An Enriching Practicum Experience

Lopo de Castro Neto
Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) '21
 
Prior to attending SAIS, Lopo was working as a research analyst at the International Monetary Fund. When he decided to take the next step in his career by applying to graduate school, he was drawn to SAIS for its unparalleled reach in Washington DC’s policy-making circles and its rigorous focus on economics and finance.
 
After enrolling at SAIS, Lopo began his first year of study at SAIS Europe in Bologna Italy, which he describes as a well-oiled machine, given his seamless transition to Bologna thanks to the school’s staff, who were very helpful when it came to such things as assisting students with living accommodations. Additionally, Lopo became particularly fond of Giulio's café, located on the school’s campus, which made him feel like a regular customer from day one.
 
During his graduate studies, one of Lopo’s top experiences was having the opportunity to participate in a practicum project though his area of focus on energy and environment. This entailed working with a team of students to create case studies and a quantitative model of climate change litigation globally. In addition, Lopo co-authored a case study on Public-Private Partnership governance in Portugal during the global financial crisis (publication pending). It was a fantastic experience that only SAIS could have offered.
 
After graduating from SAIS, Lopo will apply the economics and finance skills he has gained to shrink the global infrastructure gap. Infrastructure is vital for international development and SAIS has prepared him well to work in that field.

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