Staff profile

Dr Giulia Levi


She/Her

Lecturer in Public Services

Giulia Levi smiles at the camera with a cityscape in the background

Academic unit

College of Health and Humanities

Research centre

Centre for Applied Social Sciences, Policy, Practice and Research

Email

g.levi@derby.ac.uk

About

My main research interests centre on post-war reconciliation processes, memory, and approaches to strengthening social cohesion in diverse societies. I am particularly interested in how learning from experiences of war and displacement can foster dialogue and mutual understanding, as well as improve services for the most vulnerable groups.

With the view of reframing media and policy debates on refugees, I currently serve as Co-Investigator on the AHRC-funded project "CONNECTING SOLIDARITIES: An exploration of refugee-led solidarity through community archiving, social mapping and public exhibition," in partnership with the Derby Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Association.

My academic practice is shaped by over a decade of professional experience in the civil society sector, particularly in relations to Bosnia and Herzegovina. During my time at the Alexander Langer Foundation, where I am now a member of the Scientific Committee, I led and collaborated on a number of youth-focused projects in Srebrenica that use archival tools to preserve memory and foster interethnic dialogue.

At the University of Derby, I am an active member of the Centre for Applied Social Sciences, Policy, Practice and Research (CASSPPR), where I co-convene the annual Derbyshire Refugee Conference, and collaborate closely with colleagues and local organisations to strengthen cross-sector partnerships that promote social cohesion across Derby and Derbyshire. I also contribute to the University’s Civic Operations Group, supporting its civic mission and community impact agenda.

All these experiences directly inform my teaching across Sociology and Criminology programmes, where I lead and contribute to modules focused on civil society, activism and community and public services responses to inequality and social exclusion.

Teaching responsibilities

My current teaching involves modules within the Master of Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management MSc. At the undergraduate level, I teach across the Sociology and Criminology programmes in modules such as “Social theory, activism and change”, “Community solutions to crime” and “Patterns of Inequalities”.

I undertake PhD supervisions within the College of Health and Humanities.

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

I hold a PhD in Social Sciences from Bournemouth University (2023), where my research explored civil society initiatives aimed at bridging societal divisions in both post-war Bosnia and the post-Brexit UK. There, I developed expertise in qualitative research methods, particularly ethnography, in-depth interviews, and creative, collaborative methodologies.

MA in International Relations at the MIREES, Interdisciplinary Master’s in East European Research and Studies, University of Bologna, with specialisation in Human Rights at the University of Sarajevo.

Recent conferences

University of Derby Civic Lab Conference - Connected Communities I presented the paper “Connecting students and charities to work towards safer communities: A Community-Engaged Learning experience”, with Dr Rachel Rafferty. June 2025.

University of Derby Derbyshire Refugee Conference - I presented the paper about the early phase of the AHRC funded project: "Connecting Solidarities: An exploration of refugee-led solidarity through community archiving, social mapping and public exhibition", of which I am the Co-I, with Associate Professor Larissa Allwork (PI). June 2025.

Warsaw, Poland Maria Grzegorzewska University, Conference ‘Researching discursive and linguistic barriers to social inclusion’ - I presented the paper: ”‘We are all humans, we are all the same’: exploring civil society actors' efforts to rebuild community cohesion amidst the polarising discourse of Brexit”. September 2024.

Merano, Italy, Pedagogy, Ecology and the Arts Conference - I presented the paper: “Positive role models in peace education - Reflections from the work of Professor Anna Bravo” (published in 2025). September 2024.

University of Derby University of Derby Pedagogy Conference - I presented the paper “Using restorative pedagogy to invite student engagement and belonging: Reflections from peacebuilders-turned-academics” with Dr Rachel Rafferty. July 2024.

Recent publications

Non-academic publications