Conversations 4 Citizenship

Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong, Dr. Adam Peter Lang, Dr. Kamille Beye
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Education
  • Updated Monthly

Are you an educator or researcher seeking reliable resources about citizenship and human rights education? Are you interested in the burning issues of the day -- injustice, political polarization, politics of hate, economic populism, human rights violations, disinformation, racial and ethnic conflict and in other places -- and would like the opportunity to converse with experts on these topics? #Conversations4Citizenship is an educational resource for you. Each month, the podcast explores new ideas, insights and knowledge about citizenship and human rights education through fascinating conversations with scholars, doctoral students and practitioners across the world who have been involved in these fields of work or study. Each episode is hosted by experienced researchers from the Institute of Education, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society: Dr. Adam Lang, Dr. Kamille Beye and Dr. Stella Mi-cheong Cheong. In season three of #Conversations4citizenship, we are inviting any interested citizenship and human rights education researchers and practitioners to also join our podcast as possible guests. For expressions of interest, please click on the Join Us! link at the top of this page, and we will contact you shortly. You may email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com. Let us know what you think! Thank you for your kind support. ©Copyright 2026 conversations4citizenship-All rights reserved

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 44 | Dr. Rita Shome’s Reflections on Indian Youth’s Non-Violent Resistance as "Cockroaches"

    This episode of Conversations4Citizenship examined from multiple angles the serious educational and social crisis behind the "Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)" movement led by Indian Gen Z. Having lost deep trust in the system due to incidents such as the NEET medical entrance exam paper leaks, Indian youth transformed the insulting label thrown at them into a proactive symbol for non-violent digital solidarity and the restoration of lost dignity. Dr. Rita Shome pointed out that this desperate cry from the youth should not be reduced to a mere political protest, but rather embraced as powerful feedback directed at society and educational institutions. In particular, it was deeply resonant to emphasize going beyond a culture that evaluates an individual student's worth solely based on grades and certificates, and instead actively fostering "capability-centered learners" who can confront injustice non-violently and communicate healthily with others. Furthermore, it was a valuable conversation that made us realize once again how urgent the task is today to practice cyber ethics within social media spaces and cultivate responsible digital citizens. Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 44 | Dr. Rita Shome’s Reflections on Indian Youth’s Non-Violent Resistance as "Cockroaches"

  2. Aug 6

    Episode 43 | Universities as Bridge Actors for Climate Justice : Conversation with Prof. Tristan McCowan

    How should universities respond to a crisis they helped to create? In this episode of Conversations4Citizenship, Dr Kamille Beye and Dr Stella Cheong are joined by Professor Tristan McCowan of UCL, author of Universities and Climate Action, for a wide-ranging conversation on higher education and climate justice. Beginning with the historical complicity of universities in ecological breakdown, the discussion moves through their projective, expressive, and constructive roles, the nature of climate change as a wicked problem, and the uneven burdens borne by communities least responsible for the crisis. From there, the conversation turns to interdisciplinary collaboration, the tension between green workforce demands and higher education as a public good, and the challenge of engaging climate denial in everyday life. It closes with inspiring examples from Fiji, Tanzania, and Brazil, and a call to shape the post-2030 agenda together. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and join the global conversation. This episode is hosted by Dr. Kamille Beye. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible. You may also follow @c4cpodcast.bsky.social on Bluesky. We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C,  do not hesitate to reach out through the online participation form or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com  If you are curious about Climate Crisis and the Role of University check out his new book, 'Universities and Climate Action' and read his works linked below. McCowan. T. (2025).Universities and Climate Action. UCL Press. Mccowan, T., & Buckner, E. (2025). Critical Perspectives on Universities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Comparative Education Review, 69(4), 697-702. Buckner, E., McCowan, T., Faul, M. V., Welply, O., Jiménez, J., & Denton, F. (2025). Charting the path after 2030: what should higher education’s role be in the future of the sustainable development agenda?. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 1-20. Centre for Global Higher Education  Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 43 | Universities as Bridge Actors for Climate Justice : Conversation with Prof. Tristan McCowan

  3. Jul 15

    Episode 42 | Unlocking Minds: The Transformative Power of University-Prison Partnerships

