Aida Turarbekova

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Since leaving Exeter, I worked in different ministries. Currently I am in the public sector working at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I chose to be a civil servant because through implementing state policies we have a chance to assist people and to make their life better. Working in the pubic sector I have got a valuable experience.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

Really enjoyed friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Exeter University where people, who work there or study, can assist in case you are in need. Here you may experience a sense of community and overwhelming support from academic staff and students. A number of facilities for students are provided that not only help them in studying, but also make this process enjoyable. Personally I would say that in my Department of Politics I was able to engage my interests in learning more about as well as expressing myself as an individual in the field of study I am fond of. None of it would have been possible without the help of our professors and staff who pushed all of the MPA students to achieve good results and helped us to find the resources we needed.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I had great motivations for choosing my postgraduate course. Firstly, I was interested in developing my knowledge in public administration and learn from the experience of other countries of how to streamline the process of delivering public services to the public. For me Exeter University provides this opportunity where the representatives of different countries can contribute their experience in the public sector and may benefit from lessons of other nations. Secondly, after graduation from this course I expected my new obtained knowledge will make a positive contribution to the development of my country.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

I think analytical skills have been the most useful for my career. For me strategic planning involves analyzing, finding problems and find the way how to tackle them.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

I would advice a current student be attentive and patient. The public service involves working with people, which means a civil servant needs to be responsible.