Meet Daniel, new DPhil student and Oxford-Kellogg Scholar
Daniel Hawkins Iddrisu is an Oxford-Kellogg Graduate Scholar and started a DPhil in Education last month.
Tell us about your journey to Kellogg.
My journey to Kellogg College has been a roller coaster, yet transformative. During my undergraduate degree in Education and Sociology at the University of Ghana, I cultivated a profound interest in local and global educational issues. Viewing these through a sociological lens has shaped my subsequent academic research trajectory.
After graduating, I joined the School of Education and Leadership at the University of Ghana for my National Service, assuming the role of a Research Assistant. During this time, my passion for researching grew, leading me to pursue an MPhil in Education, Globalisation, and International Development at the University of Cambridge.
Following an internship at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, I worked as a Research Assistant at Cambridge’s REAL Centre. Here, I mapped literature in early childhood development research led by sub-Saharan African-based researchers and contributed to updating the African Education Research Database (AERD). These experiences increased my interest in education and international development, leading me to apply for this DPhil in Education at Oxford.
What is your intended research?
I hope to conduct a comparative analysis of students characterised as “disadvantaged” and those often perceived as “advantaged” in Ghana. I aim to see where their quest for knowledge and skills for competitive employment diverge. I also want to look at the policy and support systems available for students and examine how these vary across institutions. How do those well-resourced institutions compare to those with limited resources?
What are you looking forward to the most about starting at Oxford and Kellogg?
I am excited to join the vibrant and inclusive community of Kellogg College. I am particularly drawn to the College’s commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. I am equally excited about the opportunity to attend formal dinners with academics and Fellows and engage in intellectually stimulating conversations.
The prospect of engaging with a diverse community of scholars from various disciplines and backgrounds is particularly appealing, as it presents opportunities for learning and intellectual exchange. And, of course, I look forward to playing football for the University and the Kellogg men’s football team!
What impact will your Scholarship have on your studies?
Receiving this Scholarship will substantially lighten the financial burden and enable me to wholly dedicate myself to my academic and research pursuits. It will help me to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available such as attending conferences.
Ultimately, the Scholarship has helped me realise my potential and ability to make a meaningful impact through my studies and future career. I hope this scholarship will inspire my family, people close to me, and those beyond my immediate borders.
Where do you hope the future will lead you?
My ambition is to leverage this world-class education to pursue a career in international education research and policy analysis, contributing to impactful policy-making and sustainable development in the Global South. In the future, I would love to hold leadership roles within international organisations such as the World Bank and the United Nations.