EMA General Assembly + Call for Program Representatives

Hello everyone! I will start from the end and tell you that the call for Program Representatives (PR) is now open and that any of you who would like to participate should apply before December 9th.
Being PR is a great opportunity to participate in EMA and you'll meet a lot of cool and interesting people who may become important contacts later in life. I personally haven't decided yet whether I'll apply or not for a second term, but I definitely encourage you to apply!

So now a brief summary of what has happened this past weekend. I arrived on Friday to Lugano at about 14.00 and we went with some people for a walk and to grab a bite even if it was pouring. Then we returned to the hotel, took a shower, and went to the pier to catch a boat that gave us a ride on the lake while we ate, drank and did a little bit of networking. On Saturday morning we went to Università della Svizzera Italian which was the host institution for the event. We had an opening session in which key persons were introduced and gave a speech. Then we had lunch and during the afternoon we had a forum of inspiration in which some Erasmus Mundus alumni shared their success stories, we had a World Coffe Break in which everyone brought something from their homeland and then we participated in diverse workshops (Emotional Intelligence in my case). Then we returned to the hotel, took a quick shower and put on our gala clothes because we had an event in the coolest restaurant ever. It was on a cliff by the lake and it had windows all over to see the city lights. We ate, drank and celebrated EMA's 10th anniversary!
Finally, on Saturday there was a voting session to correct some points in the statute and add some new ones. This is because, as some of you might know, EMA became a legal entity and they are supposed to update their statute on an annual basis. The last thing we did was to meet with the regional chapters (Latin America in my case) and then with different service teams (the PR network in my case).

That is all guys, I salute you and leave some pictures!

Information regarding the Erasmus+: Erasmus Mundus European Master in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P)

This post is dedicated to those future students of the Master that have not yet applied for admission to the programme. It's for you, out there in front of your computer screen. Wherever you live, however old you are, whichever your skin color is, you are planning your future but also dreaming about new adventures. The WOP-P programme awaits for you. Don't be afraid, gather what you need and apply!

Before anything, the main reference for information should always be the official programme web-page hosted by the University of Valencia which is the coordinating institution of the consortium. Refer to http://www.uv.es/erasmuswop/ for the official information. This is just an informal guide in which I hope you'll find additional useful information from the perspective of someone who, as of today, is already starting the second year of the programme.

So here it goes:

First, since I've seen that the website has not yet been updated in regard to the Applications for the 2017 - 2018 academic year, I'll fill you in with some new information. As you might have read the consortium is composed of four European Universities: Coimbra (Portugal), Valencia (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Bologna (Italy); and two non-european universities which are the University of Guelph (Canada) and the University of Brasilia (Brasil). Your home and host universities will be one of the european ones. If you've checked the official web before, you'll also notice that I haven't mentioned the University of Paris as part of the consortium.  The reason is that it's highly probable (almost certain) that this university will not be part of the consortium anymore and would no longer an option.

Second, in regard to the Master thesis this program is a little bit different from other programs since you'll be doing most of your research during the mobility period in your host university. Then on the third semester you return to your home university and for the fourth (last) semester there may be additional mobility for the professional stage. It is here when you'll be most likely to go to the University of Brasilia or the University of Guelph if you choose to.

Third, you'll be interviewed by one of the professors at one of the european universities. During the interview you'll have to demonstrate the use of the languages you know and you'll also be asked questions about psychology in general and WOP psychology in particular. You'll also might be asked to do little exercises like reading an abstract of a scientific paper and answering some question. DO NOT BE AFRAID! Just go ahead and do your best!

Fourth, I would like to call to attention at something that usually goes unnoticed: you can upload additional documents while your application is being processed. This is a good opportunity to upload, for example, a language certificate of a course you are doing or a test your are planning to take (like IELTS or TOEFL). You also have to let them know that you've uploaded it!
Despite not being compulsory to apply, having a recognized English certificate is a really good investment. In the criteria ponderation for you application English accounts for 20 percent. And even if you finally are not accepted these certificates are really valuable.

