When I think about Turkey, I picture the Blue Mosque, bazaars, and delicious food; however, these images I see are very surface-level, and my aim on our trip to Turkey is to look beyond them to gain further insight. I really want to learn about Turkish society, including how people live their daily lives, and...
Our world is becoming increasingly digital, where many aspects of life are undergoing transformation, particularly the ways people participate in their local communities, which are being significantly altered by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms. For many people, however, with this rising digitalisation of even the fundamental aspects of life, it raises questions and concerns,...
In two weeks’ time, we will go on a trip with the university to Istanbul, Turkey, to explore new environments and widen our perspective on the Middle East. This journey holds particular significance for me as a student of Politics and Development in the Middle East. After studying the theories and geopolitics of the region,...
A while ago, I wanted to purchase a skincare product. Somebody highlighted on social media that this product would help my skin type, and like any other person interested in Korean skincare, I wanted to buy it. When it came to the payment, the store only accepted card payments. Unfortunately for me, I had the...
There was a time when public space meant something tangible: the city square, the park, the crowded streets filled with voices echoing for change. A place of presence. You showed up, you stood together, and your body became part of the message. Today, that space has expanded, not disappeared, but reshaped. Into screens, algorithms, and...
The Student Voices initiative features an interview with Vanshi, conducted by her DEN. She is currently adapting to her new environment and has opportunities to create positive change and contribute to both the University and DEN. In this interview, she shares her thoughts on why she decided to attend the university and discusses her motivations....
The United Kingdom is the sixth richest country in the world, and yet, we still have 14 million people who struggle to put food on the table. In a society that has become increasingly willing to turn a blind eye, I feel that it is no longer a problem that belongs to the few. It...
Many people think of Japan as a peaceful place. They imagine ancient temples next to modern skyscrapers, beautiful cherry blossoms, and the popularity of anime. This image shows calmness, creativity, and cute culture. However, if you ask someone in Seoul or Nanjing, they would share a different story that focuses on imperialism and colonisation. This...
Violence, hate, division – these are factors that, for over a decade, have shaped Polish politics. Many of these problems can be traced back to the 2015 parliamentary elections and the Law and Justice Party (PiS) rise under Beata Szydło’s government, which was a turning point for Poland’s political and media landscape. One person who...
The right to food movement means a lot to me. I got involved earlier this year. Jeremy Corbyn and Yiannis Varoufakis were speaking at our university. At this talk, Azaria, a close coursemate of mine, met a teacher at the university, Sharon Noonan-Gunning, who introduced her to the movement. Azaria later asked if I would...
Step right up! Examine the features. Light enough to be palatable, dark enough to be exotic. Skin somewhere between coffee and cream… they used to auction people this way, by shade, by texture, by blood. And somehow, centuries later, we still are asked: what are you? “They bred us like cattle, then blamed us for...
Democratic Education Network (DEN) – Alumni Interview Alumni Spotlight: Samira Aziz (BA Politics & International Relations, University of Westminster) Now a Business Engagement Officer at the Maternal Aid Association (MAA), Samira reflects on how DEN shaped her path from student advocate to social-impact professional. Through leading Students4Refugees and collaborating across Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, she...