Welcome to the latest edition of the alumni enewsletter. This edition comprises of four sections:
UEL Latest News, Engaging with UEL, UEL Alumni Network including forthcoming alumni events in the UK and overseas, and Career Development and Entrepreneurship.
We’ve recently sent out issue 5 of Now and Then, the magazine for our alumni community. If you didn’t receive your copy then that means we probably don’t hold a valid address for you. Please do email in with your address if this is the case.
Over the last couple of months we’ve been preparing for the next semester and our autumn programme of events. Take a look at what we’ve got coming up from now until Christmas – hopefully there will be an event that you find of interest. We’ve got a wide variety of events both in the UK and overseas. Overseas, we’re building on our activities in India and Africa. And in the UK, we're holding the second Creative Arts Industries event, among others.
Also in this enewsletter are interesting ways for you to help out and get involved at UEL. We have opportunities and initiatives for:
PGCE Primary graduates
BME alumni in the UK
Alumni who would like to help at graduation ceremonies and at our Open days
Courses for those who want to be their own boss.
Please read about these further and let us know if you are interested. As you know, our students benefit hugely from the experiences of our alumni, so if there is any way you would like to help, then we hope we can use your talents!
I hope you will enjoy reading it. As always we look forward to receiving your stories, comments and suggestions.
Emma Cale
Alumni Development Officer
e.cale@uel.ac.uk
+44 (0) 20 8223 2222
One of our students is racing towards future success at World Championships and the London 2012 Games after setting a European record in Switzerland earlier this year in the 200 metres race with an amazing time of 20.38 seconds.
Jeffrey Lawal Balogun, 22, is back at UEL for his final year in Marketing in September and narrowly missed the Athletics World Championships in Berlin in August this year despite coming first in the 200 metres race at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace in July.
South of England under-23 sprint champion Jeffrey, was spotted three years ago by a member of Kent Athletics Club as he sprinted through Bromley town Centre when he was late for a Business Studies seminar at UEL’s Docklands Campus.
Within a year, Jeffrey was already competing in the European Under-23 Championships and now has his sights firmly set on the World Championships and afterwards on running for team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. He has already knocked half a second off his personal best this year
He said: “At the moment I’m no 1 in the UK and Europe and every time I pass the Olympic stadium in Stratford to go to training, I keep telling myself that’s where I want to be. I’m also busy balancing my studying with practicing six days a week.
“Even though I live in south London, I train in Newham and I’d like to think I’m a role model for young people around the country. Some youngsters don’t have direction and I hope I can inspire them to join a club or realise that their talent can be spotted like mine was.”
UEL already provides a range of professional health and sports science programmes and is investing in major new sports facilities.
Distinguished media lawyer and UEL graduates, Mark Stephens has been announced as our new Chair of Governors.
Mark Stephens studied Law at UEL (when it was the North East London Polytechnic) in the early 1980s and after graduating developed his career as a champion of artistic expression. Now a senior member of the law firm Finers Stephens Innocent, Mark has practiced before every level of Court in England and Wales, and regularly appears before the European Court of Human Rights and the Privy Council.
Mark is also a prolific commentator, broadcaster, blogger and writer and his views on arts, law, media and human rights are frequently sought by the media. He holds a number of Government sanctioned, regulatory and charitable appointments.
Mark Stephens said: "I have lived in East London for thirty-four years and it is an honour to have been elected to serve my local university - a university of which I am proud to be a graduate. I hope that everyone will join me in moving our university forward to ever greater success in the years ahead".
Roy Pointer, Deputy Chair, who led the search for a new Chair said: "I am delighted that Mark Stephens has agreed to become our new Chair. Mark's association with the University of East London goes back many years and his commitment to UEL is very strong"
Fifteen talented final year Fashion Design students showed off their stunning individual collections at Graduate Fashion Week in June at Earls Court. The students were chosen after displaying their collections before a panel and now have the chance to participate at the high profile event, which showcases the very best of student design from around the UK.
