Patrick Griffiths works as a Communications Officer with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He moved to Canberra to study a Master of International Relations at The Australian National University (ANU) after completing an undergraduate double-degree in journalism and international studies.
Why did you choose to study a Master of International Relations at ANU?
Did your undergraduate study influence this choice?
I studied an undergraduate double-degree in journalism and international studies at the University of Technology, Sydney. The international studies aspect of the degree had always been the real attraction for me but I wanted to tie it to something more practical - so I chose journalism. I’m pretty glad I made this decision since the course was incredibly practical and embedded within the media industry. It led to opportunities to work with the ABC and News Corp Australia as well as community media outlets like 2SER. On the international studies side of things, I spent one year of in-country study at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China in 2015. Learning Mandarin coupled with widespread travels through China and northeast Asia made for one of the most memorable years of my life. My undergrad studies cemented my passion for journalism and kindled a strong interest in exploring further avenues regarding international relations. A Masters in International Relations at The Australian National University offered the natural next step for the welcome collision of journalism and international studies from my undergraduate years.
What are some of the skills that you’ve learnt in this program?
One of the great things about the Master of IR program is the ability to tailor it to your own specific interests. If diplomacy is your jam, there are electives to match. If global security is your cup of tea, same again. Whether by region, topic, perspective or method, there are courses available - some dipping into the shared brains trust of academics from different master’s programs. Two standout courses for me were International Relations Theory (IRT) and Making Foreign Policy (MFP). Seemingly at opposite ends of the spectrum between abstract and concrete, in combination they were actually great a complement to each other. When IRT seemed frustratingly far from reality, MFP was never too shy to examine the real consequences of decisions in the here and now. Likewise, when analysing the psychology of Donald Trump in micro seemed too short-sighted, IRT was always there with a handy theoretical framework. Overall, the Master of International Relations degree develops the ability to think critically, communicate complex ideas, and apply theory to practice – these are takeaways I’ve definitely come to appreciate.
How have the skills learnt in the program helped you in the work place?
Tell us about your experience studying at ANU and living in Canberra.
I love Canberra. Everything I need – uni, work, food, lake, mountain – is within a half hour’s cycling radius. However, a true highlight for me has been how friendly and approachable the people are. I’ve really appreciated how generous the academic and professional staff alike have been with their time, to share their research or take questions. That’s been a huge factor in the extent to which I’ve enjoyed this Masters program. While essential services are never far away in Canberra, it’s also pretty easy to escape the city and I’m a big fan of how green the ANU campus is – a river runs through it! It’s a pretty strong contrast to my undergraduate university, UTS, which was right in the middle of the CBD. I appreciate the difference.
For more information about the Master of International Relations visit its website here
Updated: 24 April, 2017/Responsible Officer: Dean, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific/Page Contact: CAP Web Team