Dr Kodili Chukwuma is an Assistant Professor and widening participation lead in the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA).
On 17 December 2024, SGIA hosted the regional Ethics Cup competition for schools in the North East of England at Durham University. Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham won first place followed by Teesdale School who will compete at the finals on 10 June 2025 at the University of St. Andrews.
My research looks broadly at International Security. More specifically, I look at counter-terrorism and terrorism: exploring how States and other authoritative actors, including international organisations such as the United Nations and the African Union, formulate policies, engage in, or endorse, various practises in the realm of counter-terrorism. I’m also interested in the social and political implications of these policies and practices.
The Ethics Cup is a competition run by St. Andrews University that promotes interest in philosophy among secondary school pupils and to model and promote civil discourse on issues of public concern. The format is a seminar-style conversation, rather than the traditional debate where people often talk over each other to express a particular point or persuade their audience. It allows pupils to discuss, engage and expand their ideas to learn from each other and develop ideas collaboratively.
The Ethics Cup encourages pupils and teachers from local secondary schools and colleges to visit a university and interact with its members in a friendly and exciting way. They discuss important ethical and political issues with their peers whilst exploring and enjoying different sites, which I think is an important part of a university's contribution to the local community. This has helped us to build stronger relationships with local schools in Durham by allowing them to connect with us in a creative and meaningful way. The Ethics Cup is a great way to break barriers, widen access, and increase participation and love for learning.
It gives pupils an opportunity to learn from each other. We invite students from different schools in the region, providing them with the chance to discuss and learn from their peers. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to learn in a friendly, creative way and interact with pupils from different schools.
I would say Durham is very welcoming and it's a lovely place to be. At Durham we always love to connect with people, schools, and pupils from the local community and beyond.
