Mr Shumpei Matsushita (Completed EU Studies Graduate Diploma Programme in Fall 2017)
■Affiliation at time of completion of the programme: Graduate School of Economics, Kyushu University
■Career after graduation: Ph.D. Course, Graduate School of Economics, Kyushu University
I completed the EU-DPs for graduate students, and now I am studying the EU economy as a doctoral course student. This program brought beneficial experiences to my studies because the EU-DPs can provide us with opportunities to learn about the EU systematically. Through the program, we can receive not only lectures on economics in Europe but also those on history and law, so we can learn and understand the EU from various angles. These angles were a great help to me when I wrote a master’s thesis and research paper for EU-DPs. Also, the Kyushu University EU Centre holds events such as Christmas in the EU, where we can deepen our understanding of European culture.
In addition, during my registration for EU-DPs, I took part in the “Asia-Pacific EU Centres Graduate Students Conference” (that was sponsored by Kyushu University EU Centre) and made a report in English. This conference was a great opportunity for me because I could test what level my research had reached and find its remaining issues. Also, graduate students in pan-Pacific countries took part in this conference, and I met many researchers of the same generation, so I was inspired to make greater effort to study.
If you have any interest in the EU, I strongly recommend registering for EU-DPs. The experience of the EU-DPs will assist you in deepening your study and personal development.