When Abhinav Banerjee applied to MU he had already been offered at place at the prestigious University of London. But then he met his girlfriend. “She’s from Slovakia. And I wanted to be nearby”.
However, his decision was not just based on his feelings. “I did a little research, and Brno ended up providing me with everything London has to offer. It's safe, and you can get by in English. Moreover, studying in the Czech Republic is more affordable.”
When he found Masaryk University was ranked among the top 500 in the world, his choice was clear. “Nowadays I can say that I’ve never regretted my choice. Brno has shaped me not only academically and professionally, but also personally. And for that, I will be forever grateful.”
Brno was a case of love at second sight
When he first arrived in January 2021 at the railway station in Brno, he didn’t feel overly enthusiastic. “It was cold, and no-one was around. First impressions? Nothing special to be honest.”
At the time, strict COVID precautions were in place. Gradually, however, he fell in love with life in Brno, thanks mainly to the people. “I never felt alone. Classmates from abroad and local students were incredibly friendly. The locals are wonderful people. Thanks to them I never really felt homesick.”
That is why newcomers are advised to build a network of friends as soon as possible through the ESN, the Buddy Programme or Student Ambassadors, which Abhinav himself was for a time. “Ambassadors themselves went through that phase when they were newcomers, so they know what you need.”
He overcame the difficulties of studying thanks to support from the faculty
Initially, studying international relations and European politics at the Faculty of Social Studies was a great challenge for him. He had to adjust to a higher level of study and formal requirements than he was used to. “In secondary school we never had to provide citations, so I had no idea how to do that”.
However, in his account, he repeatedly highlights the support he received during his studies. “The help of the faculty was definitely the best I could have asked for. Teachers don't penalise you for being from a different culture or for not being able to do something. Instead, they encourage you to learn and improve.”
Not only thanks to the background and opportunities offered by the university, he also gained work as a media researcher at an American agency. “They took me on the team because they already had MU graduates working there, and so they knew I'd be good, too. It was a wonderful experience, even though it was difficult to combine work and study”.
From theory to practice
Abhinav is responsible for the MUNI Model United Nations project. It's a three-day conference that simulates a UN meeting. Students act as diplomats, debating and passing resolutions on current global issues, from humanitarian crises to nuclear proliferation to economic problems. “We found out there was nothing like that in Brno, so we started it. The FSS supported us financially and organisationally, even putting their reputation behind the project. That meant a lot to us. It’s a great project. We could put into practice what we've learned in theory. And you also learn organisational skills like managing people, finding sponsors and communicating with the media.”
He also sees the project's value in bringing together Czech and foreign students. The first round in Brno had 40 participants, but this year more than 250 came from all over Europe. Among them were ambassadors, NATO advisers and actual United Nations diplomats. “It’s great to see how this idea has become the biggest UN simulation in the Czech Republic,” adds Abhinav with pride.
What next?
Abhinav’s studies at Masaryk University are slowly coming to an end, and so he is starting to sum up: “It was wonderful. The university is a very supportive environment. I've really enjoyed studying there and I've grown a lot as a person. That's why I don't regret not going to London, even though my life could have been completely different.”
He doesn’t plan on staying in Brno, but he’s not going to leave the Czech Republic. “Put simply, I’ve fallen in love with this country and would like to stay here.”
After graduation, Abhinav plans to move to Prague, where he wants to pursue a career in the economic analysis of sanctions and banking.