    This episode of Conversations4Citizenship features Dr. Magdalena Fellner, an educational researcher exploring the systemic barriers to higher education within the German prison system and internationally. Interviewed by Kamille Beye, Stella Micheong Cheong and Adam Peter Lang, Dr. Fellner refutes the idea that the academic capability to study is an inherent trait, arguing instead that it is socially and institutionally constructed. She critique-analyzes how gatekeepers limit incarcerated individuals to basic skills and vocational training rather than transformational higher education, pointing out that female prisoners face even fewer academic opportunities. Dr. Fellner advocates for a relational, lifelong learning approach supported by robust university-prison partnerships, which dramatically lower recidivism rates. However, she stresses that education is a human right, not a cure-all, and must coexist with fundamental structural support. Finally, she previews her new research examining why highly educated individuals commit white-collar crimes. If you are curious about the Higher Education Institution-Prison Partnerships, check out her works below. Fellner, M. (2025). Universities as elite allies. Disclosing global patterns of inequality in tertiary education across time. In Wimmer, C. & Rieder, T. (Eds.), Global Inequalities. Leiden: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004733626_011 Fellner, M. & Dreisinger, B. (forthcoming). Education Not Incarceration Across Borders: Prison, University and Education Behind Bars. Special Issue, Tertiary Education and Management. https://link.springer.com/collections/afjgeefhde This meta-study of the United States shows that individuals who participated in educational programmes were 43% less likely to reoffend than those who did not, and that every dollar spent on correctional education saves taxpayers five dollars in reincarceration costs. See Davis, Lois M., Jennifer L. Steele, Robert Bozick, Malcolm V. Williams, Susan Turner, Jeremy N. V. Miles, Jessica Saunders, and Paul S. Steinberg. How Effective Is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go From Here? The Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation. RAND Corporation. 2014. Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 42 | Unlocking Minds: The Transformative Power of University-Prison Partnerships

  4. May 25

    Episode 41 | Unite Before You Ignite: Lessons from Nepal's Youth-Led Democracy

    This episode brings together three Nepali changemakers, public speaker Aadarsha Bikram Singh, lawyer Tanuja Pandey, and peacebuilding researcher, Dr. Nar Bahadur Saud, to unpack the historic September 2025 Gen Z movement that toppled Nepal's government. They explain how decades of corruption, forced out-migration, and a sudden social media ban pushed young people into the streets, fueled by the viral #NepoBaby and #NepoKids hashtags borrowed from Indonesia's earlier uprising. The conversation honors the 76 lives lost on September 9, traces the remarkably swift transition to a peaceful 2026 election, and introduces a parliament now full of young faces including a 36-year-old Prime Minister. But the guests are refreshingly honest about the uncertainty ahead: creeping populism, weak institutional memory, and the temptation to dismantle without rebuilding. Their closing advice for global youth movements is unforgettable — unite before you ignite, collaborate across generations, read history, and let love walk beside the rage. Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 41 | Unite Before You Ignite: Lessons from Nepal's Youth-Led Democracy

  5. Apr 18

    Episode 40 | Beyond "I Agree": Data Sovereignty and the AI Black Box Featuring Ken Katayama

    Welcome back to Conversations4Citizenship as we kick off Season 5 with our brand-new theme: "The New World Order". To get things started, hosts Stella and Kamille sit down with Ken Katayama, a Digital Policy Evangelist from Japan, for an eye-opening chat about our hyper-connected lives. Throughout the episode, they unpack the hidden dangers of the AI "black box" and explore what data sovereignty truly means when tech giants silently gather our most intimate details. Furthermore, the conversation seamlessly shifts to tackle the ethical implications of mass surveillance, highlighting the stark differences in global privacy laws—from Europe's strict GDPR to the fragmented rules in the US and developing nations. Ultimately, Ken leaves us with a powerful reminder that while technology will inevitably advance, keeping humans at the center and building genuine trust are the true keys to navigating our digital future. Tune in to discover why simply clicking "I Agree" is no longer enough to protect yourself!   Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 40 | Beyond "I Agree": Data Sovereignty and the AI Black Box Featuring Ken Katayama

  6. Mar 1

    Episode 08 | Season 4 Reflections and 2025 Year in Review with Dr. Kamille Beye

    In this Conversations4Citizenship Season 4 reflection, co-host Dr. Kamille Beye examines the profound global and educational disruptions of 2025. She highlights how cuts to USAID and university diversity funding emphasize the fragility of educational access, alongside global challenges like ongoing conflicts, the Syrian revolution, and the disruptive rise of AI. Amidst these shifting landscapes, Dr. Beye recaps Season 4's impactful episodes, which explored South Korean youth activism, philosophical diversity, school participatory budgeting, labor rights, higher education access, and the significance of memory sites. Acknowledging the heavy toll of political upheaval, misinformation, and climate change throughout the year, Beye draws inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reminding listeners to balance finite disappointment with infinite hope. She concludes by urging global citizens to remain deeply engaged, advocate for justice, and carry resilience forward as they navigate the uncertain headwinds of 2026. Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 08 | Season 4 Reflections and 2025 Year in Review with Dr. Kamille Beye