The event includes over 50 of the top fashion and textile universities in the UK and overseas, and featured a static exhibition and two theatres hosting 20 shows over four days with a finale Gala Fashion Shows and Awards.
In previous years, our students have won prizes and in 2007, student Kelly Shaw’s garments were bought by Victoria Beckham after she judged a gala show. Attendees at the show include talent scouts, photographers, journalists and buyers from around the world as well as the students' families, tutors and friends.
Julie O'Sullivan, Senior Lecturer at the School of AVA, said: "I'm delighted to see such a wonderful variety of collections going through to Graduate Fashion Week this year. Our students have worked incredibly hard and it's great to see them so excited about showcasing their designs, I wish them all the success at the show!"
One selected student, Sarah Seaton Burridge, 22, from Senrab Street, E1, has already gained entry into the prestigious Royal College of Arts starting in September this year where she will start studying for a Masters in women's wear. Sarah said: "It's unbelievable that I've been selected for the Royal College, I didn't expect it and I'm really looking forward to it."
AVA Fashion Design is renowned as one of the best programmes in the UK and the School also has an exhibition stand where portfolios are on display for graduating students. UEL has excellent links in the fashion industry and is a leading University for Fashion and Textiles. For further information visit www.uel.ac.uk/ava /www.uel.ac.uk/ava
After the great success of our first telethon campaign in February 2009; where our generous Alumni pledged and donated over £90,000 to the University. We are once again picking up the phones.
The Development and Alumni Office is busy planning the Universities next two telethon campaigns which will run in November 2009 and February 2010. Our call team of current students are again eager to speak with you and hear your memories of UEL, career progression stories, life news and updates. So make sure your contact details are correct, so you don’t miss out on a call!
The students will also be able to fill you in on all the Universities latest developments and the Annual Fund as well as explaining how you can support the University and become a ‘Friend of UEL’
The Annual Fund currently supports fantastic projects;
With the help of our Alumni these projects can come to life!
The Development and Alumni Office have some very exciting plans for the year ahead, including a series of sponsored events and mailings, giving you lots of opportunities to engage with UEL, if you want to get involved keep an eye out for more information in the next few months.
And finally we would like to take the opportunity to again thank all of our generous Donors who are playing their part in the future of UEL
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
2nd September
4-7pm, and 17th October 12-4pm,
Docklands and Stratford campuses
Would you like to volunteer at the Open Evenings and chat to prospective students about the course you studied and you current job? If you can offer any advice and informal guidance to our new students we would love to hear from you. To participate, please contact alumni@uel.ac.uk
Fri 25th September
Trinity Buoy Wharf Arts Complex
3pm
All alumni are welcome to attend the launch of the innovative new Institute for Performing Arts Development (IPAD) dance studios and facilities on. The event will take place at the Chainstore, a listed warehouse, which is part of the stylish Trinity Buoy Wharf arts complex.
This is a great opportunity to network, meet our tutors and engage with dance professionals from across London. You will also be able to watch our new creative students performing their first choreographed piece.
Our location at Trinity Buoy Wharf is an important step for IPAD and places UEL and dance at the centre of a thriving creative community in East London.
Now in it's third year, UEL’s ‘Dance: Urban Practice programme’ is the fastest growing dance degree in the UK, and it is set to triple its intake in September.
If you would like to attend, or receive more information, then please RSVP by 1st September to Becky Williams at events@uel.ac.uk or 020 8223 2884.
Thursday 15th October
Lecture at 5.15pm
By Professor Steven Trevillion, Dean of our School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The case of Baby Peter has led many people to argue that in recent years there has been too great a focus on prevention and that it is time for the pendulum to swing back towards protection. This lecture will take issue with this argument and seek to show that it is rooted in some fundamental misconceptions about the nature of preventive social work and its relationship to concerns about protection. The lecture will develop a set of arguments first put forward by Professor Trevillion in 2008 in ‘Preventive Social Work’, a chapter he wrote for The Art of Social Work Practice edited by Toyin Okitikpi and Cathy Aymer.
