Indre Valaitytee

Indre graduated from our MA International Relations in 2021, and has since worked as Assistant to the Lithuanian PSC Ambassador at the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU, before becoming a Diplomat with the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What have you been doing since graduating?

At first I thought I would I stay a little bit longer in Cambridge or maybe somewhere else in the UK, but I applied for the Assistant position in Brussels and I got it. So already, for my graduation ceremony, I flew back from Brussels to Cambridge – it happened very, very fast!

I worked for two and a half years in Brussels, assisting the Lithuanian Political and Security Committee (PSC) Ambassador as well as working with Coreper II and Antici files. They oversee main foreign policy files, co-ordinate and prepare the work for different Council configurations. Every member state is represented by a Permanent Representative – the country’s ambassador to the EU.

I started at the end of the 2021 and then, at the beginning of 2022, Russia’s agression against Ukraine started, so it was very full on. We worked seven days a week, completely non-stop. But it was very interesting because my dissertation was on how effective EU sanctions are in preventing human rights abuses, using cases from Russia and Belarus. So it was very, very relevant to me.

But after a little more than two years, I thought maybe I'm already repeating myself, I would like to do something more. So I decided to to become a diplomat. I passed the diplomatic exam and then, in July 2024, I became a diplomat. My file now is West Africa and the Sahel region. So something different - it's very interesting to learn about a new continent.

What is your day-to-day work as a diplomat like?

I read the news - what is happening on the continent - and I prepare the materials for meetings, for the same PSC Ambassador. Basically, I'm working from the other side now. I used to work in Brussels, but now I’m working from Lithuania.

I give them materials about the situation on the ground, what's going on, what is the national position on these issues. It’s very interesting, and more responsibility than when I was in Brussels. You have to be careful what you say and what you write, and you have to check a lot of sources. And I also have to think how I can describe the Lithuanian position towards things that are going on.

Where and what did you study before ARU?

Before my Master's I studied in my home country, Lithuania, at Vilnius University - one of the best in Eastern Europe and Central Europe. I did my bachelor degree here in Lithuanian Philology and Advertising - I didn’t want to study Lithuanian philology by itself because I wasn’t planning to be a writer or study a Master’s in Lithuanian literature. I thought marketing would be a nice add-on, and it was interesting to study different advertisements and learn things like why those colours are used, or why this writing style is chosen.

Then I went to Australia and lived there for five years, instead of one gap year. I continued to study marketing there for two years, but didn’t feel like I could do much in that field. I didn’t think I would be able to create interesting slogans or interesting advertisements, things like that.

What made you decide on International Relations?

Mainly the changing geopolitical situation in the world and what is behind why states act as they act. Why democratic values cannot prevail, while all those horrific events that humanity already lived through keep repeating again and again. I started raising such questions to myself, and I wanted to know the answers - at least something that would explain the behaviour of states and the ongoing situation.

The MA International Relations programme was the perfect chance to get deeper these questions I kept asking. Coming from Lithuania, we were part of the Soviet Union, and occupied for such a long time. It keeps hurting in us all the time. So you're always looking at why they keep doing these things again.

What made you decide on International Relations?

Mainly the changing geopolitical situation in the world and what is behind why states act as they act. Why democratic values cannot prevail, while all those horrific events that humanity already lived through keep repeating again and again. I started raising such questions to myself, and I wanted to know the answers - at least something that would explain the behaviour of states and the ongoing situation.

The MA International Relations programme was the perfect chance to get deeper these questions I kept asking. Coming from Lithuania, we were part of the Soviet Union, and occupied for such a long time. It keeps hurting in us all the time. So you're always looking at why they keep doing these things again.

What’s the most valuable thing you took away from the course?

Our group was very diverse. We had students from Italy, from Finland, from Azerbaijan, from Afghanistan, from Nigeria, and I think other African countries too. One of the students was even a former Vice President of Nigeria! It was an unbelievable experience, which probably I would not get in my home country if I studied international relations here, and very interesting to meet and discuss things with people from different parts of the world.

We could share different perspectives on how we see things, and this was very valuable for my knowledge. When you're debating with other students, you see that these issues are also very important in their countries and it changes your perspective on how you see things over there.

Another very important thing I must mention was the encouragement from our professor, Solava Ibrahim. She was one of the best things that could happen to me at this university. Her deep knowledge, expertise, and kind words of encouragement helped us to achieve such great results. I will be always grateful for her. She's a true inspiration.

Which aspects of the course most helped your career development, and why?

Probably the depth of the course. In such a short time, we did not have many subjects, but they were very deep and the teachers were experts in their subjects. For example, one of the optional modules was War, Peacekeeping and Intervention, and I also chose Terror as Crime - subjects that are particularly relevant in today's world and ongoing events.

What piece of advice would you give to other students in your field?

I was very lucky that I studied during COVID because I had all my time to read! So probably one piece of advice would be to read as much as you can. Follow the leaders of the world - not only the good ones, but also the bad ones.

Read about different ongoing conflicts that can boost your knowledge, and get different perspectives on the things you read. And also raise the questions that you will be looking to answer on your course. It’s very important to raise questions, I believe.

What was your favourite thing about studying in Cambridge, and what did you learn about it that you didn’t know before?

I think my favourite thing was the community, the student community, with so many young and very friendly people.

Also, Cambridge is like a piece of art. Wherever you go, it's historical buildings, little narrow streets and all those waterways. It was a very, very beautiful place to live and, at least for one year, to feel like a local.

I didn't know that Cambridge is like a little Venice, that you can go on the boats and row around. And there were so many little houseboats that you can live in! I didn't know about the Boat Race - the competition of rowing between the universities. And when I was studying, it took place on the river in Cambridge instead of the Thames because of COVID.

What projects are you currently working on, both at work and outside it?

We recently had an interview with the candidate for Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Mauritania, so my current project is to appoint him - basically strengthening the relations between two countries, helping us to get involved in economic relations, attracting business people and strengthening cultural relations and exchanges.

We do not have an embassy or any other diplomatic mission in Mauritania, so it will be a good opportunity to start engaging with them in that way. We will probably host him here in Lithuania first and then, you never know, maybe one day I will get to go out there myself.