Maša Mitić

Bachelor’s in International Relations and European Politics, graduated in 2024.

Coming from Serbia, currently plans to pursue her master's studies in International Relations

interviewed by Michaela Nespěchalová, January 2025

1. How has your Bachelors´ in IREP of Social Studies degree helped shape your career/academic path?

It solidified my longstanding goal of teaching International Relations at the university level, by sparking interest in specific aspects of IR such as peace economics, theories of IR, religion, war, history of IR, humanitarian intervention, political psychology, etcetera, and allowing me to write bachelors on one of my favorite aspects of IR - the psychology of IR broadly and political persuasion specifically.

2. What were some of the most memorable courses or experiences during your Bachelors‘ IREP program?

Without any doubt, Peace Economics and Beyond Realism and Liberalism courses & of course professors, without whom, the courses would be mere lists of required literature.

3. What did you enjoy the most as an international student in Brno?

There are a couple of people who made Brno a home for a reason and for a while.

4. Would you like to mention any particular Staff or professors that you appreciated?

I believe that to any student Mrs. Klára Němečková was a second mom, as we all overwhelmed her with emails before and after arriving in Brno, so a huge part of our success goes to her fast email replies. On a more subjective note, I would like to thank prof Fridrichová and prof Chovančík for making their students motivated, interested, critical, and analytical IR minds. And for making our minds - the IR ones.

5. What advice would you give to current students of the Bachelors‘ of Social Studies program who are looking to make the most of their education and prepare for future careers?

Choose the thesis topic that you like. I liked mine and I worked on it in bars, trams, buses, hallways, while walking, before dates, after bad dates, in cafes, on the benches in front of the faculty; and sometimes in the faculty library. Also, please never skip a party for an exam and vice versa. You are in your 20s, and there is time for both; now and never again. Nothing here is a zero-sum game (follow more attentively on Chovancik's lessons if this confuses you).

6. What are your career paths´ plans?

I am going to be doing my Masters and my Doctoral degree in International Relations, all with a longstanding idea(l) of teaching at the faculty. Knock on wood.