European Diploma

“European diploma has immediate effect on me, when I enrolled it 2005. It was a direct insight into the vast knowledge of the most prominent European cultural educators. It was a direct contact with over 15 peers with whom I entered into dialogue and networking. It gave me insight of the cultural scenes in the country we visited. It stabilized me, it advanced my skills and it helped my orientation and confidence to carry international cultural cooperation projects. It was a turning point for my career in culture.”

Fate has it that my private and professional life in the arts are deeply intertwined. During my year with the Marcel Hicter diploma, I stepped into an unexpected and vibrant European network that expanded far beyond the classroom. Within months, I was inviting classmates to collaborate on projects spanning from Baguio City to Beijing, Helsinki to Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Manila, Tokyo, and Warsaw, thereby strengthening my vision as a curator to connect artists across disciplines and continents.

One of the most life-changing encounters was meeting fellow Hicterian Ruthe Zuntz — a friendship whose generosity and vision reshaped my path and eventually drew me from Singapore to Berlin for nearly a decade. Even now, the friendships forged in that intense, inspiring year hold a special magic, surprising me with their endurance and inspiring me to keep dreaming and creating, always reaching toward new possibilities.

I joined the European Diploma in Cultural Project Management at the very beginning of my career in international cultural cooperation. It was the perfect moment to enroll — the program provided me with the knowledge, methodologies, tools, references, and network I needed to embark on a professional journey in international cultural relations.

I remain deeply grateful to the pedagogical team who supported my research-action project on urban contemporary music in Morocco. Although conceived as an academic exercise, it helped promote a burgeoning scene that, back in 2004, was still emerging but has since gained global recognition as one of the most dynamic in North Africa and West Asia.

Building on that experience, I later developed and taught a J-Term course at NYU Abu Dhabi titled “Music and Society: Fostering Belonging and Becoming,” which explores the role of urban and contemporary music in fostering inclusion among youth in culturally diverse societies.

Ultimately, the research-action project I carried out for the Diploma marked the beginning of my career as a researcher and practitioner engaged with cultural and creative ecosystems.

Before I joined the European Diploma, I felt my professional growth had plateaued. The program was the catalyst I needed to reignite my passion for cultural management. Beyond the professional development, the program’s greatest strength is its ability to build an incredible community. The connections I made with fellow participants from across Europe have become invaluable professional collaborations and, more importantly, lifelong friendships.