Fifth, in the Universities of Valencia and Barcelona you'll be going to classes with your fellow woppers. However in Coimbra and Bologna you'll be sharing some classes with students involved in the "national track". This means that there is a national curriculum and a master that resembles the WOP but without the mobility schemes and more international orientation. You must know that because you are a wop student you'll always be asked for more and expected to give your best. Additionally, In my case being able to interact with a really nice bunch of Italian students has been one of the best things of my time in the Master.

Sixth, this program has a very good equilibrium between fun and work. I promess that you'll have to work really hard and be good at time-management to be able to get things done. But I also promess you'll also have a lot of time for fun moments. Not only on your free time, when you'll be able to hang out with your fellow woppers and go for an aperitivo or tapas but also during lessons. Because this program has a strong focus on the development of soft skills. This is why in addition to the regular lessons in which you'll acquire conceptual knowledge there will be a lot of opportunities for cool exercises such as role playing, intervention proposals, case discussions, etc.

For the moment that would be all, but I'll update the post if I think of something else! Good luck!

EMA Professional Guide Webinar

Hey Woppers! Ever thought yourselves as leaders?

If you are free on October 29th at 12.00 Central European Summer Time (CEST) you should register for the webinar "You as a future leader" by Anna Zakharova.

Follow this link for more information: http://www.em-a.eu/en/home/archive-activities-to-join/newsdetail-activities-to-join/ema-professional-guide-webinars-october-29-1957.html

Course Quality Student Services (CQSS) 2016 Survey

Remember that survey you filled about our Mater Programme? Well the Course Quality Advisory Board has already posted the results. In case you haven't seen them yet check them out!

https://erasmusmundusassociation.shinyapps.io/Course_browser/

Trinidad's WOP-P experience

Trini is a colleague of mine in the WOP-P Master Program and she has kindly agreed to make a video for us in which she answers the following three questions;

1) What do you think about the WOP-P Master Program?
2) What motivated you to go back to studying after several years of work experience?
3) What would you say to inspire someone that is thinking about doing the same?

Juliana Garcia's WOP-P experience

 Juliana García, Colombia, 2007-2009

I´m living in Bogotá, Colombia, and I work as a Senior Consultant / Consultancy Leader in Samper Head Hunting (a latinamerica head hunter, with headquarters in Ecuador, and presence in 5 countries).

During the master I was able to discuss with teachers the real applicability of what we were learning, given that a lot of things sounded very utopic and real life it’s not always like that... but when you know how to build a “perfect” HR system, then it’s going to be easy to try to make the real one very close to perfection (at least you have a clear idea of what you want).

I really enjoyed the time spent with teachers and students, because I was able to understand different points of view and cultures.

Make it real!! Try to really understand how you can apply all the knowledge to the real world, because that´s what companies are looking for… people with a realistic point of view, with the ability to think in the long term. When you are able to apply all the knowledges and generate added value to the company, you became an asset.

Juliana Seidl's WOP-P experience

My name is Juliana, I'm 30 years-old and I'm Brazilian, from Brasilia (capital). Well, I did Master WOP-P from 2008 to 2010 and I studied at the University of Coimbra (Home University) and at the University of Barcelona (Host). I started WOP-P just after my graduate studies at the University of Brasilia. So, after studying for seven years without stop, I came back to Brasilia in 2010 aiming to work. I worked in a HR consultancy in a private company, I did some freelancers as well with different groups, and learnt a lot there! However, after 4 years, I realised that I do love to make research, this is what I really want to invest on for the long journey, so I applied for the Doctoral program. This is where I'm now: starting my second year as a PhD student here in Brasilia I do want to do part of it abroad (maybe Australia or US) and as soon as I finish the courses, I'll try the grant for it. Moreover, I did not forget the Clinical Psychology and I'm finishing my studies in Psychodrama, I would like to work as a therapist and as an organisational consultant after my studies, let's see if I can manage both...

