Mountains and meetings: my semester in Chile

For my Managing Projects for Sustainable Development semester, I went to Concepción, Chile. Here my team worked with two professors from the University of San Sebastián and the municipality of Talcahuano. Our project focused on a cluster of female artisans who worked with recycled materials. We supported them in consolidating their newly formed cluster and facilitated workshops on topics such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

What made the project especially meaningful was the connection we built with the women. They were incredibly welcoming and treated us like family from the very beginning. It was a very special experience to see how our work could contribute to something that genuinely mattered to them.

More than just a project

MPSD was not just about the project itself. We also had the opportunity to experience Chilean life and explore the country’s incredible nature. Our clients were very supportive and happy to show us around, encouraging us to make the most of our time there. We travelled during weekends and were able to explore places like the Atacama Desert (one of the best trips I have ever done!).

One of my favourite experiences was attending the Vinculación con el Medio conference in Patagonia, organised by the University of San Sebastián. It was inspiring to meet professionals, learn more about sustainability and community work in Chile, and experience a completely different academic environment.

Alongside all these new experiences, everyday life in Concepción felt surprisingly familiar in a good way. In my free time, I explored the city’s cafés, went to the cinema, beach or gym, and, of course, shared plenty of empanadas with my team.

Learning to see things differently

One of the biggest learning experiences was navigating cultural differences. Coming from Northern Europe, I was used to a very direct and fast-paced way of working. Learning to be patient and adapt to different approaches taught me a lot about stakeholder management, communication, and working across cultures.

I also learned that living abroad can be just as valuable as the project itself. I improved my Spanish, became more independent, and gained confidence in unfamiliar situations. Having a supportive team around me made it much easier to step outside my comfort zone and fully enjoy the experience.

Looking back, MPSD gave me much more than project-management experience. It taught me to be curious, adaptable, and open-minded. My advice to future students is to embrace the experience fully: be open to different ways of working, stay curious, and explore as much as you can. The project is important, but so is everything you learn along the way.“