As part of the DEN International Student Conference, students from Westminster International University in Tashkent share their experiences, perspectives, and expectations as they prepare to engage with peers in London. In this profile, Jasmina Boymamatova, a BSc Economics with Finance student, reflects on her academic journey, the challenges of a rapidly transforming society, and her interest in linking economic theory to real-world issues. Drawing on her experience as a contributing author to a DEN publication, she highlights the importance of student voice, research, and global dialogue in shaping more inclusive and sustainable futures
About Me
My name is Jasmina Boymamatova, and I am a BSc Economics with Finance student at Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Economics, for me, is not merely a subject — it is a lens through which I try to make sense of the world. I am particularly drawn to research: finding patterns in real-world data and connecting them back to economic theory is something I genuinely find exciting.
Outside of academics, I am someone who thrives on contrast and balance. I love organising events, meeting new people, and having deep, thought-provoking conversations. I have a quiet appreciation for classical things — opera, literature, unhurried thinking — yet I am equally fascinated by high technology and where it is taking society. I suppose that balance reflects how I approach economics itself: always looking at both the historical foundation and what lies ahead.
Uzbekistan is a country in active transformation. Among the challenges I observe in my community are a degree of mismatch in the labour market for fresh graduates — where skills do not always align with what employers need — and growing air pollution in urban areas, largely driven by ongoing construction and rapid urban development. These are not abstract issues for me; they shape the conversations I have daily and the questions I bring to my studies.
My Learning Environment
My university experience has been shaped by a demanding academic culture that values discipline, yet is made approachable by teachers who are genuinely invested in student understanding. I learn a great deal through conversation — I have peers with whom I regularly exchange ideas, and our environment strikes a healthy balance between academic rigour and social engagement.
One thing I particularly value is that student voices are taken seriously at my university. Feedback is actively sought through forms and face-to-face meetings, and a meaningful portion of institutional changes actually stems from what students say. Knowing your voice leads to real outcomes changes how you participate.
Expectations
Visiting London for the first time is, in itself, something I can hardly fully anticipate. As one of the world’s most economically and culturally significant cities, I expect it to be a place where global ideas converge — and I am curious to observe how its diversity plays out not just in theory, but in everyday life and in policy. For someone who studies economics, London feels like a living case study.
The University of Westminster, as an institution with deep roots in accessible and internationally minded education, feels like a natural home for this kind of gathering. I look forward to experiencing the academic culture firsthand. Jasmina Boymamatova | Westminster International University in Tashkent | BSc Economics with Finance
What genuinely excites me most, however, is the Democratic Education Network itself. DEN’s student-led model — one that has connected over a thousand students globally and contributed meaningfully to SDG-linked work — resonates deeply with my belief that students should be co-creators of knowledge, not passive recipients of it. The fact that I was invited as a contributing author to a DEN publication makes this visit feel particularly personal. I am arriving not just as an attendee, but as someone who has already been part of this community in a small way, and I hope to deepen that connection.
What I Hope to Contribute and Explore
I would like to bring to the conference a perspective from a rapidly developing economy — one navigating the intersection of growth, sustainability, and graduate employability. I am eager to discuss research opportunities available to undergraduate students internationally, and to explore how economics can be used as a tool for addressing social challenges rather than simply describing them.
A Question for DEN Students
How do you, as students at Westminster, translate the values of democratic education into your daily academic life — and what has surprised you most about what student-led change can actually achieve?