I have great memories as a WOPPer! Oh my, so hard to summarise them... In my opinion, interacting with diversity was one of the best parts! Having professors, classmates and living with people from another country is very enriching. I'd recommend to live with people that it's not from your country so you can practise another language and learn more about another culture. We also learn more about our own culture by being with them. The way each University works is very different as well, so it's important to respect, not compare them and do the best you can! Not exactly being a nerd, but do your part. Respect the money you receive if you've a grant or the money you're investing on it. It's possible to have fun, travel a bit, make great and close friends, live love stories and be an excellent student, don't panic! Moreover, try to choose a thesis topic that you like to work with, that you believe it's important. Then, afterwards, you can keep it. Probably you won't, but besides me I know different people who kept working with the same topic. Ahhh, I had two unforgettable love stories: with a Norwegian guy in Portugal and a Colombian in Spain. So, enjoy, be open! Nowadays, one is single and the other is married but we're friends, we respect and talk to each other, this is great. And I also know woppers from 2008-210 who got married and have children now!!! So, keep your eyed open. hehehe The friends we make as a WOPPer are probably forever as well because emotions are very intense living abroad (for the good and the bad moments..). So, do not close yourself, share your difficulties, be humble and kind with the others' difficulties as well. Ask for help if you need and help your colleagues. I already visited lots of them (specially Brazilians and Colombians) after the Master's over. In November, I'll be the Godmother of a WOPPer from Salvador, who is getting married and I'm so happy to be able to be there! Well, I'll write a book if I keep going, so: have fun, work hard, respect yourself (qualities and limits). Be a WOPPer changes your life forever - for the best, believe me!

Carine França's WOP-P experience

My name is Carine França, I'm from Salvador/Bahia, Brazil and I studied the Master in Coimbra and Paris, between 2008 and 2010. 

Right after the Master, I came back to my hometown and I still live here. The same company I did the internship in Portugal hired my services as a HR Consultant (Vila Galé Hotels) and I stayed there until December 2014. I used to travel a lot from one unit to another, since they have seven hotels here and Brazil is a large country, managing HR policies, training and development to all 1300 employees at that moment. 

After four years and a half, I decided to stay close to my family and fiancée, so I opened my own consultancy company: Carine França - Training, Development & Coaching. I'm still in the beginning, with a few projects, but I'm trying to do everything just the way I've always believed and dreamed since the Master.

I have many and beautiful memories from that period. Me and my wopper colleagues are still friends, and we keep in touch frequently by whatsapp, although each one is in a different part of the world. The most beautiful memorie was our first Christmas together in my house (I used to share an apartment in Coimbra with another Brazilian girl, Juliana Seidl, which is going to be one of my bridesmaid this year in my wedding): lots of food we made by ourselves, drinks, candles, guitars, songs (we had two wonderful singers in our group), Christmas hugs and wishes (we must have a video from this). 

That was my first Christmas far away from my family, so it meant a lot to me. During Christmas evening, my "Portuguese sister" Filipa invited me and the colombian Francisco to her house. And it was very emotional. Our first experience in a truly Portuguese family, at Christmas. And we were received as a part of the family by her grandma, grandpa, mother, father, sister, aunts, cousins...

Each wopper from that period has a place in my heart, I love them all. We travelled together, lived together, had so many and unforgettable adventures! It's very sad we couldn't meet everyone yet, but at least the Brazilian woppers I have already seen some times. Sabrina is the other Brazilian girl I used to live with in the last semester, in Lisbon, and it was wonderful to be in her wedding here in Brazil and at the hospital when she had her first baby. 

We also had a wedding right after the Winter School (a Mexican to a Portuguese)! So many of us went and had lots of fun together. It was like a farewell for some of us, but it's a very good memory also. I could write more, but it would take much more time! Thanks for bringing me back to those times.

If I could give some advice it would be:

1. Enjoy every second (it's gets to the end faster that it seems).

2. Make real friends, be open to diversity.

3. Try to know as many cultures as you can.

4. If you want to go back to your hometown, look for a company that also has units in your country/city.

5. Finish your thesis, with quality, as soon as you can (even some days before the deadlines), so that you can relax at the end, prepare your vacations or your last days as a wopper.

6. Have fun, much fun!