
<h3><b>What attracted you to study abroad?&nbsp;</b></h3>
<p class="p1">I wanted to have experience studying in Europe.</p>
<h3><b>Why did you decide to attend the VU University Amsterdam Summer School?&nbsp;</b></h3>
<p class="p1">I was told that Amsterdam was a beautiful and friendly city and that the previous year&rsquo;s students loved the program.</p>
<h3><b>What surprised you most about Amsterdam?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">I knew very little about Amsterdam before I decided to study there. What surprised me the most was how shockingly diverse Amsterdam is. I met people from all around the world and learned so much about the Netherlands history and colonial past.</p>
<h3><b>What made your program experience unique?&nbsp;</b></h3>
<p class="p1">The Amsterdam Summer School has some of the best staff and VU has some of the best professors.</p>
<h3><b>How did local staff support you throughout your program?&nbsp;</b></h3>
<p class="p1">The staff accompanied us on excursions and were always on call if we needed something.</p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 50%;"><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-pena-1441357134.gif" alt="







Self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam"><div class="caption"><p>Van Gogh Museum</p></div></div>
<h3><b>What is one thing you wish you would have known before studying abroad in Amsterdam?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Summers can get pretty cold. I really wish I would have brought jeans and a jacket.</p>
<h3><b>How difficult was it to communicate with locals?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Almost everyone speaks English perfectly in Amsterdam. The people are also very friendly and open. It&rsquo;s really easy to make friends and build relationships.</p>
<h3><b>What did a typical day look like for you as an international student in Amsterdam?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">We had classes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then afterwards I would visit a museum or spend time with friends.</p>
<h3><b>What was your favorite part about Amsterdam?&nbsp;</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Amsterdam is full of history and has beautiful canals throughout the city.</p>
<h3><b>What did you enjoy doing on your free time most?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">I went to a lot of the museums, and some days I would just walk around the city center.</p>
<h3><b>What type of accommodation did you have?</b></h3>
<p class="p3"><span class="Apple-tab-span">	</span></p>
<p class="p1">The Student Hotel. It was amazing; it&rsquo;s like a dorm, but better. You have a kitchen, private bathroom, and even a TV. The beds are also very comfortable.</p>
<h3><b>Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Amsterdam?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Again, I recommend bringing warmer clothing. Bring jeans and a jacket. Possibly a raincoat.</p>
<h3><b>Would you recommend VU University Amsterdam to other students?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Yes! The staff at the Amsterdam Summer School were amazing. They were always there to help us if we had any issues and they organized so many fun events and activities. Also, the professors at VU are caring and friendly, and I felt put our best interests at heart. I am truly grateful for my experience.</p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-pena-1441357159.gif" alt="







Inside the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam, The Netherlands"><div class="caption"><p>Rembrandt House</p></div></div>
<h3><b>What was the hardest part about studying abroad?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">The hardest part about studying abroad is having to start over a build a new social group. I went to Amsterdam by myself and didn't know any of the other students from my university who joined me. However, I was able to meet so many amazing people and developed friendships that I know will last a lifetime.</p>
<h3><b>What do you feel the biggest benefit of studying abroad is?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Studying abroad teaches you even more about yourself than it does about the country you&rsquo;re traveling to. I became a stronger and more independent person through my experience with study abroad. I also met so many people from around the world and its given me a new perspective.</p>
<h3><b>Now that you're home, how has studying abroad impacted your life?&nbsp;</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Now that I'm home, all I want to do is go back to Amsterdam. This program reminded me about how important it is to enjoy life and see the world. I know now more than ever that working in international education is what I want to do.</p>
<h3><b>If you could study abroad again, where would you go?</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Honestly, my dream is to study or work in Amsterdam again! However, I still want to travel all across the world. There were many places in Europe I didn't get to visit, such as Italy, but I would also love to visit places such as India, Morocco, or South Africa.</p>


Jessica Pena

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Jessica Pena who participated in VU Amsterdam Summer School program.

Jessica Pena | VU Amsterdam Summer School Alumni Interview

Jessica Pena - 2015 Program Participant

War crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide harm people, disrupt societies, and endanger global peace and security. In the recent decade, the international community has expressed its clear desire to end such atrocities and to prosecute those responsible. But designing effective “real-world” response strategies and understanding the underlying human behavior remain extremely challenging. Only a multidisciplinary approach has any hope of success.

This course is the first of its kind to take up that gauntlet. It introduces students to the basics of international criminal law, critically assesses modes of investigation, reflects on why perpetrators commit atrocities, and discusses the value of alternative responses like truth commissions and amnesties. Together with a group of expert lawyers and criminologists, students explore what “doing justice” means in practice and identify and discuss the most pressing challenges. Naturally, in so doing, students make the most of the location just 30 minutes away from the legal capital of the world, The Hague. Over the last few years, the course included guest lectures by different distinguished speakers working at the ICC.

