MEPS Annual Ceremony 2016
Report: MEPS Annual Ceremony 2016
October 14, 2016
MEPS Annual Ceremony 2016 – Meet and greet in the new rooms, Campus Unteres Schloss, University of Siegen
To welcome the new students of the Master in Economic Policy Siegen (MEPS), current students, alumni and professors of economics met together on the 14th of October. For the second time since 2015 the MEPS Annual Ceremony has been celebrated. More than 50 participants joined the evening, following presentations of alumni students and a special guest lecture about Free Trade Agreements. Moreover, new students had the opportunity to meet and talk with the alumni and professors about studding and working experiences.
The guests have been welcomed by Professor Koch, the director of the MEPS program. Afterwards, the two alumni of the MEPS program, Gülsera Tamugur and Simon Huckestein, took the floor and provided the audience with insights into their first working experience after university. Both alumni have a position as data analysts in different branches. Gülsera works in a regionally located data processing firm and Simon works in the department “Public Sector and Country Risk” of a large financial institution. Those different workplaces symbolize the variety of job opportunities after graduating the MEPS program.
This year the ceremonial lecture issued the topic “Free Trade under Fire: The Political Economy of New Trade Agreements” and has been hold by Prof. Hefeker, the director of the Research Centre (FoKoS) at the University of Siegen. One important message provided was that contrary to many opponents opinion, especially the lower and medium income classes of the European population benefit from free trade in globalization through cheaper prizes and a higher availability of diverse goods and services. Moreover and interestingly, tariffs are rather of minor importance in free trade agreements nowadays. It is more about setting up common standards and rules in sectors such as commerce, law, food and health care.
To complete the evening program, the board of the Economic Alumni Association Siegen (EAAS) e.V. introduced themselves to the audience. A short report concerning the current developments of the association and the future plans followed. With this the official evening program came to an end and the audience enjoyed the atmosphere of good talks and drinks.
