Elias graduated from SUA in 2015. Subsequently he obtained a MSc in comparative politics at the London School of Economics, where he won the prize for best overall academic performance. Since 2018, after a 9-month advanced Chinese language course at Peking University, Elias worked as a management consultant in Beijing and since February 2020 in South Tyrol (Italy).
How did International Studies prepare you for life after SUA?
The small class sizes and discussion-based teaching formats at SUA were an excellent preparation for grad school. Writing, language, and research skills gained as a INTS concentration student are very helpful career-wise. Presentation and communication skills more in general are crucial, both at grad school and in consulting.
For me, perhaps some of the best preparation for life after SUA were the strict deadlines in some of the classes. Being forced to hand in essays on time is great training for becoming able to deliver work projects on time too.
What are some of your best memories and lessons from INTS classes?
Best memory: State and society class and democracy and democratization class While studying and working in China, and later in Europe with pandemic-related restrictions, I found myself often thinking about what freedom might mean. In that regard, things I learned in those two classes are of great help.
Best lesson: Independent class on research methods with Ted Lowe.
Do you have any advice for current INTS concentrators?
In my experience, concrete & transferable skills, such as language and research skills, especially quant, are much easier to monetize (salary-wise) than theory/specific knowledge.
Small class-sizes and availability of teaching staff at SUA is something I (sadly) didn’t find at other institutions, at least not to the extend as at SUA. Had I been aware of that fact while still at SUA, I think I would have made more of it.