurturing my interest in defence and security issues.
So, what initially attracted you to the HCSS internship programme and why did you apply? How did you find out about HCSS?
I first found out about HCSS at a career event organised by Leiden University, where I had the opportunity to speak with the internship coordinators about HCSS’ work and the internship programme.
What particularly intrigued me was the broad and dynamic nature of the internship. Interns explore diverse topics at the same time, and this looked like an exciting experience! In addition, HCSS’ projects were matching my research interests so the internship was the perfect opportunity for me to gain more knowledge about defence topics and the Indo-Pacific.
Finally, I was quite curious about bridging the theoretical dimension of my studies with the research and policy-making world. I needed a concrete experience after my Bachelor’s degree, and I was not disappointed!
How would you describe your internship experience in three words? Please elaborate
Concrete
The HCSS General Internship is a concrete professional experience in the dynamic world of think tanks and policy research. The internship takes place in a highly collaborative environment where interns and analysts interact constantly. As an intern, you are actively involved in the research process and you get the chance to contribute to reports under the guide of analysts.
Rich
Every day is different! The internship is a true learning journey as you dive into a wide variety of topics, even those you may have never explored before! On my part, I researched many topics ranging from West’s failure to anticipate the invasion of Ukraine, to NATO’s seabed infrastructure security, to extended deterrence and maritime security cooperation between the Netherlands and South Korea.
Memorable
I can guarantee that you will not forget about this internship experience! HCSS’ welcoming and warm atmosphere really fosters a safe and stimulating environment. Support from analysts and fellow interns also encourages you to develop your skills confidently.
This interview was conducted by HCSS Communications & Events Officer, Stephanie Govaerts
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