Inès Decoster
Social Anthropology BSc (2018) and Humanitarian Aid and Conflict Response MA
Inès is a Communications Manager for NooS Global. She talks about what she does now and how she got there.
My current role and how I got there
After my bachelor’s in Social Anthropology, I undertook a master’s in Humanitarian Aid & Conflict Response and had several experiences in the humanitarian sector supporting refugee people across Europe. In the last few years, my career took a bit of a surprising turn as I took on a Communications Manager position at NooS Global (a start-up).
NooS Global is a tool that helps companies involve their employees in their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). Through our platform, employees can not only support NGOs, but also participate in awareness campaigns on key environmental and societal topics such as sustainable mobility or diversity and inclusion. My role is to produce this awareness content as well as manage our external visibility strategy - always in the aim of making environmental and social action more at hand than ever.
I didn’t always know what career I wanted to be in, and I don’t think I will ever have a straight definition of what my career is. But that is one of the things I love most about my studies; the freedom it gives me to try different personal experiences.
The research, writing and critical thinking skills I have acquired during my studies are particularly helpful in my current position as communications manager.
My experience at Manchester
When I read the Social Anthropology course’s description on the University’s website, I knew that it was what I had been looking for. I wanted to embark on an educational journey that would challenge my views of the world and let me explore different ways of living life across the world every day. As a foreigner, I also heard that Manchester was a welcoming and dynamic city - which turned out to be true!
The most surprising takeaway from my course was that above all, I have developed a way of seeing and doing things that now shapes everything I do. The research and critical skills I have acquired encourage me “to render the unfamiliar familiar and the familiar unfamiliar” - and to cultivate my curiosity and empathy.
My advice for future students
This course can open a lot of different doors: trust the journey, more than the destination! The teaching and modules provide a unique and fascinating learning experience that will broaden your view and experience of the world.