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Career Paths in Global Development (International Cooperation)

Multinational and Transnational Corporations and Organizations, Global Economic and Finance Management, Global Maritime and Aviation Transportation, Migration, Development Cooperation

There are several megatrends that characterize the development of the modern labor market: increased flexibility, diversification, digitalization, academization, and globalization. The latter is clearly the domain of people from the geographical sciences. Only those who have a good understanding and a nuanced perspective of the globe can think globally and act locally. Even so-called inter-national cooperation is not as inter-governmental as one might think.

When deserts shift, governments are helpless to stop them, nations are threatened with collapse, and some population groups are more at risk than their neighbors due to their production and lifestyle revolving around a specific landscape. However, people studying geography are not limited to the field of “humanitarian aid,” but can get involved wherever the conditions of a given place influence or even determine human behavior. Field trips (including to the Volcanic Eifel) are helpful, and experience abroad (including volunteer work) is necessary, but the decisive factor is a thematic focus on global/international affairs.

  • Possible Tasks

    • Multinational and transnational corporations and organizations:
      • They represent forces of globalization and can influence the global economy and political and social developments.
      • They can enforce geographical or other specific interests (e.g. environmental protection) in their respective sector.
      • They offer the opportunity to address global problems and find solutions.
      • These corporations have subsidiaries in various countries, thus making it easier to address local issues with local solutions.
      • They offer greater financial opportunities.
    • Global Economic and Finance Management:
      • Economic development: in the public sector, for a city or municipal government.
      • As a financial management executive for businesses, banks, or consulting firms, you have the opportunity to pursue your professional interests.
    • Global Maritime and Aviation Transportation:
      • Around 90% of global trade occurs via maritime transportation, which places a heavy burden on the maritime environment. Despite existing limitations due to environmental protection measures, you have the opportunity to make global shipping more sustainable and future-oriented.
      • Aviation is the most emission-intensive form of transportation. Your job could involve investigating alternative modes of transportation and making them a more attractive option, especially for passenger transportation. However, you could also be involved in making global trade logistics more sustainable.
      • Tourism: As mentioned above, you can also address sustainable travel and tourism in this field.
    • Migration:
      • You deal with topics such as immigration management and control, migration, and the monitoring of asylum law in countries around the world.
      • You support experts from developing countries in returning to their home country.
      • You are specifically involved in the transfer of knowledge from academia into society and vice versa.
    • Development Cooperation:
      • As a specialist: In developing countries or crisis regions, you work in expert planning and develop action plans for, e.g., an improved water supply, organic farming, or sustainable pasture management.
      • You document and analyze region-specific structures and their development.
      • You record and catalog spatial changes.
      • You evaluate development policies.
      • You work in the field of risk research, e.g. in the area of natural disasters.
      • In advising, you develop recommendations for action for spatial development, for example.
      • You advise on the founding of small businesses and share knowledge about the extraction and processing of local natural resources.

  • Industries and Occupations

    • Multinational and transnational corporations and organizations
    • Non-governmental organizations
    • International volunteering organizations
    • Public sector administration
    • Religious communities
    • International credit and reconstruction institutions
    • International organizations
    • Umweltbundesamt (Federal Agency of the Environment)

  • Job Boards and Professional Associations

At a glance