Student Spotlight: Henrique Castro Barbosa

Tell us a bit about yourself, and your background
I’m from Brazil and hold a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of São Paulo. Before coming to UCL, I worked across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. My first experience was in the public sector, where I supported the implementation of housing policies in a small municipality. Later, I worked at a private consulting firm, managing the submission of proposals for monitoring and evaluation services for various UN agencies, covering a wide range of policy areas such as education, health, and housing. Over the past three years, I was part of the fundraising team at an educational NGO, where I was responsible for writing grant proposals to secure funding from international donors for educational projects.

Why did you apply to Political Science Department, UCL?
After gaining some work experience, I felt that pursuing a master’s degree was the next natural step in my career. The MPA program at UCL caught my attention because of its practical approach. Additionally, the modules offered aligned with both my previous experience - such as policy implementation and non-profit sector management - and the new skills I wanted to develop, including data analysis and impact evaluation methods, to name a few.

What do you like best about your course so far?
What I appreciate most about our program is its hands-on approach. In seminars, we often discuss case studies on current policy issues, contributing our perspectives and potential solutions based on robust literature. The professors also bring case studies from all over the world. I’ve explored policy cases not only from the UK but also from the US, Brazil, Canada, China, and Peru, which I find really engaging. Another aspect I enjoy is the variety in our coursework and assignments. We’re not limited to traditional essays. We also work on other forms of writing, such as policy memos and reports.

What is the rest of your cohort like?
It’s a very diverse group. Although my cohort is relatively small, I have classmates from the UK, US, China, India, Colombia, Azerbaijan, and several other countries. There’s also a wide age range in the class, with some students who have just completed their bachelor’s degrees and others who are seasoned professionals working for national governments. Regardless of their background, each person brings valuable perspectives that contribute to our collective intellectual growth.

What is the teaching and learning like?
Each professor has their own approach and teaching style, but they are all very approachable. They encourage us to talk to them outside the classroom and offer office hours to discuss our ideas, concerns, and career aspirations. This creates a very supportive and personalized learning environment.

What are your career aspirations and how do you envisage the programme helping with these?I’m looking to steer my professional path towards project management and monitoring and evaluation. Ideally, I’d like to work in international and multicultural environments, whether at an INGO, a consulting firm, or within the UN system. This program has been instrumental in helping me develop my data analysis skills and management acumen, both of which will be valuable in the career I envision.

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London
It’s hard to say because London has something for everyone, so it really depends on what you enjoy. But here are my two (or three?) cents:
-    Sky Garden: You can get a stunning panoramic view of London from the top. It’s a must-see! The best part is that it’s free, depending on the day and time you visit.
-    Wetherspoons: This is a chain of restaurants that offers good-quality food at bargain prices. You can get a main course and a drink for around £13–£15, which is quite affordable compared to typical London prices. Student-friendly! 
-    Free-walking tours: some tour guides in London offer free walking tours - a concept that exists in many cities around the world. These tours typically take you to key spots in a specific area, like Westminster, and are a great way to learn the basics about the place you’re visiting. While the tours are free in theory, most participants tip the guide at the end. 

Who inspires you and why?
My grandparents. Although they didn’t have access to education when they were younger, they always encouraged me to study and pursue my dreams.

If you could implement one for policy in the world today, what would it be?
I would implement a policy aimed at valuing teachers’ work. While it’s widely acknowledged that education is one of the main drivers of societal change, I believe the starting point should be teachers. This would involve providing better training, improving working conditions, and offering fair salaries, enabling them to teach more effectively and enhance students’ learning experiences and outcomes. Ultimately, this would contribute to fostering better and more equitable socioeconomic development in the long term.