From DEN volunteer at Westminster to European governance in Luxembourg
Jimmy Purewal, BA, University of Westminster, Class of 2020; former DEN volunteer and student contributor; now completing an MA in European Governance at the University of Luxembourg
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?
I first came into contact with DEN through Dr Farhang Morady, who was one of my lecturers at Westminster. At the time, I was quite new to university life and I wanted to be part of something bigger than just attending lectures and going home. DEN attracted me because it felt open, international and student-led. It gave me a way to meet people, make friends, support other students and become involved in discussions about global issues, democracy, development and social justice.
Farhang made DEN feel like a place where students were not just passive learners, but people who could help shape projects, events and conversations. That sense of belonging is what brought me in.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
The main DEN activities I remember taking part in were student-led events and conferences, refugee-focused activities, and DEN’s global engagement work. I helped with event and conference coordination, including practical support around planning and student participation.
I was also involved in activities connected to refugees and community engagement, which stayed with me because they linked international politics to real people’s lives. Another important area was DEN’s international engagement, including work with partner universities such as the University of Hanoi. Through these activities, I saw how DEN connected Westminster students with wider communities and international partners.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
One moment that has stayed with me was realising, through DEN’s refugee-related activities, that the issues we studied in International Relations were not abstract. Questions about migration, asylum, conflict and development were connected to real people, real communities and real responsibilities. DEN helped me understand that education should not just be about reading theories or passing exams. It should also make students more aware of the world around them, and more willing to engage with it.
I also remember Farhang’s encouragement and the way he trusted students to contribute. That stayed with me because it gave me confidence at a time when I was still finding my place at university.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
The biggest impact DEN had on me was the sense of community and confidence it gave me. It brought together students from different backgrounds, disciplines and countries, and it made Westminster feel much more personal.
DEN also changed the way I saw education. It showed me that students can learn through organising events, supporting each other, writing, presenting, travelling and engaging with local and international communities. The global engagement side had a strong impact on me, because it helped me see international cooperation in practice. Looking back, DEN was one of the first experiences that pushed me towards my current interests in European governance, diplomacy and international cooperation.
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
DEN helped me become more confident, and more open to people from different backgrounds. When I first joined Westminster, I wanted to make friends and find a community, but I was still learning how to put myself forward. Through DEN, I learned to participate, support events, speak to people I did not know, and take responsibility for tasks. It helped me become more comfortable in international and multicultural settings.
It also made me feel that my voice mattered. DEN gave me the confidence to believe that students can contribute meaningfully, even when they are still learning. That has stayed with me through my master’s degree and my career ambitions.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
Yes. DEN helped me develop skills that are still relevant to my professional path. Supporting events and conferences built up my organisation, teamwork, communication and attention to detail. The refugee-focused work developed my awareness of humanitarian issues and the human impact of policy decisions. The global engagement activities helped me understand cross-cultural communication and the importance of building relationships across countries and institutions.
These experiences contributed to my decision to continue into European governance at master’s level, and strengthened my interest in diplomacy, public service and international cooperation. DEN gave me early practical experience of the kind of work I now want to build my career around: dialogue, coordination, policy awareness and global engagement.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
DEN gave me a genuine sense of belonging in an international academic community. I do not think I would have found that in the same way through normal lectures alone. It was a space where students could meet people, exchange ideas, support projects and feel trusted by academics. It also gave me access to opportunities that were bigger than one module or one classroom: conferences, community engagement, international partnerships and student-led initiatives.
What made DEN special was that it treated students as contributors, not just participants. That made a big difference to me.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
Join early, and do not wait until you feel completely confident. You do not need to know exactly what you want to do before getting involved. DEN is the kind of space where confidence develops through participation. Start by attending meetings, helping with small tasks, supporting events and speaking to other students. The more you give to the network, the more you get from it.
I would also tell students to be open-minded, because DEN can take you in unexpected directions. You may join simply to meet people, but you can leave with new skills, friendships, international experience and a much clearer sense of what matters to you.
What would you say to a colleague at another university?
DEN is a strong example of what student-staff partnership can look like when it is done properly. It is not just a society or a one-off project. It is a community that connects teaching, research, public engagement, employability and international cooperation.
DEN gives students ownership and encourages them to learn by doing. It also shows how universities can connect local communities with global issues. For students, it builds confidence and skills. For universities, it creates a more active, inclusive and outward-looking learning environment. I think other universities could learn a lot from DEN’s model.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
One thing DEN could strengthen in the next decade is its alumni network. Many former DEN students have gone into further study, public service, NGOs, business, research and international work, and it would be powerful to connect them more formally with current students.
DEN could also document student roles and project contributions more clearly, so that future students can explain their experience confidently on CVs and in interviews. Another useful step would be stronger handovers between student groups each year, so knowledge is not lost when students graduate. These are not criticisms of DEN’s purpose, but ways to protect and expand what makes it valuable.
Anything else you would like us to know?
I am grateful to DEN and to Farhang for creating a space where students like me could feel included and encouraged. DEN helped me find community at Westminster, and gave me early exposure to the kind of international, people-focused work that continues to shape my ambitions today. Looking back, DEN was more than an extracurricular activity. It was one of the experiences that helped me understand the value of dialogue, education and cooperation across borders.