When I signed up for the CIVICA Honours Seminar on “Green Industrial Policy in a Global Perspective” at Bocconi University in Milan, I didn’t really know what to expect. My background in sustainability has always been hands-on and field-based, but policy was a completely different world to me, one I’d never really studied academically. However, I applied because I was curious and wanted to understand how environmental transitions work at a larger scale, beyond just local projects.
What surprised me most was just how fascinating and complex green industrial policy actually is. I had never taken a policy class before, so everything from the vocabulary to the conceptual frameworks was entirely new territory. I found myself doing a bit of extra research here and there, looking up concepts to better follow the discussions, but it was never overwhelming. That said, the seminar was remarkably accessible, even for someone like me coming in without a policy background. Our professor was incredibly talented at breaking down complex ideas and connecting them to real-world examples that made everything easier. I learned so much more than I expected, not just about green industrial policy itself, but about how to think critically about large-scale transitions. The key ingredient you need isn’t prior expertise; it’s curiosity and a willingness to engage with unfamiliar ideas.
One insight has stayed with me long after the seminar ended: the extraordinary challenge of aligning different stakeholders toward a common goal when each has competing needs, interests, and priorities. Green industrial transition isn’t just about technology or investment, it’s about coordination among groups who often want very different things. What fascinated me was seeing how policy instruments attempt to bridge these tensions, subsidies that make green technology profitable for industry, job retraining programs that address workers’ concerns, international agreements that balance cooperation with competition. But the tensions don’t disappear; they’re managed, negotiated, sometimes temporarily suppressed. It made me wonder: Is true alignment even possible, or is successful green transition more about managing productive conflict? This question has changed how I think about the environmental work I want to do going forward.
If I had to choose the absolute highlight of this seminar, it would be the people I met. The other students came from different universities across the CIVICA network, different countries, different academic disciplines, different life experiences, and every single one brought something valuable to our discussions. They were smart, engaged, and genuinely interested in learning from each other. What made the experience so enriching was the exchange of ideas and perspectives, both academically and personally. Beyond the classroom, the personal connections I made were really meaningful. We explored Milan together, shared meals, and talked about everything. These are memories I’ll carry with me for life, and friendships I genuinely hope to maintain as our careers develop.
So who would benefit most from this seminar? Honestly, I think anyone with curiosity about new subjects and an openness to meeting new people would thrive in this environment. You don’t need to be a field expert or have a specific academic background. What matters is your willingness to step outside your comfort zone and engage with challenging ideas.
If you’re hesitating, let me reassure you: the CIVICA team supports you incredibly well throughout the entire experience. Throughout the whole week, I felt safe and comfortable. The team is genuinely caring and attentive, both the CIVICA organizers and the host university. You can always ask for help, and someone will be there to provide it. Everything is well organized, from accommodation to meals to the academic program itself. There’s structure and support, which means you can focus on learning and connecting rather than worrying about logistics.
This seminar is an amazing opportunity, not just academically, but personally. It allowed me to grow intellectually, to challenge my assumptions, and to see my own interests in a broader context. It gave me lifelong memories and allowed me to discover a new city and culture. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, 200%. Whether you’re deeply familiar with the subject of the seminar or, like me, coming from a completely different angle, this experience will enrich you in ways you can’t anticipate. Sometimes the best growth happens when you say yes to something unfamiliar, and this seminar proved that to me.
By Marisa Hui
