Prosperity, People and Planet MSc Student Spotlight: Rafael Nemes
Sustainability Consultant Rafael Nemes reflects on his experiences as a student of the Prosperity, People and Planet MSc.
About Rafael Nemes
Interested in sustainability and forming more radical ways of living and organising economies, Rafael came to study on the Prosperity, People and Planet MSc at the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity alongside working as a Sustainability Consultant on exciting projects around London and the UK.
Q&A with Rafael
What were your academic and professional interests and experiences before coming to the course?
Since my undergraduate studies I have been very keen on sustainability and alternative socioeconomic systems, and I fell in love with post-growth theories and more radical forms of living and organising economics in other parts of the world. I remember being fascinated by different non-Western views on ‘development’ and the ‘good life’ such as 'buen vivir' or 'ubuntu', which drove me as part of my final dissertation to explore these philosophies in my own roots, rural Romania. During the final year of my undergraduate degree I encountered the course Prosperity, People and Planet MSc at UCL which resonated with me in its objectives and content. I have been interested in the idea of wellbeing economies ever since.
In my previous work experience I have undertaken consulting work for social enterprises, been part of a think tank as a mentor and a content creator within its arts and culture working group, and, more recently alongside my master's studies, I have acted as a sustainability consultant within a London-based company.
Why did you join the Prosperity, People and Planet MSc?
I enjoy academia and the research aspect of it. I am passionate about the deeper questions related to sustainability and human wellbeing and I wanted to further explore these topics. Encountering more radical visions of what a just and ecologically-sound society could look like has encouraged me to pursue postgraduate studies in the field. Finding the Prosperity, People and Planet MSc seemed the right opportunity for me to deepen this exploration, and now here I am!
Did you come to the course with any scholarship/funding?
Yes! So I am from an economically disadvantaged working class background; my status as a a queer migrant from Eastern Europe made it even more challenging for me to gain footing back home or abroad. Initially I was going to pay for my tuition fee using a postgraduate loan and other savings I have been able to make throughout my undergraduate years working in a restaurant. I intentionally switched my mode of study to part-time to be able to also work alongside the masters and cover my expenses in London. I was lucky enough to find and be awarded the UCL East London Scholarship after applying for my course. The scholarship money has been a blessing as it has contributed towards my living costs, inclusive of transport and my tuition fees. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and to have been given the chance to pursue my further studies.
What aspects of your studies do you enjoy the most, and why?
I have most enjoyed the flexibility of the modules as I like being able to learn about so many different topics and channel that learning around my niche interests in each essay or presentation I submit. On top of that, I really appreciated the diversity of the student body within the course. It was fascinating to hear how everyone’s individual background had shaped their interests in sustainability and wellbeing because I can also see that within myself. And finally, the new campus at UCL East is pretty cool! I was in awe the first time I went to visit it so do check it out before officially joining the University.
How do you experience life as a student in London whilst studying on the course?
I have lived in London since I moved to the UK six years ago. As I completed my undergraduate studies in another part of the UK, I know I missed being back in London and looked forward to exploring and rediscovering the city with fresh eyes. You really do find so so many things to do around the city. I wouldn’t trade my student life in London for anything else!
Did you take part in any extracurricular activities across UCL (societies, events, networking etc)?
I really enjoyed patricipating in UCL’s Institute of Making where I was able to learn the very basics to how to sew, a bit of woodwork and soon enough this month some ceramics classes. If you are creative or you just want to explore different media this space will be amazing for you to try out new things. Plus, as a UCL student or staff member you can access the space and its resources all for free. To help your future career, it's also great to take advantage of the networking events and opportunities within the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity and across the wider university - you never know who you'll meet and where those conversations may take you.
What are your future ambitions?
I'm really happy in my current role as a Sustainability Consultant as I'm able to work on many different and exciting projects around London and the UK, from technical work down to research-based projects. I would like to continue exploring research opportunities and combine that with technical insights and more creative outputs within the current role and future roles. I recently had the chance to work with the Southbank Centre and the Wellcome Collection on creative projects using my research on human wellbeing and climate change as inspiration. I enjoy combining all these different ways to communicate research within my work and I hope to further pursue these opportunities in the future.
What advice would you give to yourself on your first day of starting your course?
Be open to all the opportunities out there and don’t be afraid to try out new things. You will enjoy your time at UCL way more.
Keep up to date with Rafael's work via LinkedIn and Instagram.
Are you interested in studying the Prosperity, People and Planet MSc at UCL?
Discover more about the course and the career opportunities it could unlock by visiting the UCL Graduate prospectus.