Franklin Obeng-Odoom, Professor of Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki, describes how his International Students House experience shaped his life and academic research.
I lived at International Students House while studying at UCL’s Development Planning Unit as a Commonwealth Scholar. The unit had an agreement with ISH to host its scholars. I was at 229 Great Portland Street, while the other scholar in my year, Dr Fred Wamalwa, currently with the African Development Bank, was at Mary Trevelyan Hall.
One of the chapters in my book, ‘Global Migration Beyond Limits‘, actually uses the example of finding student accommodation as an inroad into the complexities of migration.
It was my own experience that gave me that awareness, complemented by more systematic research into the experiences of other international students around the world.
Migration analysts pay much less attention to international student housing, but it is vital to the experience of international students. The model at ISH is certainly one way to address these challenges.
The events that brought us all together at the House were special, but so were daily mealtimes in the student canteen.
Not only did these moments afford the opportunity to learn so much about the worlds which all of us international students inhabited prior to our stay at ISH, but we also got to learn more about British society.
One particularly memorable occasion was when it snowed. It happened only once, around 23 January 2007. A note from another resident captured the mood:
‘Did you see the snow? Can you imagine when I woke up in the morning and I looked at Regent’s Park and the whole park was covered in snow. I was happy and it was my wish to see the snow…’.
Increasingly a rarity in British society, many Brits were as elated to see the snow as we international students. For me, it was one more moment to experience cosmopolitanism at ISH.
ISH IS BOTH A HOME FOR THE COSMOPOLITAN PRODUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND A MAJOR SITE FOR FRIENDSHIP, FEEDBACK AND FEEDFORWARD.
After my studies and leaving the House, I returned to Ghana and found work. Later, I left for the USA and then I won a scholarship to do a doctorate at the University of Sydney. I taught in Australia until I moved to Helsinki.
The seeds for my PhD scholarship were sowed at ISH and UCL, where I realised that I would like to pursue a doctorate in political economy.
While still at ISH, I established contact with Professor Frank Stilwell, then at the Department of Economics, University of Sydney. I recall crafting some of my emails to him in the ISH reading rooms and discussing some of our correspondence with friends at mealtimes.
Living in Australia created a geographical distance from ISH, but not a distance from the memories, nor the friendships, nor ISH news.
Some of the friends I made at ISH also went on to study or work elsewhere in the world
So, it is fair to say that my international career started at ISH, where I was a resident during my studies at UCL, ‘London’s Global University’.
Looking back, I realise just how much the skills honed at IsH – to build, manage, or work in a cosmopolitan space – could become such a major asset.
To current residents, I say, take the opportunities at the House fully.
Beyond the accommodation offered by ISH, build and accommodate the social bonds. These relationships will outlast your residency and the physical location of 229 Great Portland Street (I never, ever forget this address).
And always return to ISH when you can. As a space, ISH is both a home for the cosmopolitan production of knowledge and a major site for friendship, feedback and feedforward.
Years after I left ISH, I continue to receive comments on my work from both current and former residents.