Alumni who are in Social Work or Psychosocial Studies, or anyone with an interest in the topic is welcome to attend
For further information, please click here www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries
Our successful and ever expanding alumni group in Ghana, led by Rockson Atakole (2005 MSc Public Health), will be holding the 3rd annual dinner. All alumni in Ghana are welcome to attend this enjoyable meal and networking opportunity.
We will be visiting Nigeria in October and are holding a buffet dinner and networking reception for our Nigerian alumni. The evening is being organised in association with our Nigerian Alumni Group, led by Oriade Akinwumi (2008 BA Hons International Business)
October - dates and venues in Accra and Lagos TBC
To register your interest for either of these events, please email alumni@uel.ac.uk
Thurs 22nd October
Venue TBC
6-9pm
Following on from the success of last years event for alumni and students involved in the creative arts, we are holding our second event. The evening will be hosted in an artistic space with a range of speakers from the creative industries to offer advice and information to our students and graduates.
To register your interest, please email alumni@uel.ac.uk
Wed 28th October, Taj Bhanjara Hotel, Hyderabad 6-10pm
Following on from the launch event in Hyderabad, India last year, we will be visiting the city to meet alumni for an enjoyable evening of information, food, drink and socialising. If you live in Andhra Pradesh and would like to come along to meet fellow graduates in your region, hear about the latest news from UEL and see how you can get involved in the alumni group, please register your place at alumni@uel.ac.uk
Sat 31st October, Taj Mahal Hotel, Delhi, 6-10pm
In association with honorary graduate Lord Bill Lall and our Delhi Chapter Alumni Group, we are hosting a reunion dinner with information, networking, food and drink for all our alumni in Delhi and the surrounding regions.
The Executive Committee of the group will be hosting the evening, along with a delegation from UEL. Please do attend for an enjoyable evening with fellow graduates.
Register your place at alumni@uel.ac.uk
25th November 6-9pm
Stratford Campus
Guest SpeakerProfessor Binna Kandola - Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Senior Partner and co-founder of Pearn Kandola
Students and graduates from Occuapational and Organisational Psychology and related programmes are welcome to attend.
Please book by emailing alumni@uel.ac.uk
Many of our alumni have expressed an interest in helping out at the Barbican graduation ceremonies. Would you like to chat to new alumni on our stand and help give out information about the Alumni Network. The ceremonies are very enjoyable and vibrant days - please volunteer to help and relive some old memories from your graduation!
For a selection of dates, please visit - www.uel.ac.uk/alumni/events and tell us which one your are interest in coming to.
The British Business Awards (BBA) is an important set of honours that is awarded annually to highlight the strong links between China and the UK and to reward innovation, enterprise and endeavour in the fields of business, education and corporate social responsibility. The BBA is led by the British Chamber of Commerce in China and is supported by the British Council China, British Embassy and several other UK organisations in China. The awarding ceremony of the first BBA was held in Beijing in November 2008. As we did last year, the British Council China will sponsor the ‘Alumnus of the Year’ of BBA again in 2009 in order to recognise and reward UK alumni with excellent achievement in China. It also presents a good opportunity to raise profile of UK education among wider Chinese public. Please see more details about BBA in the message below as well as on the official website of BBA at www.britishbusinessawards.cn
Primary PGCE Placements Request 2009/10
If you are an ex UEL student and are now working in a school and can help us with placements for our trainees then please let us know, we need your help. Owing to the expansion of our Primary Initial Teacher Training course for the coming academic year the Primary team are looking to expand the number of schools they work in partnership with.
The Primary team are looking for placements during each term from Nursery through to Year Six within the Greater London and Essex area. Hosting trainees on placement enhances teachers’ professional development by developing coaching and mentoring skills and encouraging reflection on one’s own practice. A comprehensive programme of mentor training (this is available either on Fridays when cover is paid or Saturdays when a fee is paid) and professional tutor visits/support is offered.
