Alessia Bianco

I barely felt the time go by and my first year at the Elite Master Program SDAC has come to its end. There are so many memories and experiences I made throughout this year that I will carry with me forever.

Due to the small number of students admitted each year, I found myself warmly welcomed into what became a second family for me. I quickly became good friends with the members of the program who come from all over the world and found help whenever I needed it.

The program’s schedule is well-planned, giving its students the foundations for understanding real-life decision-making processes, as well as how to deal with complex intercultural and social issues. The winter semester usually gives you a first glimpse of the basic concepts of Anthropology and decision-making, which are eventually explored in more detail in the following summer semester. Moreover, students have the possibility of shaping their study plans by choosing some of their classes according to their personal interests. Since our program is not only interdisciplinary but also intercultural, you can be sure that you will learn how culture and people’s unique life experiences influence their decisions.

In addition to our interdisciplinary classes, we were offered the guest lecture series every semester, a great opportunity to know more about the academic world and to meet incredible researchers. While I must admit that the program is challenging, during the week you always have some material to prepare, read or present for the upcoming class. However, SDAC is not just about the lecture in the classroom, students are especially encouraged to participate, ask questions and develop research skills in all possible ways. In addition to the fascinating lectures, we were also offered practical workshops throughout the year, teaching us how to develop negotiation techniques, the meaning of “business etiquette”, as well as time and self-management strategies among many other things.

After one year in this program, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants to challenge themselves with a unique approach to decision-making processes and gain deeper knowledge about different cultures!