ExpREES student story: For Sara Harju, ExpREES became the avenue to specialize in the Balkans and Eastern Europe

I am finalizing my Master's degree in area and cultural studies at the University of Helsinki, specializing in European cultural studies. I have previously studied journalism and media studies. After working as a journalist for a while, I decided to pursue another master’s degree, as I had long been interested in the political history and cultures of Eastern Europe.

I applied to ExpREES because I wanted to focus in my studies on the Balkans and Eastern Europe. For example, there is very little coverage of the former Yugoslavia in Finnish media, and our understanding and perspective is often limited to the violent history of the 1990s. During my first year of master's studies in area studies, I went on an exchange to Belgrade, and after that, applying to the ExpREES programme was the easiest choice to make.

Thanks to ExpREES, I have been able to focus on the region that interests me the most, and I have completed a lot of my courses through ExpREES. I have learned a lot about political phenomena and contemporary history in Eastern Central Europe and Russia. I have also had the opportunity to participate in interesting events and enjoyed the encouraging academic atmosphere in the programme.

Additionally, through ExpREES, I have made wonderful friends with whom I share an interest in the same regions and issues, and with whom I can plan and brainstorm all kinds of great stuff! I believe these friendships and connections continue flourishing even after my graduation. I have also had the chance to go on an excursion to Central Asia and have conducted thesis interviews in Serbia and Kosovo. I often find myself thinking that teenage me couldn't even dream of something like this.

My master’s thesis focuses on cross-border feminist activism between Serbia and Kosovo. Civil society organizations maintain and build connections, even though the state-level relations between the two countries are tense and the political atmosphere is dominated by nationalism. In my thesis, I am exploring what the key themes are in cross-border cooperation right now, and what kind of an impact activists feel their work is making.

I have been participating in the ExpREES seminars, and this spring, I will complete the seminar and my thesis. It was great that I received immediate feedback from a Serbian scholar who specializes in similar topics I'm concentrating on. The seminar sessions have been rewarding, and it has been interesting to comment on the topics of others. The groups are small enough, so the vibe is relaxed and discussions thorough. The seminar is bot in-person and online, though the live meetings also have the bonus of coffee!

Given the current employment situation, it’s difficult to make specific plans, and on the other hand, my educational background offers opportunities in many areas. After graduation, I will continue doing journalism to some extent, focusing on culture and social issues. I am also interested in various expert roles, and thanks to ExpREES, postgraduate studies are starting to appeal to me. I want to believe that there is a need and demand for expertise on the Balkans. I also want to maintain my Serbian language skills and be present in various communities that are important to me, whether they relate to work or other matters.

If you're interested in expanding your knowledge of societies in Eastern Central Europe, the Balkans, Russia, or Central Asia, you should definitely apply! The region is endlessly fascinating and highly relevant in many ways. Expertise related to the region is truly needed now and in the future. The course selection has often been so good that I’ve had to resist browsing it as I near graduation. What’s unique about ExpREES is that we have people from a variety of educational backgrounds and from different cities. I warmly encourage everyone interested to apply!