A recent Politics and International Relations graduate now working at Westminster on the coursework peer-review that sharpened her writing, the DEN Summer School, and the transferable skills that landed her an IOM internship
Charlene Okai, recent graduate in Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster; now working at the University of Westminster, based in London, United Kingdom
Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network.
* * *
How did you first come into contact with DEN?
My first contact with DEN was at an Open Day for prospective students in 2022, where I heard about the projects students were embarking on and the countries they were visiting. However, I did not actively begin participating until my second year at university, in 2024.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
The DEN module, Democratic Engagement in an International Context, in 2024. The DEN International Summer School in 2025. And a study visit from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2026.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
It was incredibly helpful to have the DEN students review my coursework during my studies. It gave me several perspectives on the topic being discussed, and it also gave me some guidance on the arguments that needed to be tightened and expanded.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
The community. Having people to talk to about academics, travel, professional life, everything under the sun, from the big important things to the really miscellaneous. It was very comforting to have those same students support you and cheer you on.
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
DEN has expanded my knowledge base, and given me key points to consider which I had not before. It has helped my interpersonal skills through interacting with others from different backgrounds, and it has made me more empathetic to those around me.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
DEN has really helped my professional development and given me a range of experiences I could draw from in interviews that landed me great roles. Managing conferences, planning events, and putting together itineraries were all transferable skills I learned from DEN that landed me an internship with the International Organisation for Migration. Teamwork, active listening and empathy were another set of transferable skills that helped me secure my new full-time role at the University of Westminster.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
The opportunities to meet people across the world at such a young age, and to explore parts of the world at such low cost.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
Get involved as much as you can. The more you put in, the more you get out of it.
What would you say to a colleague at another university?
DEN is a space where students come together, share ideas and insights, and, in doing so, shape the overall student experience of a university. If you have a chance, replicate DEN’s model within your university.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
Explore more partnerships with African and North American universities. These are the missing puzzles in DEN’s model. They would allow students to explore more cultures and gain a broader perspective on what the outside world has to offer.
Anything else you would like us to know?
Nothing else from me, just grateful to have been part of such a great community.
* * *
Photo caption: “Everything under the sun, from the big important things to the really miscellaneous.”
