“Students need to see the world to understand it.”

From a first trip abroad in Vietnam to UN panels, NGO work, and donor rooms in New York

Amaan Haris, BA International Relations and Development, University of Westminster, Class of 2024; 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?

On my first day of university, after standing outside on Little Titchfield Street, we were guided into a lecture hall where we were given an introduction to the school and an extremely insightful talk on the Democratic Education Network. I also heard about it from other students and staff.

Which DEN activities have you taken part in?

The DEN field visit to Vietnam in 2022, the DEN field visit to Türkiye in 2023, and the DEN Annual Conference in 2023.

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

One conversation I had with Farhang was about opportunities for young people, while we were in Vietnam. That was also my first time abroad. Farhang explained why he advocates for young people and students to experience trips like this. Students need to see the world to understand it. He also talked about how he facilitates these trips so that young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who might not otherwise have had this exposure, can take part without the financial burden.

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

DEN had a significant impact on my confidence. When I started university, I lacked confidence and was far too anxious to undertake public speaking. Since joining DEN, and presenting in front of my peers and at the annual conferences, I have honed my confidence and public speaking. It is now one of my strongest skills.

I have since spoken to high net worth donors in New York, sat on student panels with the United Nations, and in November I will be delivering a clinic on young people in the multilateral sector to UN, NGO and public sector HR professionals in Estonia.

How has DEN helped you develop personally?

DEN has nurtured an environment of growth, one that every student and staff member involved can see. It is an environment to experiment, explore, learn and develop. You are surrounded by like-minded peers and faculty staff, supported by the university for your own personal development.

DEN has also helped me develop a more critical mindset, enhancing my ability to negotiate, debate, analyse, and critique. It has fostered an environment where every skill developed in the classroom is improved tenfold.

Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?

Yes. I speak to high net worth donors on behalf of the University of Westminster, and one of the programmes I talk about is DEN. I tell donors how I did not expect to be given the opportunities I had, but DEN facilitated them and supported my personal development.

My experience with the programme was of clear interest during my interviews for the United Nations Migration Agency, where I spoke about my international exposure, my appreciation of other cultures, and my ability to think critically, analyse peer work and speak at conferences. It has also been of interest at my current NGO, where I am developing an academic paper on the links between volunteering, employability and career development. My work in a group like DEN is something I want to translate into the wider organisation.

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

That sense of drive. The ambition and dedication to create a better environment for all students, regardless of degree, background or class. DEN removed all the barriers you walked through the door with, even if that was a lack of understanding of DEN itself, and still accepted you.

What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?

Something Farhang once told me has stuck with me ever since: “Take every opportunity. You are what makes this degree.” DEN is an opportunity. Take it. You will develop skills, make friends, and find a sense of productive discomfort as you are constantly learning, being questioned, and asked to explain yourself. That is rare to find in an environment that wants nothing but for you to grow.

There is a reason DEN alumni keep coming back. There is a reason a significant portion of DEN members go on to prestigious internships, including at the United Nations. There is a reason.

What would you say to a colleague at another university?

If the DEN model can be translated across universities, do it. DEN is the perfect blueprint for developing students, improving student satisfaction, and enhancing career and employability outcomes. It fosters a strong sense of community and breaks down the barriers between students and lecturers.

Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?

DEN needs to modernise, but that will happen naturally as each new cohort of students enters the programme, as it has from the start. The bigger point is funding. Universities need to invest in programmes like these to make sure they survive, and that students can reap the full benefits. Without that investment, some students are systemically blocked from experiencing what DEN offers, such as the international field trips.