Lena Arenas

International Development and Social Policy MSc.

In the interview below, alumna Lina Arenas describes her experiences since graduating from the University of Manchester in 2014, as well as hints and tips for current and former students. Lina obtained a master’s in development and social policy, which has shaped her career in policy research and practice.

Hailing from Peru, Lina was motivated to undertake postgraduate study as a means to gain the knowledge and tools necessary to tackle poverty and inequality in her home country. As Lina explains, a number of GDI academics inspired and shaped her thinking surrounding social protection policies in Latin America, helping shape her diverse and successful career trajectory.

Lina has around a decade’s worth of experience working for the Peruvian government, including the Ministries for Education, Economics and Finance, and Women and Vulnerable Populations.

She is currently pursuing doctoral research in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh, mainly focusing on the role of knowledge in public policy, and in Latin American political economy.

We look forward to seeing where Lina’s career takes her next!

You can discover more about her academic projects and research interests on the University of Edinburgh website.