I chose the MA in International Security at Loughborough because I wanted to complement my extensive professional experience in governance, anti-corruption and financial intelligence with a stronger academic understanding of contemporary security challenges.
The modules offered a valuable balance of theory and practical application, with opportunities to engage with practitioners and examine issues such as global politics, the Global South, conflict, and emerging security threats.
As a Chevening Scholar, I was also looking for a course that would broaden my international perspective and allow me to connect my Pacific experience with wider global security debates.
Loughborough provided the right environment to challenge my thinking, build new expertise and apply it to the security and governance challenges I expect to address in my future career.
I particularly enjoyed the modules Security in Global Politics and Security in the Global South. I greatly appreciated the guest lectures and the opportunity to gain insights from experienced industry professionals. As a practitioner with experience in governance and security-related fields, I found the practical perspectives particularly valuable. The modules effectively connected academic concepts with real-world challenges and provided insights that were directly relevant to professional practice.
The Hacking 4 MOD (H4MOD) module had the most significant impact on my learning. What made this experience particularly valuable was its strong focus on applied, practice-oriented learning and direct engagement with industry and defence professionals.
The project involved working as part of a multidisciplinary team at Loughborough on a real-world challenge sponsored by NATO Allied Command Transformation, while also engaging in an international learning environment that included collaboration with a university in the United States. This provided an opportunity to apply concepts from my studies to a practical security challenge, while developing my skills in teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and communicating ideas to a professional audience.
The four-month engagement was particularly empowering because it moved learning beyond the classroom and provided first-hand exposure to how complex security challenges are approached by practitioners and institutions.
Overall, H4MOD was an important part of my academic and professional development because it allowed me to connect academic knowledge with practical problem-solving, collaborate across institutional and national boundaries, and gain a deeper appreciation of the value of interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary security challenges.
Since completing my MA, I have continued to build on my work in governance, anti-corruption and international security, while expanding my engagement with issues affecting the Global South and the Pacific. My studies have provided a valuable bridge between my professional experience and a deeper academic understanding of contemporary security challenges.
The course has strengthened my ability to critically analyse geopolitical developments, conflict, political violence, climate security and the changing international security environment. These skills have been particularly relevant to my ongoing work and engagement across the Pacific, where security challenges increasingly intersect with governance, climate change, development and regional geopolitics.
My studies have also strengthened my research, policy analysis and strategic communication skills, enabling me to approach complex issues from multiple perspectives and translate academic insights into practical policy discussions. Studying in the UK as a Chevening Scholar has further expanded my professional networks and provided opportunities to contribute to discussions on security, governance and climate security, particularly from a Pacific and Small Island Developing States perspective.
Loughborough's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, group work and engagement with practitioners has also enhanced my ability to collaborate, communicate ideas clearly and consider different perspectives. These skills are directly applicable to my work in governance, security, anti-corruption and policy, particularly when assessing emerging risks and translating complex issues into practical recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders.
What stood out most about my Loughborough experience was the strong sense of community and the opportunities to engage beyond the classroom. The International Students’ Network was particularly valuable, providing opportunities to meet students from different backgrounds and take part in trips and activities around the UK.
I also valued the university’s strong culture of volunteering and community engagement. Through LSU Action, I volunteered at the University Nursery and supported language learning at John Storer Community Centre, while my experience as a resident volunteer and ESOL Mentor with BACA Charity allowed me to contribute directly to the local community. These experiences allowed me to build meaningful relationships, develop new skills, and experience life in Loughborough beyond my academic studies.
Combined with the supportive teaching environment and the diversity of the student community, these opportunities made my time at Loughborough much more than a degree – it became a genuinely enriching personal, professional and cultural experience.