Partnership is the form DEN’s work has always taken. Across a decade, our students and staff have travelled to and welcomed colleagues from Westminster International University in Tashkent, Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Hanoi University, Istanbul University, and Further Education Colleges in London, building friendships that have produced joint conferences, jointly edited books, shared classroom projects and continuing conversations. These pages document the visits, exchanges and outreach activities that bring DEN’s network to life beyond the screen: trips to partner institutions led by students, hosting of international guests at Westminster, engagement with further education colleges across London, and the wider community work that grows from those relationships. Each visit returns something to the network: new ideas, new contributors, new questions for the next conference and the next volume. If you are an institution or community group interested in working with DEN, this is the place to start.
My perception of Vietnam so far has been, I must admit, rather parochial. When I envision it in my mind, I see the bustling streets of Hanoi, rich with colour and activity: the movement of tourists and pedestrians and hawkers, the chatter punctured by the occasional toot of a motorcycle horn. Or I see a...
Vietnam was amongst the many countries around the world that I did not pay much attention to until I chose to study the ‘Learning in an International Environment’ module. This module changed my vision and perspective of Vietnam. I was able to learn different aspects such as economics, politics, and society. I became aware of...
There is nothing more interesting for me than learning about different cultures, customs, traditions and life of people from all over the world. Revising my knowledge about Vietnam in the framework of the Vietnam virtual field trip, I came to the conclusion that I know quite a little information about this country, and most of...
My first recollection of Vietnam comes from a documentary about the proxy war between the US and the USSR. I learnt that Vietnam is not just a country involved in geopolitical rivalries between different great powers. Instead, I found out about the scenic and historical landmarks. The Muong Hoa Valley is on the outskirts of...
Prior to attending the ‘Learning in an International Environment’ module, my knowledge and understanding of Vietnam was quite limited. Upon doing some brief research, the LGBTQIA+ culture of Vietnam became of great interest to me. Although same-sex relationships are not illegal, they are not in fact ‘legal’ either. In 2013, the National Assembly of Vietnam...
Going into the module (Learning in an International Environment), I knew very little about Vietnam as a country. I knew some of the surrounding countries and their history. But, I didn’t know how far Vietnam has developed since the 1980s, and its impressive culture and history, past what I had learnt in GCSE History some...
Even though I had an interest and idea about Vietnam prior to participating in Vietnam’s virtual field trip, the field trip has made me more passionate about it. I have carried out a lot of research and watched several videos, which have allowed me to learn some interesting facts about the country. I am especially...
“As long as there are people, there will be things” – a Covid-19 slogan used in Vietnam to represent the importance of unity. Throughout my second year of studying at the University of Westminster, I chose the module ‘Learning in an International Environment’ which was led graciously by Farhang Morady. Upon my time studying this...
When one thinks of Vietnam, the first thing that comes to mind is the Vietnam war. However, even though I do not have a lot of knowledge about Vietnam, what I have seen from videos and images online, the country has so much culture, life and uniqueness to it. What I hope to learn and...
As a student of international relations and development, one becomes acutely aware of how little one really knows. No one truly understands everything, but the more you read and the more you explore, you realise that there is so much more to learn about the world and the different people who live in it. I...