Hi Thijs, 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?
Hey! My name is Thijs, born and raised here in the Netherlands. Before joining HCSS, I first completed my BSc in Political Science with a specialisation in International Relations and Organisations at Leiden University. Last summer, I completed my MSc in Governance of Radicalism, Extremism and Terrorism, also at Leiden University. Throughout my studies, I developed a specific interest in both the future of European security and defence, and national security questions related to radicalisation and extremism.
In addition to my studies, I have had various other work experiences. For 2.5 years I worked as a part-time policy officer for the Dutch National Student Association (ISO) where I focused primarily on the rights of interns and the innovation of education. The policy experience I gained during this time has been very useful since, for example in my work for the scientific bureau of a political party. After finishing my bachelor’s, I joined the bureau as an intern for five months and stayed as a part-time employee the following year. In my contributions to the European and national election manifesto’s, an edited book and the bureau’s magazine, I was able to further develop my interest in European (defence) integration and national security.
Given these broad interests within the field of international and national security, I was looking for a way to discover what topics I wanted to continue with next. The general internship of HCSS looked like an ideal way to do so!
What specific projects you have you been involved in during your internship? And how have these experiences helped you develop professionally?
The projects I have contributed to have been very diverse. Topics have ranged from future security risks arising from metropolitan growth in Dutch cities, to the dynamics of coercive diplomacy in the build-up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Whatever the research you work on, HCSS will challenge you to quickly familiarise yourself with the question and topic at hand. This will not only help you to broaden your knowledge base but allows you to develop your research and analysis skills in the process.
Another type of project I have contributed to are the serious games we organise for various clients. During these games, participants are faced with various escalating scenarios that, for example, threaten food supply chains in the Netherlands. It’s up to the players to then assess the capabilities they potentially have to react to these disruptions. These games provide a fun break from the regular desk work and offer a great opportunity to connect with people outside the company.
How would you describe your internship experience in three words? Please elaborate.
Dynamic, rewarding and fun.
For me, no week has been the same! Even within longer term projects, tasks can range from performing desk research and making visualisations, to writing pieces of text yourself. The next day, you may assist an analyst with one of the many events that HCSS organises. And you never know where the internship will bring you… I did not expect to visit the farthest point of the Port of Rotterdam in the first month of my internship.
Secondly, HCSS and the analysts will provide you with plenty of opportunities to show what you have got. It is rewarding to see your work being valued and to be given the trust to perform the tasks you have been assigned.
And of course it is not all about work! Drinks, bowling and pub quizzes are all part of the experience. Over the past few months, I have really started to like my colleagues and the regular outings that are organised.
How did the team or your supervisor/mentor contribute to your internship experience?
From the beginning, the permanent staff has made an effort to include us interns in the regular day-to-day functioning of the office and the social events around it. In addition, HCSS has a comprehensive onboarding and mentoring structure for interns that has made me feel very welcome and supported in the company. For example, each intern is assigned a mentor that can offer guidance if needed and with which you will have a monthly lunch outing to catch-up with. Additionally, the people working at HCSS are all very talented and knowledgeable. Working with them will definitely allow you to learn a lot.
What are your next steps after completing this internship?
Having finished my studies, I will be looking for a job next! Given my positive experience at HCSS, I definitely want to stay within the field of international and national security. Either at a research-based organisation like HCSS or one of the many government institutions based in The Hague. Either way, the internship has prepared me for both!
This interview was conducted by HCSS Communications & Events Officer, Stephanie Govaerts
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