Students from the Black History Year (BHY) Create programme at the University of Westminster recently participated in an educational residential trip to France. The trip marked a significant milestone for students graduating from the programme and offered a powerful and immersive experience grounded in Black history, legacy and global identity.
The field trip was created to honour the students’ achievements in an environment reflecting global Black excellence, providing a first-hand exploration of Black heritage in France. The visit encouraged critical thinking around culture, history, identity and ambition, and gave students the opportunity to build connections with diasporic narratives and examine links to Pan-African and post-colonial movements.
Throughout the trip, students engaged in a series of reflective and educational activities. They gained insight into Black French and African American influence on European culture and politics, engaged with cultural and literary movements such as Négritude and reflected on the legacy of Black intellectuals and pioneers including Richard Wright and James Baldwin.
Students also developed greater confidence and intercultural awareness through group activities and discussions, encouraging them to consider how the themes explored applied to their own identities and aspirations.
The trip concluded the BHY Create journey on a profound note, both celebrating the students’ development and challenging them to carry forward the legacies they encountered.
The BHY Create programme, a key strand of the wider BHY initiative, is delivered in partnership with BAME to Boardroom Ltd, a UK-based consultancy focusing on advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the workplace. The programme is rooted in themes of confidence, identity, visibility and voice, and aims to equip young people with the tools and self-belief to navigate their personal and professional futures. The trip to Paris served as both a celebration of the students’ journeys and an extension of their learning beyond the UK.
Stephen Bunbury, Reader in Law and Chair of BHY Create, said: “Hearing students describe how the BHY Create programme, and our Paris retreat in particular, opened doors they never thought possible is incredibly powerful. From exploring hidden histories on the Le Paris Noir tour to building lasting friendships, this experience has been transformative both personally and professionally for our Black students. It’s a vivid reminder of why empowerment programmes like BHY Create are vital to our University’s EDI ambitions and why sustaining them matters so deeply.”
Luisa Adamson, French Translation and Arabic BA Honours student, added: “Travelling to Paris as the final experience of the BHY Create programme has been deeply meaningful and inspiring. From thoughtful conversations on Black identity to the enlightening tour of Le Paris Noir highlighting the stories of Black intellectuals whose actions had an impact on French society and most importantly on Paris. During this trip, I felt a strong sense of community and belonging as I met great individuals who I can call friends now. Also, this trip inspired me to continue my translation studies in France in the near future.”
Reflecting on the trip, Clemence Sambya, Psychology BSc Honours student, said: “Being a moderate French speaker, this trip offered me the chance to expand my speaking and listening skills. As I do not get the chance to practice my French frequently, I had to occasionally take the lead in interpretation and translation, which not only increased my confidence in my skills but allowed me to learn new phrases from the locals in Paris. This will be a great asset in future employment as it will help me to be less rigid in my speech and possibly allow me to speak more freely with other French people."
The trip directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Black History Year at the University of Westminster.
