EU Careers Ambassador from UO
The EU Careers Student Ambassadors programme was launched in 2010 by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). Its main objective is to promote a career path in the structures of the EU among students. The participation in the programme is also a distinction for the University where individual EU Careers Ambassadors are studying because only six participants from Poland have been selected. One of them is Magdalena Kurowska from the University of Opole. Other Ambassadors represent the Catholic University of Lublin, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Warsaw School of Economics, the Jagiellonian University, and the Silesian University of Technology.
Magdalena Kurowska is a student of Applied Gender Studies at our University, and a graduate of Journalism and Social Communication.
‘I learnt about the programme from the Academic Careers Centre’ - said Magdalena. ‘I studied the programme assumptions and I came to the conclusion that it is worth trying. In addition to my application I also needed a recommendation from the UO for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I received an invitation to participate in an interview rather quickly, and soon after the interview I was informed that I had been selected for that position. My task is to bring young and ambitious people to a career in the EU institutions (Brussels and Luxembourg). I want our students to find out more about a possibility of applying for a cool job and I would also like to disenchant a bit the ‘mystical’ EU institutions’ - she said. ‘Definitely it is a fantastic opportunity to gain skills and experience in the international environment’ – she added.
A successful candidate must have the citizenship of the EU country and the ability to speak two languages fluently, including one from the pool of 24 European languages, e.g. Polish, and English, German or French. A translator needs to speak three languages. When applying for a specific vacancy you need to fulfil given requirements.
EU Careers Ambassadors' activities are carried out with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the annual term Ambassadors can also count on the help from their universities and Careers Centres.
Poland is one of the three member states (together with Denmark and Finland) where the EPSO is to conduct trainings for Careers Ambassadors this year.
All interested students can visit EUCareersUO. All the needed information can also be found on the EPSO website.
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs