“Learning never really stops.”

A 2019 alumna on the Hanoi trip, editing the DEN book, and building a sustainability consulting career from Sweden to Brussels

Kajsa Hallberg, BA (Hons) International Relations and Development, University of Westminster, Class of 2019; now Sustainability Advisor at Miltton, Sweden

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?

During my first year of undergraduate studies, word spread in my class about a new initiative and about an opportunity to gain international experiences through conferences and exchanges. It felt exciting and fun, and it was an opportunity to gain practical experience related to my career development.

Which DEN activities have you taken part in?

I joined an international exchange in Hanoi, Vietnam, in the spring of 2017. I was also part of the team responsible for planning, editing and communicating the book publication, and for planning and organising the international conference, during the academic year of 2018/2019.

Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?

I will always remember the trip to Hanoi in 2017 and the exchanges we had with the fellow students there. I am especially grateful for the dinner invitation at the home of a local family during that visit, and for the wonderful home-cooked food we shared that evening.

What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?

DEN showed me the value of active engagement and of the exchange of ideas between students and teachers as part of learning. The idea that we all learn together through building relationships, both locally and globally, is something that has shaped how I work professionally: with a focus on collaboration, on listening, and on constant learning.

How has DEN helped you develop personally?

DEN showed me the value of being open to saying yes, of trying new things, and of believing that you can accomplish challenging or unfamiliar things as long as you put your mind to it and stay open to what happens around you. I will always cherish the fun we had, the memories, the experiences, and the encouragement provided by the staff of the university and by the rest of the students in the DEN team.

Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?

Being involved in these projects through DEN helped me develop communication, project management and adaptability skills that have been essential to my career development. These skills are still essential to my work as a consultant in corporate sustainability reporting and communications, working in teams with colleagues and clients from all over the world.

DEN was a stepping stone through which I gained access to entry-level work in projects connected to international development, aid, geopolitical risk analysis, and sustainability strategy, and then eventually to projects related to standardisation, policy and legislative development in Brussels. Being able to show practical application of those skills through DEN projects and a global perspective on the challenges clients may face helped me land the first career opportunity that continues to shape my trajectory.

What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?

Understanding what teaching and learning really is. It goes beyond the classroom, and beyond the “box” of academia. It happens in every moment, and in every interaction, and it never really stops.

What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?

Say yes, and do not be afraid to take the initiative. You can shape your own experience, and shape where you want to go next, if you grab the opportunity when it comes.

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Photo caption: “Teaching and learning goes beyond the classroom. It happens in every moment, and it never really stops.”