From locked-down first year to Vietnam, the DEN conference, and the Civil Service
Lucas Iacuzzi, BA Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster (2020–2023); now Civil Servant at HM Revenue & Customs, United Kingdom
Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network.
How did you first come into contact with DEN?
My first year of university was hit by COVID, which made for quite an isolating experience. Making friends while studying from home was not very practical, and university societies and events had all but shut down.
I found out about DEN from one of the first friends I made at university, during the first semester of my second year, right as lockdowns ended and the university opened back up. I was told DEN was a great way of meeting new people and would give me opportunities to further my academics through writing articles and taking part in its internship offerings at the time.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
I have taken part in a wide variety. To name a few: I travelled to Vietnam to meet with students there and learn about Vietnamese society and culture; I wrote and published multiple blogs and research papers for two of the DEN annual books; and I presented my research twice at the DEN annual conferences. I also joined trips around London to study the city’s rich history, and reviewed the work of my peers.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
There are many aspects of DEN that have stuck with me, but one in particular was meeting Farhang for the first time in person. I had heard a lot about him from other students, but had never had the chance to meet him. I was amazed by how welcoming he was, even though I was a stranger who had effectively just turned up at one of DEN’s meetings unannounced. I remember him telling me that DEN could be a massive opportunity for me, as long as I was proactive and took part in its activities. Looking back, that could not have been truer.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
Throughout university, DEN became a place where I could make friends and meet new people. Even nearly three years on from my studies, I still find myself in touch with people I met through the network. DEN has allowed me to make meaningful connections across the world, which has had a huge impact on me both as a student and as a working professional.
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
It completely built up my confidence. Publishing my research papers, and then presenting them to a live audience with a questions panel, was one of the most stressful but rewarding experiences I had as a student. It prepared me for my final-year dissertation and significantly improved my public speaking.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
Absolutely. Getting your first job is never a simple process, and finding jobs has become increasingly difficult post-COVID. Being able to look back and lean on my experiences from DEN while applying for jobs was a massive boost for my employability. It showed I had both the skills and the motivation to use them to further myself. Even in my current role in the Civil Service, I frequently find myself leaning on the presentation and communication skills I developed at DEN.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
Above all else, DEN has given me perspective. University is supposed to be a melting pot of ideas and different backgrounds, but nothing else quite exposed me to as many different cultures, ways of thinking and perspectives as DEN did. Attending the conference and speaking with academics from across the world, who may hold similar views to mine but for completely different reasons, has been truly eye-opening.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
Just show up. DEN is open to all, and there is no upfront cost or commitment. If it is not for you, that is completely understandable, but if it is, you can get a great many opportunities out of it just by showing up and contributing. When I first joined, I had no idea I would find myself in Vietnam just nine months later, or that I would make friends all over the globe that I still talk to years after graduation. I would highly encourage them to go.
What would you say to a colleague at another university?
I would tell them DEN is a fantastic exchange of ideas and cultures. It is truly the sum of its parts, and a massive part of that is its students. It brings incredible value to the university experience by connecting people from all over the world.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
Rather than doing things differently, I think DEN should just continue leaning into what makes it great: its adaptability. One of the best things about DEN is that it is always changing. With new cohorts come new ideas and new approaches. Continuing to empower students to drive projects like podcasts, blog posts and live events will ensure it keeps evolving and stays interesting for the next decade.
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Photo caption: Nine months after walking into my first DEN meeting, I was in Vietnam.