From Sydney University to Roma Communities: Alex Stan’s Journey in Social Justice
Sydney, September 25, 2025 — For many, studying at one of the world’s top universities is a dream. For Alex Stan, it is also a responsibility. Now in the final semester of his Master of Social Justice (Human Rights) at the University of Sydney, Stan is preparing to take what he has learned in Australia back to Roma communities across Romania and Europe. His studies have been made possible through a joint scholarship program between USYD and the Roma Education Fund (REF), a partnership designed to open doors to higher education for Roma students. Read more about the program HERE
Since arriving in Sydney, Stan has embraced every opportunity to deepen his academic training while testing it in real-world settings. A highlight was his internship with the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), where he worked on peace communication strategies. His contributions included promoting the Global Terrorism Index and supporting IEP’s outreach on social media — experience that allowed him to bridge human rights theory with practice in the field of global peace and security.
Stan also joined a study visit to Bangalore, India, coordinated by Dr. Susan Banki. Alongside fellow social justice students, he explored the concept of food justice in South Asia. For Stan, the trip carried a personal layer of meaning:
“Alongside what I studied at university, I tried to better understand the Indian heritage of the Roma. In many ways, I wanted to see just how significant the Indian piece is in the mosaic of the culture I belong to. I hope to write more about this soon.”
Academically, Stan has focused on human rights systems, international treaties, and social issues communication. Yet his studies have also sparked a deeper interest: rethinking the very concept of poverty. Rather than treating poverty as an inevitable condition, he has been asking how economic resources are distributed and how structural inequalities continue to marginalize vulnerable groups, including Roma communities in Europe.
As graduation approaches in November, Stan is clear about his next steps. He wants to bring back the highest-quality knowledge and skills to empower and build resilient Roma communities and to continue his work as a human rights advocate. For REF, which has supported his journey, Stan’s trajectory is a powerful reminder of what access to quality education can achieve, not only for one student but for an entire community.
With Roma youth facing systemic barriers to higher education across Europe, stories like Stan’s underline the transformative potential of targeted scholarships and international academic partnerships.
