I chose ISS due to its emphasis on development from the perspectives of underrepresented groups.
Rupankar Dey (India)
MA in Development Studies
Name: Rupankar Dey
Major: Social Policy for Development
Country: India
What is your background?
I have pursued my undergraduate degree in History with a double specialization in Women’s history of Bengal and the History of China. Besides that, I also worked as a student activist for 4 years and as a volunteer for an NGO. This NGO is working for the rights and the development of indigenous people in rural Bengal, a province in the eastern part of India.
Why study abroad?
Mainly because of the academic freedom of getting access to a wider job market in the developmental sector, as it is not that known and remunerative in India.
Why ISS?
I choose ISS as my place of study primarily due to its critical perspective on development and emphasis on development from the perspectives of underrepresented groups.
Why did you choose this major?
I chose to major in Social Policy development with a gender and women studies specialisation because I have always been interested in this subject and because I believe that patriarchy dominates the modern world primarily through the policies that are being reproduced based on societal values. However, through this specialisation, I also wanted to influence a future probable policy maker to frame policies more fluidly rather than focusing on the binary.
How would you describe the diversity at ISS?
The ISS is a real pluriverse of information coupled with a variety of experiences. In addition to the academic curriculum, I personally have gained a lot of knowledge from the experiences of my colleagues who come from different development sectors and have a variety of backgrounds across academic and non academic. When we discuss diversity, we often emphasise class, colour, and caste, but at ISS, we also emphasise knowledge and experiences shared under one roof.