I am Chunsheng Yao from Beijing, China. Before joining MESPOM in 2008, I obtained a bachelor's degree in Geography from Beijing Normal University and a master's degree in Cartology and GIS from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and worked in the field of education for sustainable development for about 4 years.

Recently I was asked to introduce MESPOM to my Chinese fellow in order to attract more outstanding students to apply. Considering the high quality and unique features of MESPOM, I responded agreeably and would like to share my ideas in four aspects.

As winter is approaching, MESPOM Class'10 is sharing their memories of the Ecosystems Management course at the University of the Aegean in June 2008.

Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) is going to organise its first thematic conference on higher education and climate change. This Erasmus Mundus Conference will bring together students, alumni and scholars to discuss what role higher education can play in front of the change climate today. It offers a communication and networking platform for the students and alumni and the EMMC faculty members to broaden their knowledge and insight on climate change issues beyond their own fields of study and to utilize different angles for meeting the challenges climate change poses to the human society.

I am Vaseem from India, a student of Class'10 (Cohort IV of MESPOM). Recently I was asked by Central European University (CEU) to write  for India Today (Aspire) magazine which is running a special feature on European Higher Education this month. Subsequently, I wrote why I chose CEU and MESPOM as the education destination after obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi and a Masters of Technology in Management and Systems from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD).

 The article about CEU is called "Study in the Heart of Europe, Earn a US Degree" stressing both the location and accreditation. It has two cheerful photos from the previous MESPOM Class.

I come from China and joined MESPOM in 2007 after graduating from Peking University. This summer (between attending the University of the Aegean and the University of Manchester) I was an intern of Ecologia, a US organization, involved in MESPOM's ENVERA partnership. My internship took place in Chinese province of Sichuan soon after it experienced the tragic 8.0 Ms earthquake. Extraordinary things happening there go beyond the recovery efforts. In particular the post-earthquake situation provided a stage for strengthening of Corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Since March I have been working as a junior policy adviser on genetic engineering at Greenpeace European Unit. The Unit is based in Brussels; it monitors and analyses the work of the EU institutions, exposing deficient EU policies and laws, and challenging decision-makers to implement progressive solutions. Greenpeace European Unit also plays a role in coordinating the Europe-based national and regional offices of Greenpeace. This way Greenpeace is able to influence decision-making processes at the levels where the decisions are being made: national ministries, national authorities, national parliament, European Commission, European Parliament etc.

I come from Kenya and studied at MESPOM in 2006-2008. Before joining MESPOM I worked in the Ministry of Environment of my country. My new job is very exciting and challenging I am the Environment Policy and Compliance Manager for the leading telecommunication company here in Kenya. This is a new position so I am the first environment manager and thus have to set up an environment management system, deal with all environmental complaints from the public, develop environment awareness materials for the consumers as well as the company employees. I have to coordinate both internal and external environment issues.

Prior to joininng MESPOM I had been studying and working in the biodiversity conservation field in South Africa. This was always where I wanted to end up again after finishing MESPOM. During MESPOM studies I tried to focus on topics that I felt would come in useful in this field. I was also lucky enough to focus my MESPOM thesis on the environmental policy relating to the traditional linefishery here in South Africa, which gave me valuable insights into how the small-scale fishing industry in my home country operates. I am glad to say that as a result of my disseration work I have recently been appointed as a capacity development and outreach officer for the Worldwide Fund for Nature's (WWF) sustainable fisheries program.