If you are interested please contact Emma Cale on 020 8223 2222 or alumni@uel.ac.uk
The Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Staff Network in UEL started in January 2009. The Network is Chaired by Ms Femi Bola, Director of Employability and our Vice Chair is Dr Winston Morgan.
The network is an independent forum which aims to provide an authentic and authoritative voice within the University, speaking for and on behalf of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff across the organisation. The network aims to not only examine and comment on issues concerning the, career progression and development prospects of staff from all ethnic groups but also look for opportunities to add value to the work that our university does by offering a different perspective.
We know that our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Alumni are working in a range of sectors and also running successful businesses. The network is keen to hear their success stories, how they overcame any obstacles and if they belong to or have set up BAME networks in the organisations or sectors where they work.
If you are interested in contributing to the work of the BAME network please contact;
Emma Cale on 020 8223 2222 or alumni@uel.ac.uk
Creative UK - Alumni Online Exhibition 2009 - Taiwanese alumniBritish Council Taipei organise a ‘Creative UK – Alumni Online Exhibition 2009’ to showcase alumni's artwork and their creativity cultivated by UK education. There will be a combination of virtual exhibition on the British Council website and a display of actual artwork in the Education UK exhibition in October. The online showcasing will be on Alumni page on the British Council Taipei’s website from mid October 2009 to end of January 2010. There is no application fee and maximum two entries per applicant. Application will be closed on 20 September 2009.
Details about the event in Chinese are available on British Council Taipei’s website
University of East London Alumni Network group on Facebook. Social networking for all alumni of UEL
University of East London group on Linked In. Professional networking for all alumni of UEL
UEL Alumni’s of the D A CH region on Xing. Professional networking for UEL alumni in Germany
UEL Indian Alumni Group Delhi on Orkut. Professional and social networking for UEL Indian alumni in the Delhi region
One of our soon to be graduates recently hit top of the UK singles charts for the third week in a row with his catchy grime tune Number One.
Tinchy Stryder, real name Kwasi Danquah, 22, from Bow, has just finished his final year at UEL studying for a BA Honours in Moving Image and Animation.
His hit single features N-Dubz a MOBO award winning hip-hop trio from London, who have recently been gaining a steady teenage fanbase. Tinchy is Ghanaian, grew up in London and has been around the grime scene – England’s version of home-grown garage and rap for many years.
Marc Coker, Senior Lecturer in Moving Image at UEL, has been working with Tinchy on his course. He said: “Tinchy is an exceptional student and highlights the talent we have at UEL. He is also very down to earth and has worked very hard to get this far, so congratulations to him for being number one, in every sense!
“As part of a vibrant East London music scene that includes the likes of Dizzee Rascal, who is also from Bow, Tinchy’s success now means that he’s incredibly busy. Grime music started off underground and like all good music, has eventually worked its way overground. It’s all about rhyming and rhyming slang.”
Tinchy received funding help with the aid of Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Lamb, who remortgaged his house to help raise money to chart Tinchy’s early songs. Tinchy’s producer is Norman’s son, Archie Lamb.
After performing on pirate radio stations in his early teens, including Deja Vu and Rinse, Tinchy became a big part of the underground scene. In 2003, he won the best newcomer at the Sidewinder awards and since then he has worked with major artists on the grime scene including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal.
Twelve of our enterprising graduates have received a financial boost to help start up their businesses. The Haberdashers’ Entrepreneurs Fund has awarded a grant of between £750 and £1,500 to each of the recipients, who received their certificate of success at a ceremony held in the Knowledge Dock Business Centre (UEL’s enterprise development service) in June.
Several of the entrepreneurs, as tenants of the ‘HotHatch’ hot-desking facility in Knowledge Dock, have already received on-site business support, helping them to define the steps they need to take.
