We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 42 & 43 feature conversations with Hugh Starkey. Hugh Starkey is an Emeritus Professor of Citizenship and Human Rights Education at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society. His research focuses on education for democratic citizenship and human rights education (EDC/HRE) from an intercultural perspective. From 2019 to 2024, he co-convened the World Educational Research Association’s International Research Network on Human Rights Education, which evolved into the International Association for Human Rights Education. Hugh’s latest book, co-authored with Lee Jerome, is Children’s Rights Education in Diverse Classrooms: Pedagogy, Principles and Practice (2021). He has led major European-funded projects on citizenship and human rights education and served as a consultant for numerous governments, as well as for organizations such as the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the European Commission, and the British Council. Hugh has supervised 25 successful doctoral students who have conducted research in regions including East Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit his UCL profile and access his lectures, articles, and materials on children’s rights at his publisher’s website.
Episode 42: Hugh Starkey, Part One
In Episode 42, Dr. Hugh Starkey discusses the origins of his interest in human rights and human rights education, highlighting his transformative experiences working in Algeria. He describes how the World Studies curriculum and pedagogy influenced his approach, along with his work with the Council of Europe, which deepened his awareness of human rights issues. Hugh connects his background in language and intercultural education to human rights education, emphasizing the importance of integrating controversial issues within language education to enable democratic participation among learners. He then explores the relationships between nationalism and cosmopolitanism, arguing that cosmopolitanism can coexist with patriotism while addressing the challenges of nationalism in undermining universal human rights claims. Hugh advocates for incorporating human rights within multicultural education, envisioning a reimagined nation as a multicultural entity that confronts the legacy of colonialism. He later outlines steps for enhancing children’s rights, discussing the significance of participation rights in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and encouraging educators and children to familiarize themselves with the CRC, supported by organizations like Amnesty International and UNICEF.
Topics discussed:
- Transformative experiences from working in Algeria.
- Influence of the World Studies curriculum and pedagogy
- Increased awareness of human rights through work with the Council of Europe
- Connections between language education and human rights issues
- Importance of democratic focus in enabling learners to speak
- Role of global citizenship education in promoting human rights
- The relationship between nationalism and cosmopolitanism
- Incorporation of human rights in multicultural education and children’s rights initiatives
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE
Episode 43: Hugh Starkey, Part Two
In Episode 42, Dr. Hugh Starkey discusses the crucial role of school leaders in promoting human rights education (HRE) despite facing political constraints. He explores the connections between social justice, global citizenship, and HRE, highlighting the influence of Malcolm X on advocacy efforts. Hugh emphasizes the importance of building a culture of human rights both locally and globally, positioning social justice as a core aim achieved through HRE initiatives. He addresses the rights of migrants and the dehumanization strategies employed against them, recommending Council of Europe resources for educators. Hugh then argues that expanding knowledge about human rights is vital in countering authoritarianism and stresses the importance of popular education and community involvement in advancing these efforts. He reflects on influential figures like John Dewey, René Cassin, and Eleanor Roosevelt, citing a key quote from the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that encapsulates essential principles. Lastly, Hugh advocates for integrating human rights education into teacher training programs and underscores the necessity for government action in the United Kingdom to ensure educators are well-prepared to teach HRE in their classrooms.
Topics discussed:
- School leaders’ role in human rights education
- Social justice and global citizenship connections
- Malcolm X’s influence on human rights
- Building a culture of human rights
- Migrant rights in human rights education
- Dehumanization tactics against migrants
- Knowledge expansion on human rights and authoritarianism
- Popular education and community organizations’ role
- Human rights education in UK teacher training programs
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
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