From the quiet one in Wednesday meetings to coordinating the Uzbekistan trip: a recent IR graduate on eight semesters with DEN
Salman Aziz, BA International Relations, University of Westminster; recent graduate; coordinator of the DEN Uzbekistan trip, 2026
Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network.
* * *
How did you first come into contact with DEN?
A former DEN alumnus told me what DEN was. They spoke about the international opportunities and the community spirit that DEN brings, and I was drawn in. I signed up for the module DEN runs in the second year of studies, Democratic Engagement in an International Context. The module involved a series of multidisciplinary lectures, and a field trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, where we were given the opportunity to present a piece of our own work at a conference.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
Too many to count, but the top activities were the Vietnam trip, the 2025 and 2026 London summer schools hosted by DEN, and the Uzbekistan trip. All of them were managed and run by students of DEN.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
The numerous conversations I have had, through DEN, with students from other countries have been very meaningful to me. Through DEN’s international activities, I have been able to speak with students from many different backgrounds in many different countries, and hearing their stories makes you reflect on the position you are in as a student.
A lot of the students I have met around the world have said the same thing: that they have the dream of coming to London to study. It has made me realise how fortunate I am to have been raised in the UK, and to have been able to study in a place like London.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
DEN is like a small community within Westminster. When DEN meets on Wednesdays for the weekly meeting, we create a space where all students, regardless of background, can share their ideas without worrying about being judged. DEN also allows its students to create and run their own projects. The biggest example for me was the trip to Uzbekistan in May 2026, which I am proud to have been one of the coordinators for.
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
Without doubt, DEN has helped me build my confidence by miles. When I first started with DEN, I was always the quiet one in meetings and would always avoid raising my hand to speak. Through Farhang’s encouragement, I have been able to develop my speaking skills. Because of that, I was later able to present in Vietnam and in London in front of a crowd.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
Being a part of DEN made me realise that I wanted to make the most of my university experience. It encouraged me to apply to different experiences offered by Westminster. For example, the Westminster Working Cultures programme run by the University. Thanks to references from DEN, I was accepted onto the Westminster Working Cultures trip to Dubai in April 2026, though sadly it was cancelled due to the conflict that began just before the trip was due to take place.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
DEN was a constant throughout my university journey. Every semester, my timetable changes. So did my teachers, and so did my modules. DEN remained the constant, run by Farhang, on Wednesdays.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
Take every single opportunity that is there. Not only in DEN, but at Westminster more widely. Do not be afraid to raise your hand to share your thoughts in the weekly meetings. And, if you have any idea for a project, no matter how impossible it sounds to execute, speak to Farhang about it. He has always been supportive of students’ passions, and he will help you to bring the idea to life.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
I think that every year in DEN, just before or just after the annual conference in London, students should be given the opportunity, just as my cohort was, to plan and execute their own international project.
* * *
Photo caption: “DEN remained the constant, run by Farhang, on Wednesdays.”
