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Bringing data analysis into the humanitarian field: Lara’s story

Combining her experience as a software engineer with a master’s in international development at Bath, Lara is now analysing data for the Red Cross.

A woman speaking into a microphone
Lara gained five years of work experience before embarking upon her master's journey.

After starting her career in software engineering and progressing to a role with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Lara wanted to pursue a master’s degree to enhance her career prospects and complement her experience, choosing MSc International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action.

Lara secured a prestigious Chevening Scholarship from the University, which helped her to move to the UK from Jordan to start the course.

We spoke to Lara to find out what led her to Bath, and how her degree is already helping her to take the next step in her career.

Computer science meets humanitarianism

There was quite a gap between my undergraduate degree and my postgraduate one, as I didn’t directly go on to do a master’s. I had gained about five years’ work experience before my master’s I started the course, which is quite common for people from my region.

Having studied computer engineering for my bachelor’s, I first worked as a software engineer in the private sector, and then made the switch to the humanitarian sector through a role with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). I worked in the UN office for the Middle East and North Africa region, and subsequently in the Jordan office as a data analyst.

Because of this, I saw how my computer engineering background fitted into the humanitarian context, and ended up wanting to gain more experience in the field.

Choosing Bath for my career progression

There were four main reasons I chose this course:

The first was my long-term goal to obtain higher positions at work, for which master’s degrees are often required or desirable, and I was at a good point in my career to be able to take a break to undertake postgraduate study.

The second was the discrepancy between my undergraduate studies and my work experience. I wanted a degree that could strengthen my experience within the humanitarian sector, so I chose International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action.
I also felt that a break from work would help me gain perspective and learn about my interests from an academic point of view.

I chose Bath because I was looking for a programme that offered international development in combination with something else, such as economics or conflict. Out of all the other universities I filtered out, applied to, and got offers from, Bath was the highest-ranking, so I was happy to come here. I originally applied for the course with an economics pathway, but the department contacted me to say that the conflict pathway was probably more in line with my previous experience, which worked out nicely. The course still allowed me to take optional units in economics, so I could combine my two interests.

And, lastly, another reason for choosing the course was that it offered a practicum experience alongside the dissertation. As a professional, I wanted my degree to help further strengthen my career and help me gain more practical experience in international development. For my practicum, I was able to work in a consultancy role at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. I also worked remotely from Bath as a data analyst for their Geneva office. On top of that, I worked as a policy researcher with the British Embassy, dealing with policy-related issues in Jordan this was something I really felt I was able to apply my knowledge from previous jobs and the master's itself.

If I hadn't done this course, I probably would not have been able to obtain a position within a government department in London, as well as another working remotely: it really opened up opportunities for me, both in the UK and abroad.

Now that I have graduated, I will return to my job within UNHRC, where my role will shift in line with my new experience that I gained from the master's at Bath. For the first time, I can now combine data analysis with policy evaluation and help make an impact on important humanitarian issues. If I can secure a visa, I would also like to work in the UK again or perhaps the European Union.

Studying as a Chevening Scholar

I was thrilled that I received a Chevening Scholarship to study at Bath. As a third-generation Palestinian refugee in Jordan, the programme allowed me to not only draw from my own experiences but also gain a deeper insight into the conflicts that have deeply impacted my region.

In my role at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, I was able to provide vital support to refugees in the MENA region, especially in the wake of the Syrian, Yemeni, and Iraqi crises. The Chevening Scholarship was an ideal fit for my personal and professional journey, granting me the opportunity to enrich my comprehension of conflict and humanitarian action. It will now empower me to effect more substantial change in the lives of those individuals affected by crises.

A global cohort

The course itself had 12 students. This small cohort size meant we were able to build stronger relationships with each other and our tutors. There were only three or four home students, so we were a very diverse group: I had classmates from countries like Spain, Japan and Turkey and was able to connect with people from all over the world.

Our tutors were very active in the field; they were very passionate about their subjects of study, as well and helped us broaden our horizons. We were able to attend webinars, debates, and similar events that allowed us to go beyond the theoretical and apply our studies to real-life situations. One example of this was when Professor Jason Hart invited us to a webinar in which he spoke about the situation in Gaza with Save the Children.

Discovering the city of Bath

I loved studying in Bath so much! I love that the city has its own history, with its beautiful Roman baths and its marvellous architecture. There is great scenery, and I loved taking pictures of all the old houses. The Royal Crescent, Sham Castle… it is absolutely magnificent.

Bath truly feels like a ‘university city’ - it is very tailored to students. Everyone is friendly to both home and international students. In the past, I’ve travelled where people are not very accustomed to seeing a foreigner, but Bath was very welcoming. The food and culture are very diverse. I eat halal food, and there were halal options everywhere. At the university, there is an Islamic Society, and an Arab Society as well. I am also interested in Japan, so I was able to join the Anime society, too. I just loved living in such a splendid city.

My advice for studying at Bath

If I were asked to give any advice to someone interested in MSc International Development, I would say: do as much of the reading on the course materials as you can because they are very interesting. Before we began, the tutors provided us with lots of information: documents, documentaries and podcasts. So, throw yourself into it!

The second thing I would say is that this is not an easy field to choose. There are many things currently happening in the areas of conflict and humanitarian action, and you need to be passionate about these topics. It’s a great choice if you want to make a positive change in the world and recognise that the field is always changing, and that you are adapting to these changes.

And finally, make sure that it aligns with your career aspirations, too. If you do international development, you’re probably not going to work in the private sector, but with governments or humanitarian organisations, and working to make the world a better place.

More student stories

Read more about the experiences of our students on this course.