Introduction
I am Josipa K., a 26-year-old PhD student. I come from Šibenikó, a small Croatian town on the Adriatic coast. I graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb in 2022 with my first Master's degree and from the Faculty of Law of the University of Miskolc in 2024 with my second Master's degree. Before applying for the programme, I worked as a legal trainee in a law firm in Zagreb.
How was the application process?
In March 2023 my supervisor contacted me and informed me about this programme. He provided me with all the necessary information and told me to decide if I want to apply. Since my days at the faculty I knew I wanted to deal with Family Law and to become a university professor, so I said yes without much thought. In a few weeks I collected all the necessary documents and sent it via email. Some of these documents I needed to translate, but it wasn’t a problem at all. In case we needed to provide more information, there was a possibility to contact some of the coordinators of the programme.
How did the move go?
To be honest, I thought it will be very difficult, since I had to do the moving by bus, but it wasn’t bad at all. My mother helped me with moving and my aunt helped me to find the apartment. Everything was solved in a few days, without any problem.
Where do you see yourself in a few years, and how does the CEA UM help you on that path?
I would like to teach family law at university. I believe that CEA UM has opened this door for me, and without this life-changing opportunity, I might not be able to achieve my dream. So it is no exaggeration to say that CEA UM has helped me greatly—not only in allowing me to develop in my field of interest, but also in enabling me to learn about family law solutions in other Central and Eastern European countries.
Was there anything you worried about before you came?
I was worrying about several things, for instance the fact that I will be living abroad and that I did not know Budapest at all and also the unfamiliarity of the Hungarian language. My biggest concern was that before this programme, I had never lived abroad. But everything turned out to be great and it took me a few weeks to get used to it.
What is everyday life like at the academy?
Days at the academy are never the same. There are some days when we have more commitments, such as exams, conferences, VIP lectures or supervisors’ lectures and there are some days when our schedule is more flexible. During those days we can be more dedicated to our research.
How much does the CEA UM support you professionally?
CEA UM provides us with materials relevant to our research and also organises conferences where we have the opportunity to connect with outstanding experts. In addition, it supports our participation in summer schools and international conferences.
How can you also do research?
In addition to using articles available online and published by CEA UM, I also visited the Library of the Hungarian Parliament. Moreover, during a study trip to The Hague, we had the opportunity to visit the Peace Palace Library, which was extremely useful for all of our research.
What other opportunities does CEA UM offer?
CEA UM also provides us with free language courses and covers all our expenses related to participation in summer schools and conferences relevant to our research topics.
What is it like to live in Budapest?
I really like Budapest itself and everyday life here. I first came here on the occasion of an open day and admission interview organised by CEA UM. To be honest, I was a bit afraid to come alone, as I was not familiar with either the city or the Hungarian language. In the end, everything turned out very well. I was proud of myself for having the courage to take this step, and I do not regret my decision at all. At the beginning, adapting to life here was a challenge. However, it was worth it, as Budapest has an incredibly rich history and fascinating architecture. Its cultural life is also vibrant, and its public transport system is excellent.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
I see myself dealing with Family Law in academia, but I’m still not sure where exactly.
Who would you recommend the CEA UM programme to?
I would recommend the CEA UM Junior Programme to young lawyers who wish to pursue a career in academia, are willing to take the risk of moving abroad, and are eager to learn new things about other countries, languages, cultures, and traditions.
Isn’t it a disadvantage that the Academy is so young?
Not at all. Although CEA UM is a relatively young institution, it is very well organised. In my opinion, the greatest challenge was the establishment of the Academy itself, as bringing together professors and students from Central Europe is a huge undertaking. However, since its founding, the institution has continuously developed and expanded over time.
What has been your best experience so far at the CEA UM?
The best experience so far was the study trip we had in the Hague. There we had an opportunity to visit the Peace Palace Library and the International Criminal Court. Besides that, we had the opportunity to present our Ph.D. topics in front of distinguished experts at the Hungarian Embassy.
What message do you have for future juniors?
Be courageous and don’t miss this lifetime opportunity!
Josipa (HR)
