by Alisa Hajdarpašić, M.A., a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne (Literary Studies)
The enrolment in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme followed after I completed my bachelor's studies at the Faculty of Philology in Montenegro. I was the Erasmus Mundus scholarship holder for the GLITEMA (German Literature in the European Middle Ages) master's course, held by universities in Palermo, Bremen, and Porto. The concept of the programme offered a rare opportunity to analyse literature as well as cultural phenomena from within their wider European context. In an encouraging atmosphere, I had the valuable possibility to work on various research topics and reflect on the implications of different methodological approaches.
I was able to rely and build on the gained knowledge not only while writing my master's thesis but also later, as I took the first steps to outline my PhD project on the prose novel of the Early Modern Period. A significant additional asset was that the language skills acquired while studying at different places made it possible to consider a broader range of information sources while doing research.
Currently, I am working on my PhD project at the a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne, in a research programme funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. From the present point of view, I can truly say that the most precious outcome of my master's studies is that I can still rely on support and advice from scholars and professionals I got in touch with during my participation in the programme. Following this valuable experience, today I’m happy to be involved in the Erasmus Mundus Association as a member of the Research and Innovation Unit.
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