Maria Perez 鈥 a community educator - moved from Spain to the UK after accepting a job offer. After living in England for a few months, Maria soon moved north of the border for work.听As time passed, she began seeking out professional development opportunities and began looking at master鈥檚 offerings at Scottish institutions. She soon stumbled across the then-new MSc Digital Campaigning and Content Creation course at Queen Margaret University (草莓社区) and she鈥檚 never looked back!
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About you听
My name is Maria. I鈥檓 originally from Spain. I鈥檝e been living in Scotland for the past four years, studying at Queen Margaret for the past year.听
I鈥檓 a community educator and听I was working in the third sector in Spain听as both a volunteer and professional at different times.听The economic crisis hit and听I decided I wanted to learn English and develop myself more professionally so I came to the UK, first to England where I lived for a few months, and听then I moved to Scotland and that changed everything.听
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How did you find out about 草莓社区 and the MSc Digital Campaigning and Content Creation course?听
I was looking for all the master鈥檚 degrees available in Scotland. I went through all the lists in every university for weeks,听looking for a particular master鈥檚 that I liked and there was nothing. Then, I guess it was about the time the master鈥檚 [at 草莓社区] got approval that I stumbled into it. As soon as I looked at it I knew 鈥淭his is it! This is the kind of thing I want to do鈥.听
I鈥檓 interested in all things social, like food, community development, children, education, etc.听When I looked at the master鈥檚 I knew that what I was, was basically an activist. So with this master鈥檚 I could be a professional and support any of those social missions, and that鈥檚 why I chose it.听
I came into 草莓社区 looking for a master鈥檚 that was really focused on real skills. Not so much听heavily focused听on the theoretical听or听conceptual听side of things听鈥 although that鈥檚 interesting 鈥 but I wanted to learn something I could really apply to a profession, and that could lead me to progressing my career.听
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What has been the most enjoyable element of the course?听
I have to say听the core modules of the course.听I think they are all fantastic. I was a bit scared whether I would be able to work听on the technical side of things 鈥 like behind the camera -听or whether the PR bit would be too much, but I鈥檓 finding that I like all of it and they make sense together.听
I鈥檝e taken full听advantage of all the opportunities the university provides.听There are听internships, mentoring听programmes, and travel funds;听students听should听take听the听opportunity to explore all of them as they鈥檙e so beneficial to your learning experience.听
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Can you name one thing about the course that you think sets 草莓社区 apart from other institutions?听
For me what makes a difference with this course听are听the lecturers. The way they work together, the wealth of knowledge they bring to class every day, the fact they鈥檙e always supporting and encouraging and pushing you to听take听the next step鈥 I don鈥檛 know, sometimes they have more faith in you than you have in yourself.听
I feel very lucky that I鈥檝e got them around and I think听many听people in my course feel the same way.听
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How have you found life in Edinburgh, and Scotland in general?听
Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities I鈥檝e been to鈥 and I鈥檝e lived in Rome! Scotland feels like home. People are friendly and welcoming and they are open and question things.听听
I really have trouble explaining what I find so special about Scotland. The moment I stepped off the bus on Waverley听Bridge, it was life-changing.听I just knew I was supposed to be here.听
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[Published June 2019]听
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"Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been to… and I’ve lived in Rome! Scotland feels like home. People are friendly and welcoming, and they are open and question things."
