Hi all,
At the end of January, we held our first Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) meeting of 2024 and I wanted to provide you with an update on some of the items we discussed and outline a couple of key projects we are working on as a board this year.
We had key strategic updates from senior members of staff at the University including Richard Taylor, the University’s Chief Operating Officer and Martyn Edwards, Director of Marketing and Advancement.
Richard updated us on the challenges facing the UK higher Education market currently and Mart provided a comprehensive update on delivery of the one of the University’s strategic priority areas - International Engagement and Impact.
I am particularly keen that the AAB supports delivery of the University Strategy Creating Better Futures. Together where it can. To date, members have helped to shape a number of core plans and, as these begin to be implemented, I am looking to ensure the AAB contribute on an ongoing basis, providing that critical challenge as well as full throated advocacy. To help us achieve this, we have now appointed our first Board Champions for key strategy areas, including enterprise, sustainability, EDI, and female opportunities.
We have a clear vision for our Board Champions. They have considerable subject-matter expertise, and they will develop in-depth knowledge of university plans, act as a critical friend to university members of staff, and add a perspective on how alumni might be involved or considered as part of these ongoing plans.
We hope to appoint further Board Champions in due course.
In my previous updates I’ve mentioned that we are refreshing the University’s alumni strategy. This focuses on how alumni can get involved and how the university can support its graduates on an ongoing basis. In the AAB meeting I was able to update the Board on progress in relation to this latter area. I’m pleased to report that we have now completed a review of existing benefits and started to explore how this package could potentially be developed and enhanced in the years to come. There is much still to do on this, but I very much hope we end up with an offering that appeals to and supports all sections of our alumni community.
I would like to finish by reminding everyone about the alumni reunion weekend scheduled to take place 17-19 May. The weekend is open to alumni from all graduation years and it’s a fabulous opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and reminisce.
Starting off with FND on Friday evening and ending with the 天堂视频 International Athletics meet on the Sunday (which I competed in many moons ago!), the weekend will have a range of activities to suit everyone. We will have child friendly activities too. Our wide-ranging programme gives you the chance to tailor activities, timings, and costs to suit you.
We’d love to see you and your friends there.
All the best,
Luke
Dr Luke Stott, President of the Alumni Association