International Criminal Justice

VU Amsterdam Summer School

Sales Wolves

VU Amsterdam Summer School is part of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, an internationally renowned research university founded in 1880. The Summer School was founded in 2012 and experiences rapid growth in student numbers, both Dutch and internationally. It offers small-scale interactive courses that are designed to provide an in-depth and intensive look at your topic of study. You will engage in discussions with a unique group of peers, from all parts of the world.

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a historic city with a creative and modern feel. A true metropolis bustling with student life. Amsterdam welcomes you to experience its warm atmosphere and open society. The city has more than 188 unique nationalities, making it one of the most international cities in the world....

VU Amsterdam Summer School is part of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, an internationally renowned research university founded in 1880. The Summer School was founded in 2012 and experiences rapid growth in student numbers, both Dutch and internationally. It offers small-scale interactive courses that are designed to provide an in-depth and intensive look at your topic of study. You will engage in discussions with a unique group of peers, from all parts of the world.

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a historic city with a creative and modern feel. A true metropolis bustling with student life. Amsterdam welcomes you to experience its warm atmosphere and open society. The city has more than 188 unique nationalities, making it one of the most international cities in the world. It is considered a safe and friendly city in a country where English is widely spoken. 

All courses include built-in excursions to museums and institutes such as the Anne Frank House and the International Criminal Court. Personal guidance by your instructors, all excellent professors at VU Amsterdam, and a stimulating cultural environment provide a meaningful and lasting experience. A social programme is available if you wish to explore more outside of the course.

VU Amsterdam Summer School is part of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, an internationally renowned research university founded in 1880. The Summer School was founded in 2012 and experiences rapid growth in student numbers, both Dutch and internationally. It offers small-scale interactive courses that are designed to provide an in-depth and intensive look at your topic of study. You will engage in...

Policing and security have become key priorities in regional, national and international politics and policy-making. At the same time, they are issues at the centre of polarizing political and public debate on the protection of justice, citizenship and human rights. 

Course discussion questions include: How far can we take civilian surveillance in the fight against terrorism? How can we regulate illicit trade, in arms for example? Or could and should we ban the arms trade altogether? How can we hold the perpetrators of crimes accountable? And of course, just as important is the age-old and crucial question of “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” or “Who watches the watchmen?”

Transnational Policing, Security and Justice

I enjoyed my time here!

Fantastic

Great experience!

Netherlands

Study Abroad

I had a great time at VU summer school, the social activities were really good and the course was interesting and interactive. I met lots of amazing people here and would highly recommend it! The summer course has made me want to study further or work in Amsterdam so I will definitely be back!

I highly recommend coming along and doing a summer course with VU Amsterdam. Especially this course. The lectures were brilliant and the highlight was hearing stories from all around the world. We had enough time after lectures to go and explore the city as well as on weekends. The work level was appropriate and the group excursions were brilliant.

The two week's study is nice!Teachers and lecturers are good and the classmates are friendly!The summer school provided a lot of social activities and ice broken games. The Netherlands is a beautiful city.

Amazing summer with VU

My time at the VU was fantastic! The summer school staff were so helpful and I loved getting the opportunity to meet students from all over the world. The course I took, Nature V Nurture, was quite interesting and the professors were super informative to listen to and great with finding ways to make the lessons better understandable in such a short period of time (2 weeks).

I had an interesting time

I had gotten lucky to live in Skotel, where I got both wifi , air conditioning and a private bathroom. Others only got wifi or nothing, which was not in the description. The course itself was amazing. The professor not only clear explained the material but constantly gave a wide range of examples on how to apply OBM in practical ways. The course was made of about a week of lectures, an exam of 40 questions and two presentations. The environment created by the professor was welcoming which made presenting a lot easier.

A wonderful introduction to VU!

I took this course the summer before my senior year (psychology and studio art major) and it was a great introduction to both the work of business psychology and VU's campus. I have a personal interest in pursuing a masters at VU and this summer experience really solidified my plan and I now feel confident in continuing my education here. The guest lecturer, Robert den Broeder, was extremely knowledgable and engaging on the topic of OBM.  The workload is demanding but still very manageable. Overall I had an extremely positive experience and wish I could stay for another session! I would recommend this summer school to anyone.

Summer school at VU

It was an excellent program, quite well organized. People were very warm and welcoming. The city is beautiful and very systematic. You can easily learn the ways around here.There are so many things to do here and the city that time passes very fast, hope the program could have been longer.

It was awesome!

Overall it was a very pleasant experience. The lectures were very informative and the teaching staff is very approachable. Another advantage is the VU campus situated at the South of Amsterdam, which is easily accessible by public transportation.

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I enjoyed my time here!

Fantastic

Great experience!

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