EDI Dialogues: Navigating Academic Life in London

Autumn marks a seasonal time of new beginnings at the university, and it also commences a year-long celebration and acknowledgement of UCL’s rich and diverse global community. Throughout October the UK observes Black History Month – centring and celebrating the experiences of Black people specifically from African and Caribbean backgrounds – which focuses this year on Reclaiming Narratives.

Between mid-October and mid-November each year, millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world celebrate Diwali (दिवाली) or Deepavali (தீபாவளி) a five-day Festival of Lights. This festival marks new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. For some, the festival also coincides with harvest and New Year celebrations – much like the start of a new school year.

The Bartlett School of Architecture is delighted to host a Students' Federation of India, United Kingdom (SFI UK) post-welcome week EDI Dialogues session. The two-hour event is tailored to international students who have just moved to London from Southern Asia as a lead-in event to Diwali/Deepavali. However, all are welcome to attend.

SFI UK has gathered several speakers to address different themes during this session including, but not limited to, sharing important resources such as helplines, good academic practice and other opportunities for international students such as managing finances, part-time roles and navigating the jobs market.

Speakers

• Dr Niharika Pandit: Feminist Theorist and Lecturer In Sociology, Queen Mary University London
• Samir Pasha: Criminal, Human Rights & Immigration Barrister, Justitia Chambers
• Somiha Chatterjee: Senior Associate, Deloitte
• Ragesree Roy: PhD Candidate in Environmental Humanities, University of Warwick

More information

SFI UK was founded in 2022, as the first international unit of the Student's Federation of India, which is an Indian left-wing student organisation that is politically aligned to the ideologies of freedom, democracy and socialism.

Image: Maxwell Mutanda