A third-year International Relations student on discovering DEN through a friend, helping organise the Hong Kong students event, and the confidence that comes from being asked to speak Hajar Zaher, third-year BA International Relations, University of Westminster, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. *...
A BA International Relations student on discovering DEN in induction week, weekly meetings that feel like family, and the editorial credit that has since opened doors Huray, BA International Relations, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * * How...
A postgraduate in International Law who first heard of DEN as an undergraduate in 2018, on returning to Westminster, the Tashkent Model UN, and the co-authored chapter that grew out of a friendship Ariadna Rita Lemos De Oliveira, LLM International Law, University of Westminster, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten...
A third-year Politics and International Relations student on writing about knife crime and mixed heritage, and on finding a room where her voice belonged Arika Heaven, third-year BA Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster (Regent Street), London, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network....
A Californian in London on the first DEN meeting that changed everything, the friends who became loved ones, and the leadership lessons that shape her legal work today Madeline Briscoe, BA International Relations, University of Westminster (2021–2024); from California, United States; now MA Law student and Citizens Advice Bureau volunteer, based in the United Kingdom...
A Westminster Biomedical Science student on TikTok wellness culture, the “fertility juice” myth, and why real endocrinology cannot fit inside a viral video Afsana Riya, BSc Biomedical Science, University of Westminster * * * Open TikTok right now, and you will find millions of young women diagnosing their own endocrine systems based entirely on viral...
A teacher’s reflection on the SOC-ENVI Kasetsart International Summer School 2026. By Dr Farhang Morady · Director, Democratic Education Network, University of Westminster. Distinguished Scholar, Kasetsart University. Caption: The Kasetsart Summer School cohort, Faculty of Social Sciences, July 2026. I delivered three lectures over the fortnight in Bangkok and read ten reflections when the students...
A final-year Medical Sciences student on impostor syndrome, the presentation that surprised her, and the DEN project that has grown from it Rida Butt, BSc Medical Sciences, final year, University of Westminster, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. * * * How did you...
A reflection on shared challenges, thinking beyond ourselves, and what a Criminology student took home from a summer school in Thailand. By Bernaflor Canape-Demaluan. Misamis University, Philippines. The SOC-ENVI International Summer School 2026 was hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, in partnership with the Democratic Education Network at the University...
A third-year IR and Development student on the Thailand Model UN, the Chinese University of Hong Kong summer school, and hearing a Tashkent academic ask if DEN could come home with him Fatimata Sidi Mamadu, third-year BA International Relations and Development, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking...
A reflective essay by Ribana Cristescu, a mature Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience student and entrepreneur, on finding her place at DEN Ribana Cristescu, BSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Westminster, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network. This contribution takes the form of a...
A Politics and International Relations graduate on the DEN conference, writing blogs, and hearing the Afghan border story that changed how she read politics Maliha Hussain, BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations, University of Westminster, Class of 2025, United Kingdom Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network....