World in Westminster

Our university is one of the most diverse and international higher education institutions in the UK, with alumni, colleagues and students from a range of communities, cultures and countries.

To spotlight the many ways in which Westminster is connected to the global community, in March the University hosted World in Westminster – a celebratory, international festival. With three days of events and activities – from Arabic language taster sessions to the art of Caribbean cooking – we showcased our heritage and rich cultural diversity. Our alumni contribute hugely to this diversity, with graduates living in 180 different countries worldwide. To recognise this, our international Alumni Ambassadors also played a part in the festival. They called in from around the world to inspire us with their thoughts on diversity, inclusivity and what it means to them to be part of the global Westminster community.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversations:

WHAT DOES DIVERSITY MEAN TO YOU?

Shriya Bhagwat (Media Management MA, 2007) – New Zealand: “Diversity to me means being respectful of other people but also being respectful and truthful to yourself about who you are. So it’s as much inward-looking as it is outward-looking.”

Norman Pegden (International Business and Management MA, 2014) – Brazil: “To me, it means understanding and respecting different cultures, different identities, different countries. And there is no easier way to do this than meeting people from different backgrounds.”

Edma Lawer (International Relations and Democratic Politics MA, 2018) – Ghana: “Everybody deserves the same opportunity regardless of where they are from, regardless of what language they speak, regardless of what food they eat. We are human beings first.”

WHAT IMPACT DID STUDYING ABROAD HAVE ON YOUR CAREER?

Alia Mahmoud Abul Eyoun (MBA, 2016) – Egypt: “I believe it definitely helped me learn more about people’s cultures and understanding their preferred way of doing business. It helps grow your crosscultural communication skills. It improves certain skills such as leadership and communication, and it helps you grow your sense of independence.”

Melanie Marechal (Communications MA, 2011) – France: “Studying abroad helps you be curious, meet new people and not be afraid of things you don’t know. It definitely improves who you are and how you see the world.”

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF STUDYING AT A DIVERSE UNIVERSITY?

Verónica Posada Alvarez (Art and Visual Culture MA, 2017) – Colombia: “One of my best friends is from Vietnam, another one from Brazil, another one from India. Being at a diverse university engages you into a sort of transcultural life.”

Adelaide Arthur (Multimedia Journalism (Broadcast) MA, 2016) – Ghana: “It is always nice to have people from various backgrounds and various cultures. When you are together you will be amazed at what you learn from each other. I had some good friends from India, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We are still communicating.”

WHAT IS A FACT ABOUT YOUR HOME COUNTRY THAT WE MIGHT NOT KNOW?

Célia Kitenge (Spanish and English BA, 2015) – Belgium: “Belgium is the fries country. I wonder why British people call them French fries? They are Belgian! Also, Brussels is the HQ for the European Union. So while in Belgium there are three national languages – French, Dutch and German – English can also be heard in the streets in Brussels because more and more Europeans are coming to work in this European capital.”

Norman: “It’s crazy to think about, but São Paulo state – the state in which I live – is the size of England. And São Paulo, the city, is the largest city in the southern hemisphere. Which shows just how massive Brazil is!”

Adelaide: “Jollof is a really nice meal made of rice – it’s very delicious. And our bothers and sisters in Nigeria are always saying that they prepare the best jollof rice, which is not true! Because Ghanaians make the best jollof rice. So we’ve been having this jollof war for years now. It’s rather unfortunate that they don’t agree with us!”

Verónica: “Colombia is one of the top five most biodiverse countries in the world. It’s amazing because we have the Amazon, we have the Andes, we have two oceans – so you have everything from beaches to snow.”

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER?

Shriya: “The University of Westminster is a really good university – it is very inclusive. It is full of very kind people. It is a place where I think you’re allowed to fail. If you feel safe to fail, you’re more likely to succeed.”

Célia: “The University celebrates things like Diwali and Black History Year. It is really aware that they have students from different backgrounds, and they celebrate these differences.”

To find out more about our Alumni Ambassadors and how to contact those in your region, visit: westminster.ac.uk/ international-alumni