Technology and renewable energy were strong themes this year, with innovative ideas showing real promise. A HotHatch tenant Costa Liantis,said the money will go towards the development of a new renewable energy resource:-
“Electrogreen is a product we’ve developed to utilise the buoyant force of water in it’s static state, unlike tidal power which relies on moving water and is expensive. There is a real opportunity for this technology and with the £1500 Haberdashers grant I will be able to hire professionals and research students to conduct feasibility studies to help to validate our concept, and then I can build a prototype. The other people at this event today have been very inspiring; we all believe that we can succeed despite the recession.”
Michael Perkins of the Haberdashers' Company, presented the entrepreneurs with their certificates of success. He reflected on the success of Haberdashers' and his impression of the new round of recipients:-
“Together with Knowledge Dock at the University of East London we have been running the awards for four years now and of the 37 companies we have helped in that time, most of them are thriving. I was extremely impressed by the enthusiasm and optimism shown by the entrepreneurs today; they all have very good business ideas. I believe that if they really focus on their business ambitions then they can achieve it. I’ve seen many entrepreneurs succeed and I’m sure our new Haberdashers' entrepreneurs will too.”
Kezia Tooby, a 2006 graduate from Film History has been shortlisted to the final 13 in a national film competition. The competition, organised by Raindance and The Big Lunch, was to create a short film, under 1 minute, exploring the Big Lunch. There are 2 prizes, one a juried selection and the other based on YouTube views, the film can be viewed here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT93qrk0G5o
The more views that Kezia gets, the more chance she has of winning!
For more information visit http://www.thebiglunch.com/
http://raindance.tv/thebiglunch
As a UEL alumnus, take a postgraduate degree at UEL and you can gain a valuable qualification and could even save money!
With the global economy making qualifications more important than ever, there’s never been a more important time to consider enhancing your prospects with a postgraduate qualification. And, with part-time as well as full-time study available, you can combine study with your work and other commitments.
We’ve over 130 master’s degrees available, plus postgraduate certificates and diplomas. And, as a UEL alumnus, you could receive a 5% reduction in tuition fees if you study a research degree (MPhil or PhD).
To find out more, contact our Applicant Enquiries team on +44 (0) 20 8223 3333, or log onto the UEL website at www.uel.ac.uk/pg and find the course that suits you.
For information on fee waivers and discounts, please visit www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/prospective/feeswaivers.htm
This year Knowledge Dock are introducing a new ‘Be Your Own Boss’ Student Enterprise Development programme for students, graduates and entrepreneurs from UEL under HEFCE Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF).
The programme will support you in developing your ideas, setting up your business and sustain existing business in the economic downturn. You will gain practical start-up skills which will help you explore issues around raising finance, market research, drafting business & marketing plans, intellectual property and develop softer skills required to run, manage and develop your business. You will be expected to complete a series of six modules to be delivered by both practical and online sessions and submit a viable Business Plan. On successful completion of the programme you will awarded a Certificate of Entrepreneurship.
We are expecting to run the course from the last week in September 2009. The details of the programme are yet to be finalised but to register your interest email Sujata Vaishnav on s.vaishnav@uel.ac.uk giving your full contact details: Name, address and telephone number, so that we can contact you.
Please contact us, Laurence Fava and Laura Berkeley-Hawkes if you are interested in being part of a new and exciting online outlet business that will enable unknown and emerging artists to exhibit and sell their work.
The outlet will be a platform, in the same capacity as well-established discount websites promoting and selling mainstream brands, but this site will have a specific aim to promote original artists 'in the making' and get the value of their work recognised.
Combining the promotion of unknown designers as well as some more established ones, will give the website an added dimension and attract more customers looking for unusual, non-mass produced, high quality pieces at competitive prices
Email us at either, laurencefava@btconnect.com or lauraberkeleyhawkes@mac.com with some information about yourself and your work. We very much look forward to hearing from you
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