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Oska is on the Political Science and International Relations pathway at the University of Warwick and completed a placement at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.

During their placement at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Stellenbosch University, Oska engaged in a range of academic activities that aligned with the initial aims of their visit while also yielding additional, unanticipated benefits. At UCC, they participated in departmental seminars, which provided valuable insights into current research and academic discussions within the Ghanaian context.

At Stellenbosch University, Oska participated actively in the department, and delivered a seminar titled ‘Homosocialities of Solidarity: African Men’s Responses to Displacement in Greece’ as part of the Centre of Critical and Creative Thought. The seminar was well received, generating constructive feedback.

The OIV placement gave them the time to write an article of the same title as the seminar, which they submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

An unexpected but productive outcome of Oska’s time in South Africa was the organisation of a collaborative book launch for the Routledge Handbook of Masculinities, Post-Conflict and Peace, in which they have a chapter, and the Routledge Handbook on Men and Masculinities.

Furthermore, they met with a representative from the Children’s Radio Foundation to explore the possibility of adapting their research into a podcast episode, broadening the dissemination of their findings.

Oska feels that the placement has already strengthened their PhD through feedback, publications, and interdisciplinary engagement, while the professional relationships and public dissemination strategies developed during this time will likely have long-term benefits for their career trajectory.