  7. Feb 3

    Episode 07 | Rethinking History with Prof. Korostelina: Identity, Reconciliation and the Power of Memory in Peacebuilding

    In this enlightening episode, Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong and her co-hosts welcome Dr. Karina Korostelina, Director of the Sustainable Peace Lab at George Mason University, to discuss the profound impact of collective memory on conflict and reconciliation. Korostelina argues that physical locations such as monuments and museums, are not merely static records of the past but active political tools that shape national identity and future conflict dynamics. She introduces concepts from her new book, Memory Sites and Conflict Dynamics, explaining how these sites often 'ascribe' negative traits to perceived enemies or 'enhance' a group's own narrative at the expense of others. Furthermore, the conversation challenges the traditional liberal peace model, advocating instead for a local turn that prioritizes community resilience and agonistic history—acknowledging multiple, coexisting interpretations of the same events. Ultimately, Dr. Korostelina emphasizes that education is key to disrupting monolithic narratives and fostering lasting peace. This episode is hosted by Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible. You may also follow @c4cpodcast.bsky.social on Bluesky. We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C,  do not hesitate to reach out through the online participation form or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com  If you are curious about Memory Sites and Conflict Dynamics, check out her new book, 'Memory Sites and Conflict DynamicsCollective Memory, Identity, and Power' and visit the Sustainable Peace Lab's website linked below. Korostelina, K. V. (2025). Memory Sites and Conflict Dynamics: Collective Memory, Identity, and Power. Routledge.Korostelina, K. V., Gopin, M., Helsing, J. W., & Özerdem, A. (Eds.). (2024). Identity and religion in peace processes: Mechanisms, strategies and tactics. Taylor & Francis.The Sustainable Peace Lab Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 07 | Rethinking History with Prof. Korostelina: Identity, Reconciliation and the Power of Memory in Peacebuilding

  8. Jan 4

    Episode 06 | Global Higher Education in Crisis: 3 Hosts' Perspectives from the US, UK, and Korea

    In this episode, Drs. Adam Peter Lang, Kamille Beye, and Stella Micheong Cheong engage in a comprehensive three-way discussion regarding the geopolitical and structural challenges facing higher education globally. Dr. Beye begins by highlighting the "tumultuous" landscape in the US, where the Trump administration’s policies against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have led to the revocation of research grants and created visa uncertainties for international students. Transitioning to South Korea, Dr. Cheong explains the intense societal pressure surrounding the "SKY" universities, describing a rigid "caste system" where academic credentials determine life success while vocational paths remain deeply stigmatized. Meanwhile, Dr. Lang details the UK’s deepening financial crisis, noting that nearly 40% of universities face deficits, resulting in mergers and significant staff redundancies. Despite these struggles, the hosts conclude with optimism, viewing these crises as potential catalysts for educational reform.       Contact Conversations4citizenship Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheongBluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.Email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.comSubmit your work us at CrossingsYou can now follow the Conversations4Citizenship on Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.socialBe part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Join Crossings and help us advance citizenship and human rights education worldwide.

    Episode 06 | Global Higher Education in Crisis: 3 Hosts' Perspectives from the US, UK, and Korea
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Are you an educator or researcher seeking reliable resources about citizenship and human rights education? Are you interested in the burning issues of the day -- injustice, political polarization, politics of hate, economic populism, human rights violations, disinformation, racial and ethnic conflict and in other places -- and would like the opportunity to converse with experts on these topics? #Conversations4Citizenship is an educational resource for you. Each month, the podcast explores new ideas, insights and knowledge about citizenship and human rights education through fascinating conversations with scholars, doctoral students and practitioners across the world who have been involved in these fields of work or study. Each episode is hosted by experienced researchers from the Institute of Education, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society: Dr. Adam Lang, Dr. Kamille Beye and Dr. Stella Mi-cheong Cheong. In season three of #Conversations4citizenship, we are inviting any interested citizenship and human rights education researchers and practitioners to also join our podcast as possible guests. For expressions of interest, please click on the Join Us! link at the top of this page, and we will contact you shortly. You may email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com. Let us know what you think! Thank you for your kind support. ©Copyright 2026 conversations4citizenship-All rights reserved

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong, Dr. Adam Peter Lang, Dr. Kamille Beye
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 conversations4citizenship-All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Conversations 4 Citizenship