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Final year psychology students tackle human trafficking
On the 14th July, the UoNL final year psychology students tackled one of society’s most pressing and complex issues – human trafficking - at a recent poster conference which brought together critical thinking, academic research, and a passion for social justice.
Held as part of their practical assessments for the Criminal Behaviour and Society module, the event challenged students to explore cases of human trafficking in the UK. Each participant presented an academic poster on case studies that ranged from forced labour in illegal cannabis farms, domestic servitude, modern slavery, sexual exploitation (e.g. Operation Strey) and organ trafficking (e.g. Operation Manoa).
The conference encouraged students to examine the issue of human trafficking from psychological, sociological, and criminological perspectives. Their work reflected a strong understanding of the lived experiences of victims, the motivations behind trafficking offences, and the challenges of rehabilitation for offenders. Dr. Adina Bozga (lecturer and module lead) praised the students' work: "This conference is a powerful example of how academic learning can be applied to real-world issues.
Our psychology students demonstrated not only critical analysis and research skills, but also empathy and a commitment to social justice.” In the words of one of the students (Simona Koleva): “Presenting our posters on modern slavery and human trafficking at the university was an eye-opening and memorable experience, even though the topic itself was quite heavy. We were proud to welcome visits from the Academic Director and several Psychology lecturers, which really made us feel that our work was valued and supported. Discussing our research with both staff and students created a supportive atmosphere and gave us the confidence to share complex ideas in a way that could truly make a difference.
Raising awareness about these issues feels especially important, and we hope that by sharing what we have learned, future students will be better equipped to understand and help prevent these problems in society. Overall, being part of this event was inspiring, and it felt great to see our efforts have a positive impact within the university community”.
