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(Photos by Stuart Robinson, University Photographer)

Left: Sarah Al Saeid; right: Zeina Al Azmeh

Keynote Speaker, Prof Aziz Al-Azmeh, Central European University, Vienna.

Jeeda Alhakim

Top: Aziz Al-Azmeh, Isabelle Saba, Aqeel Abdulla, Jasmin Lilian Diab, Zeina Al Azmeh. Bottom left: Jeeda Alhakim, Azzam Al Kassir, Lily Ridwan, Ghada Ezzo. Bottom right: Bowen Tan, Claire Spencer, Ed Hughes.

On 18-19 September 2025, academics and distinguished scholars from universities all over the UK and beyond joined researchers, artists and policymakers here at Falmer for the first international conference of the increasingly influential SARN UK, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

Only founded in 2022, the Syrian Academics and Researchers’ Network in the UK aims to amplify the work of UK-based Syrian scholars by placing Syrian voices at the heart of academic, cultural and political discourse on Syria here in Britain. SARN UK now provides a crucial and very timely platform for intellectual exchange and multidisciplinary collaborative research as well as critical engagement with a wide range of Syria-related topics at this important moment in geopolitical change.

“This conference marks a milestone in the development of SARN UK thanks to the generous support of the AHRC grant we won last year to fund the Network’s activities in its nascent phase,” explained Dr Feras Alkabani, AHRC Award PI, SARN UK founding Co-President and Associate Professor of Comparative Literature in the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities (MAH). “It is the culmination of a programme of events including in-person workshops at the University of Cambridge, online symposia linking Syria and the UK, the formation of seven interdisciplinary research clusters and the launch of a database of Syrian scholars working in the UK. Now this conference at Sussex has succeeded in establishing a lasting platform for future collaboration, knowledge exchange and inclusive, critical scholarship.” 

“The conference offered a valuable space to reflect collectively on the current moment, both in Syria and in exile, and to consider the intellectual, cultural, and practical work needed in this uncertain and transformative phase,” added Dr Zeina Al Azmeh, Award Co-I, SARN UK founding Co-President, Political Sociologist and Fellow of Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. “The atmosphere was one of solidarity, critical exchange, and passionate commitment: a rare and necessary opportunity for a dispersed academic community to come together to deliberate at such a critical conjuncture.”

Opening the conference, Dr Alkabani told the delegates, “When I first came to Sussex in 2007, I was the only Syrian here. Now look. We have our own academic network to support both Syria-based and diaspora scholars with events, mentorship schemes and collaborative projects. And now this international conference here at the University of Sussex.”

Revolving around the theme of Rebuilding Syria, the two-day conference featured a diverse and stimulating range of academic, cultural and political activities which included a keynote lecture by prominent Syrian historian, Professor Aziz Al-Azmeh of the Central European University in Vienna, four panels showcasing the latest research on Syria on a wide range of topics and followed by lively inclusive debates and round table discussions.

“I couldn’t think of a more important application of the power of interdisciplinary research collaboration in the arts and humanities and social sciences,” declared Professor Ed Hughes (Professor of Composition in Music and Associate Dean for Global and Civic Engagement in MAH) who attended second day of the conference debates. See Prof Hughes’s full statement on the conference on his LinkedIn page here. 

“No Syrian, exiled or other, has emerged unscathed from the violence and repression of the Assad era. It was thus inspiring, as well as humbling, to engage at this conference with Syrian academics from such diverse backgrounds all sharing in the quest to understand the dynamics of conflict and refugee communities, the better to envisage a Syrian nation free of the pitfalls and enmities of the past,” said Dr Claire Spencer, Advisor at the Middle East Association (MEA), who gave a talk about the MEA’s work and collaboration opportunities with SARN UK. “The work of the Middle East Association has much to learn from this process: of challenging underlying assumptions and agreeing to differ, whilst also acknowledging and respecting the wrongs done to all Syrian communities.”

The conference also featured two exhibitions: one of photography of the Syrian revolution (Of Revolution and Hope by Palestinian-Syrian artist, Qusai Aljaradat) and one of antique Orientalist books on Syria (by SARN UK founding member, Political Scientist, Dr Azzam Al Kassir, with input from Feras Alkabani). See the full Programme here.

“The conversations at the conference were diverse as well as challenging, but what struck me most was how organic and genuine the working environment felt, creating an inspiring space to reflect on new futures for Syria,” declared Dima Mahjoub, Refugee Practitioner & Researcher in Migration Politics and Governance, who travelled from Berlin to speak at the conference. 

The conference concluded with a reception and a live Syrian Oud performance. As Professor of Music Ed Hughes reported, “After the debates, something unexpected and magical happened at the end - delegates singing and dancing to the subtle and beautiful Oud music of Rihab Azar”. Rihab is a renowned Syrian Oud player, composer and recording artist, a celebrated musician who trained at the Conservatoire of Damascus and now lives in London and we are honoured she agreed to come and perform at Sussex University to mark the importance of this event.

The Conference Organisers would especially like to thank Michelle Gibson, Artist and Senior Research Co-Ordinator in MAH, whose hard work and event expertise ensured the conference was run so successfully.

Building on this success of our conference here at Sussex, next year’s SARN UK Conference has already been scheduled for 17-18 September 2026 and will be hosted by the University of Cambridge at Newnham and Selwyn Colleges.

For more information, please see the SARN UK webpage or contact Dr Feras Alkabani (f.alkabani@sussex.ac.uk).

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