My name is Edward Dean, and I am a 19-year-old undergraduate in my first year of an international relations bachelor’s degree. Back in sixth form, when I was 17, I felt completely lost and aimless. I had no aspirations or goals to direct my energy toward, and I was convinced my A-levels would be useless....
Istanbul, filled with history, culture, and traditions, is a popular tourist destination that attracts many visitors each year. Its unique geographical location, straddling both Europe and Asia, offers plenty for tourists to explore. The city’s rich history, from the Ottoman Empire to the present day, has left a significant mark on its identity. For politics...
An academic trip to Istanbul provides a priceless chance to enhance my knowledge of Middle Eastern politics and development. With its distinct geographical and social location at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, Istanbul provides an ideal setting for the topics covered in this module. Through direct engagement with the region’s complexities and a...
The chance to take part in the Istanbul field trip would greatly improve my studies as a student of politics and international relations in several ways. As the largest city and cultural hub of Turkey, Istanbul provides a distinctive perspective for analysing the intricacies of Middle Eastern politics, development, and cultural dynamics. First, attending lectures at...
My passion for history and geography, which began during my school years, is what inspired me to pursue this course and module today. I have always been interested in case study topics and feel that this is what truly feeds my learning. From learning about the USA and Great Britain, Russia, China and India, I...
The field trip to Istanbul presents a unique opportunity to deepen my understanding of the Politics and Development in the Middle East module through immersive, firsthand learning. Istanbul’s historical role as a bridge between Europe and Asia and its complex layers of politics, religion, and commerce makes it an invaluable setting to explore regional dynamics...
A key interest of mine lies in exploring Turkey’s influence as a central actor in the Middle East and understanding the multi-faceted factors that encompass development in modern Turkey. Falling at a crossroads between East and West, this trip to Istanbul presents an enriching opportunity to enhance my knowledge of its development and apply what...
Exploring the Crossroads: An Immersive Journey into Istanbul’s Living History As a country at the crossroads of East and West, the upcoming field trip to Istanbul, Turkey, offers a unique opportunity to connect classroom theories with real-world experiences. With Istanbul as a living classroom, the trip will not only be an immersive experience that is...
Growing up in France, my understanding of the Middle East was primarily shaped by a limited educational perspective, focusing almost exclusively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a geopolitical angle. This focus left much of the region’s complexity and cultural diversity unexplored. Since coming to university, however, I have gained a broader, more nuanced understanding. The...
Over the past few weeks, sessions 2, 3, and 4 provided invaluable insights that have enhanced my understanding of democratic engagement within an international context. Although the topics covered were predominantly scientific, they hold relevance for my course in International Relations, particularly in developing a broader, culturally inclusive perspective. In Week 2, the discussion on...
The “Democratic Engagement in an International Context” course has provided valuable insights through its first three weeks of workshops, each focusing on distinct but interconnected themes. In Week 2, Dr. Kalpana Surendranath introduced the concept of CRISPR technology; in Week 3, Dr. Andy Pitchford examined the “McDonaldization” of education; and in Week 4, Dr. Pooja...
In Week 2, we examined the ethics of CRISPR technology and how to engage various communities in discussions about it, which is particularly relevant to my course, English Language and Global Communications. Ethics plays a crucial role in global communication, as we are learning to build trust and foster effective interactions between communities worldwide. During...