In 2026 and 2027, the Democratic Education Network marks ten years. What began as a single seminar at the University of Westminster has grown into an international community of students, alumni, academics and support workers reaching from London to Tashkent, Bangkok, Hanoi, Lima and Istanbul, working on what it means for students to be partners in producing knowledge rather than consumers of it. This is the home of our anniversary year. Here you will find a rolling series of interviews and reflections in Inside Westminster magazine, a podcast and short film telling the story of how DEN grew, the launch of a permanent DEN Alumni Network, and the findings of an anniversary research project tracing the themes that have shaped our first decade. Everything is made by the people who have been part of DEN. We hope you will read, listen, and add your voice.
A pandemic-era alumnus, now an Urban Planner at Rail Delivery Group, on publishing his dissertation in the DEN book, standing for election, and moving abroad Sebastian James Crisp, BA graduate, University of Westminster (2019–2022); now Urban Planner at Rail Delivery Group, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the...
From a small town to Uzbekistan and Vietnam: a Westminster alumna, now a Content Creator and Presenter, on DEN’s field trips and finding her voice Keletso Kesupile, BA graduate, University of Westminster (2015–2018); now Content Creator and Presenter Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * *...
A Colombian alumna, from loneliness as an international student to DEN’s Vietnam and Türkiye trips and the magazine that carried her through lockdown Natali Usma Bustamante, BA Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster, Class of 2021; now based in Colombia Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education...
From winning WIUT’s SDG Course to hearing the Westminster Vice-Chancellor say he had just learned an Uzbek word from her presentation Mekhrangiz Khoshimova, Level 4 BSc Business Management, Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * * How did...
From ICP to Vice President at Emergent: an alumnus on how the network opened a career in international development Leks Olubodun, ICP alumnus, University of Westminster; now Vice President, Funding Governance and Impact, Emergent, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network, and the ICP years...
From winning WIUT’s SDG Course in Tashkent to the 9th DEN International Conference in London: a third-year Economics student on friendships across borders Bakhromkhon Murodkosimov, third-year BSc Economics with Finance, Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * *...
A second-year WIUT student on joining at DEN’s 8th conference, and writing her first book chapter Bahar Emine Özdemir, second-year student, Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * * How did you first come into contact with DEN?...
From the 2023 DEN conference to a Japan-ASEAN youth leadership programme: a Kasetsart Psychology graduate on saying yes before you feel ready Pinyapatch Meksakunwong (Pinya), BA Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kasetsart University, Class of 2024; now Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Agoda, Thailand Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the...
A Kasetsart University alumnus on presenting at the DEN conference, editing the DEN book, and the research career it set in motion Thanakrit Thongchantr (Tt.), BA International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kasetsart University, Class of 2023; now Research Assistant, Thailand Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education...
From sceptic to alumnus: how a Latvian student got talked into DEN, and stayed Valters Dāvids Ostrovskis, BA alumnus, University of Westminster; now Head of Sales at Roadgames, Latvia Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * * How did you first come into contact with...
From a Vietnam research trip to a vocation in child protection in Peru Claudia Lindo, BA graduate, University of Westminster; now MSc Project Management student, Sheffield, United Kingdom (Peruvian heritage) Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * * How did you first come into contact...
From a student conference win in Tashkent to MSc Economics at the University of Bonn, by way of DEN Durdonabonu Davronova, BSc Economics with Finance, Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbekistan; now MSc Economics student, University of Bonn, Germany Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network....