Politics and International Relations MA students have taken a Westminster trip to Kosovo to speak to United Nations (UN) officials and gain first-hand insights into post-conflict state-building and international diplomacy in practice. The 12 students were supported by Dr Aidan Hehir, Course Leader for Westminster's International Relations MA, International Relations and Security MA and International Relations and Democratic Politics MA courses, and Dr Hannah Cross, Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Course Leader of Global Development MA, during the Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT)-funded international experience.
The group visited the Kosovo Parliament and attended specially convened talks across the capital city of Pristina between 14-17 April, supported by the Kosovo Centre of Diplomacy.
During the academic trip students visited the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and heard about the organisation’s human rights work, particularly its work with families of missing persons and efforts to build inter-ethnic trust. Members of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) also spoke to students and highlighted the organisations’ efforts to foster stability, promote judicial reform and showcase its role within the European Union's (EU) broader Common Security and Defence Policy. Finally, students had the chance to go to the Kosovo Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) where they heard about their monitoring of Serbia and Russia's potential efforts to promote conflict and instability inside Kosovo.
The group was also taken on a guided tour of the Kosovo Parliament, where the guide gave a detailed talk on Kosovo's path to independence and explained how the parliament works to foster cross-community consensus. They also toured the Humanitarian Law Centre’s exhibition dedicated to the children killed during the 1998–2000 Kosovo War.
They also attended a lecture at the International Business College in Mitrovica (IBCM), a rare institution in Kosovo that actively brings together students from different ethnic backgrounds, fostering collaboration in a region often marked by ethnic division, making it Kosovo’s only multi-ethnic university. Before the lecture, the students met with IBCM students over lunch, where they shared experiences and gained valuable insights into life in Kosovo and the challenges and opportunities of studying in an ethnically divided city. The lecture, titled What is the Future for Kosovo in an Era of Multipolarity, was delivered by Dr Hehir to an audience of colleagues and students, and was followed by an engaging Q&A session.
Riya Modi, International Relations MA student, said: “My trip to Kosovo was truly unforgettable. Visiting EULEX, UNMIK and the Parliament felt like stepping directly into the pages of my International Relations textbook, except this time, the chapters came to life! Engaging with officials and hearing their insights on rebuilding a war-torn country gave me a whole new perspective. However, the opportunity to connect with local students stayed with me the most. Their stories, shaped by experiences so different from my own, made our discussions deeply human and relatable. Additionally, witnessing the stark contrast between South and North Mitrovica, separated yet connected by just a bridge, both literally and symbolically, was fascinating.
“Honestly, this trip felt like a pop-up classroom, a coffee-fuelled debate forum and a diplomatic adventure all rolled into one. It was an actual crash course in diplomacy, minus the paperwork!”
This trip directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. 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 the Politics and International Relations courses at Westminster.
