Students from the University of Westminster have showcased podcasts created for the Co-Creating Rwanda’s Future project as part of the University’s pioneering Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) for Sustainable Development module. Through the initiative, students collaborated with peers and the wider community to tell stories from Rwanda’s fashion industry.
Since 2017, Westminster students have contributed to Rwanda’s social and economic development in a variety of ways, from creating marketing plans for emerging entrepreneurs to designing land-use strategies and working in partnership with the University of Rwanda. Building on this legacy, students from a range of courses have now come together to highlight the country’s vibrant fashion scene through podcasting, linked to the university-wide Rwanda Fashion Entrepreneurship Programme.
Working in groups of three, students developed new digital media skills under the guidance of Eleanor Roseblade, Senior Lecturer in Media, gaining hands-on experience using the University’s facilities and software. Each group explored different perspectives, capturing voices that offer insight into Rwanda and how it is perceived globally. By interviewing fellow students, Rwandan fashion entrepreneurs and members of the local community, they brought together a range of voices to inform and engage listeners.
To present their work, each group showcased their podcast at a VIP exhibition, where they outlined their creative process, the challenges they encountered and the inspiration behind their projects.
VIPs are central to the University of Westminster’s new home for careers and enterprise, Zone29, which provides students and graduates with access to work-related programmes, opportunities and experiences.
Speaking about the exhibition Milly Mah, an Economics and Management BA Honours student who was interviewed about the Co-Creating Rwanda’s Future project, said: “It was amazing to work in a team like we were in a proper job, discussing ideas and then going out to bring the podcast together. Now listening to the full finished product, it is such a rewarding feeling because you can really see something you contributed to exist in the real world.”
About presenting her work she continued: “We didn’t expect such a large audience, which was a bit overwhelming at first. But people were genuinely interested and asked thoughtful questions and even scanned our QR code to listen to the podcast. That’s when it really hit me that we were so lucky to get to be part of a project like this!”
Darrell Kofkin, Senior Lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship, Academic Director for the Co-Creating Rwanda VIP, added: “This project is a great example of what authentic innovative learning looks like in practice - students working across disciplines, applying their skills to real world contexts and learning with communities rather than about them. The cross college collaboration of students working together, and with the cross-college support from colleagues like Eleanor Roseblade and Simon Woolcott, has been essential in creating a learning experience that is creative, inclusive and genuinely impactful. We will showcase the podcasts at the Rwanda Fashion Exhibition Week in June and on the programme’s digital hub so many more people have the opportunity to listen to the important work of our students.”
The project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, 4: Quality Education and 17: Partnership for the Goals. 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.
Find out more about Vertically Integrated Projects at the University of Westminster
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