How DEN gave one early alumnus the real-world experience that landed him a tech career
Mohammed Khaled, University of Westminster (2017–2020); now working in the technology sector, United Kingdom
Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network.
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How did you first come into contact with DEN?
Through Farhang, at university.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
I took part in the DEN Event in 2019, and I wrote for the journal.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
Meeting new people at university and working with them to put events and projects together. That collaborative process is what has stayed with me.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
Writing for the journal. It is a great accolade to have, and it gave me something concrete to point to from my time at university.
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
It taught me how to think critically, and how to apply that thinking in my working life. It also gave me real experience of working in a team and collaborating with others.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
Yes. DEN helped me land my first role at a technology company.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
Friendship, and support in navigating life.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
They should definitely join. DEN will connect them with people from different parts of the university, and let them learn new skills from each other. It will also broaden your mind by encouraging you to try new experiences through the trips you go on and the work you do.
What you do in DEN gives you real-world experience, and that matters. A degree on its own is not enough in the world today.
What would you say to a colleague at another university?
It is the best community in the university. You actually work productively together, and you have something to show for it at the end.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
I would love to see DEN collaborate more with the university’s careers department. Show students what they could do after university, what skills will help them in their career, and how to find their interests.