The past 11 weeks have prepared us for two goals: cultivating international collaborations and expanding our knowledge globally. When I first joined the module, all I knew was that I would be travelling to a country, but two 15-hour plane journeys later, I understood the importance of cross-cultural learning and putting my knowledge into practice....
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” — Anonymous. I’d like to start my blog by citing a quote that expresses my feelings. Born and raised in Hanoi, a girl who has been living in Vietnam for 20 years, I’ve made a decision that broadens my perspective of the world – joining the...
I was excited to return to Istanbul to see a city I fell in love with 4 years ago. The city has a way of captivating the mind, and looking out across the Bosphorus Strait and seeing the many beautifully ornate Mosques against its skyline will always be a sight I cherish. I feel a...
External forces have significantly influenced the Middle East for over a century. It is a fact that efforts to unite the area under Pan-Arabism and Pan-Islamism have failed due to the inability to bring together the ruling elites. This has resulted in a significant impact on the region’s development. For over a century, external powers...
Interestingly, researchers have looked into the specific behaviours of individuals through a series of surveys to identify how different religious upbringings, habitual religious activity, and the dynamic of the surrounding community can influence an individual and society as a whole. Understanding the influences one’s upbringing and lifestyle can have towards one’s view on life and...
The city of Istanbul, situated at the intersection of Europe and Asia, possesses a distinctive political landscape shaped by its rich historical past, diverse population, and unique geographical location. Walking through the streets, we observed the architectural wonders of Istanbul, the city became a living testament to its historical epochs— from Jewish quarters to Ottoman...
The most fascinating aspect of Istanbul is its duality and contradiction. It’s the fact that East meets West, where a city is both in Europe and Asia simultaneously, where it is conservative and liberal, where secularism and Islamic ideas in politics coexist. The place where a church becomes a mosque and an identity the national...
Having travelled to Istanbul before, this trip showed me a different side to Türkiye. The diaspora in the UK and in the West tend to be very patriotic about being Turkish, and this is the case in Türkiye, too. The streets are filled with pictures of Ataturk, the founder of Türkiye. However, lecturers from Beykoz...
Why Psychology? I get asked that question often, and my brain goes into overdrive, wondering where I should begin. I settle with the mediocre response of ‘It’s interesting.’ How boring is that? I wish I could have sat everyone down and told them exactly why I picked Psychology. But now here I am, with an...
One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “Where are you from?” especially after moving to London. It’s a simple question for many; their answer might be very straightforward, like a specific country or a blend of cultural roots. However, for me, this query makes me question my entire identity. Unlike those who...
“To realize a world of equality and dignity for all, we will have to change laws and policies; we will also have to change hearts and minds.” According to the iSEE and VESS 2021 report, it is estimated that the number of LGBT people in Vietnam accounts for about 9 – 11 % of the...
Washington D.C., the political epicentre of the United States, is a city teeming with history, culture, and opportunities. As a Politics and International Relations student, my recent participation in the Working Cultures program in Washington DC was a transformative experience that gave me a unique window into policy-making and cultural heritage. In this blog, I...