The University’s long-running student community Democratic Education Network (DEN) was highly commended in the Student Engagement category at the Green Gown Awards 2025, recognising the powerful collaboration of students and colleagues at Westminster to strengthen understanding, participation and engagement across the University.
The Green Gown Awards, run by the Environmental Association of Colleges and Universities (EAUC), are the leading sustainability awards for universities and colleges in the UK and Ireland.
Founded and led by Dr Farhang Morady, Reader in International Development, DEN empowers students to become global changemakers through extracurricular engagement and international collaboration.
DEN’s key initiatives include an annual international student conference, a student-led online magazine and a book series featuring student contributions. Since 2016, and with the involvement of over 1,000 students, DEN has continued to publish its annual book addressing key themes such as education, student engagement, sustainability and equity.
The forthcoming 2026 edition, Transforming Education: Innovation for Sustainability in the AI Era, features contributions from across the UK, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan and several other countries, reflecting the network’s global reach and collaborative ethos.
University of Westminster colleagues Denise Francis-Brown (second from left), Dularee Goonetilleke, Matthew Dark, Dibyesh Anand, Farhang Morady and Morgan Lirette (second from right) accepting award/Photo credit: EAUC/ Jas Sansi
In addition to DEN’s recognition, Dr Morady was also a finalist in the Sustainability Champion – Staff category, which honours individuals at any level who have implemented impactful sustainability initiatives. The award celebrates those who have made a positive difference to their peers, institutions, students and local communities.
Dr Morady said: “We are very proud to be recognised again at the Green Gown Awards. This recognition highlights our students' creativity, imagination, commitment and leadership in connecting education with sustainability and social responsibility.”
He added: “At its heart is DEN's principle to empower students to become global citizens, encouraging and inspiring them to research, act and collaborate, and share their knowledge beyond borders in addressing real-world challenges. This award demonstrates our conviction that universities can be transformative spaces where sustainability, innovation and inclusion converge through student voice and partnership. We are deeply grateful to the University community for its continuous support, which makes achievements like this possible. I would like to thank and acknowledge the contribution of academic colleagues, professional services and international partners who have supported DEN since 2016."
This initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education, 10: Reduced Inequalities and 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has adopted the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions, helping students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about the University of Westminster’s Global Engagement strategies.
Find out more about the Democratic Education Network at the University of Westminster.
Related articles
