Tom de Groot: ‘International Studies covered all the topics that interested me’
During his bachelor's programme in International Studies, Tom de Groot became fascinated by the theme of peace and security. Now he designs and moderates training courses to help professionals develop further in this field.
After secondary school, De Groot wasn't sure what he wanted to do. ‘Many of the programmes seemed very specific to me,’ he recalls. ‘I didn't want to focus on one specific subject just yet.’ The broad nature of International Studies offered a solution. 'It covered all kinds of topics that I found interesting: history, economics, languages, political science.'
Students from all over the world
He started his bachelor's degree programme in 2015. ‘I really enjoyed being in the lecture halls with people from all over the world and doing fun things together,’ he says. 'I was on the theatre committee and did all kinds of things besides my studies. I also lived in a student house, where I had a great time.'
During that first period, his studies were not always his top priority. That changed when he had to choose a regional specialisation in the second semester. 'There were many regions I found interesting, but I mainly read a lot of news about the United States. Their foreign policy naturally influences the whole world. If you understand their internal dynamics better, you also understand better why they act in a certain way abroad. He completed his undergraduate degree with a thesis on the US deployment of armed drones in the fight against terrorism.'
From internship to work
An internship at the Clingendael Institute during his Master's in International Relations: Global Order in Historical Perspective inspired him further. De Groot: I was hired to work on the editorial team of their magazine, Clingendael Spectator. That was great fun, because I realised what I could do with my studies in practice.'
De Groot decided that he wanted to continue working on themes such as peace and security, although climate change also appealed to him. However, with his graduation date falling in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, that was easier said than done. ‘Many organisations had a hiring freeze at the time,’ he says. ‘In the end, I started a traineeship at a consultancy firm. That's how I started doing assignments for various organisations in the energy transition. I really enjoyed that, although I had to get used to the transition from my studies to project-based work. During my studies I mainly focused on problem analyses. In my work I had to solve problems.’
Security issues
After four and a half years, he felt it was time for something different. 'I realised that my heart lies more with safety issues, so when a vacancy arose at the Centre for Professional Learning, I went for it. Now I organise courses for people working in the security domain – for example at ministries or the police – who want to acquire in-depth academic knowledge of their field. I put these programmes together and moderate them during implementation. The social skills I acquired during my studies come in handy, while I can also work on topics that I find interesting.'