ALUMNI NEWS
Autumn Edition 2024
FOREWORD
As the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, I am delighted to have been asked to provide the welcome to this alumni newsletter. I joined the University in August and have been really excited by the buzz of new students arriving and current students returning to campus recently.
I feel very positive about what I have seen so far. Meeting with a number of our alumni at our recent 'Suffolk Salutes' awards ceremony has been a highlight, and I am keen to meet and learn more about our alumni community.
I very much enjoyed my first graduation ceremonies in Ipswich and Great Yarmouth, and this autumn I also attended the graduation of our London School of Commerce students in Malta. It is a privilege to be part of such a significant day in your lives and I would particularly like to welcome our new 2024 graduates to our alumni community.
Celebrating your success and achievements is vital to us as an institution and it underlines the value of a university degree.
Universities are currently facing challenging times as we seek to maintain the quality of our education and research against a climate of rising costs and changing regulatory frameworks. I will be involved in national conversations on these issues to help secure the future of high-quality higher education in the UK.
Here at the University of Suffolk we are committed to supporting our graduates, whether you studied in Ipswich or at one of our partner institutions.
Being part of a community of thousands of alumni means different things to different people. We hope that your journey with the University was a positive one and that you are keen to stay connected to us and remain a part of our future. You may look back fondly at a
FOREWORD
time which shaped you, both professionally and personally, but, in reality, have had little or no contact with the institution since that time.
Our hope is that you take the time to reconnect with us and read about our growth and developments as we look forward to our tenth anniversary as the University of Suffolk in 2026 and to a bright future.
As you read this edition of Alumni News, please ask yourself what you would like to engage with and how you could help us to shape the future of higher education in Suffolk. Then contact the
Alumni Relations and Development team to take those ideas forward and discuss how you could support us on our journey of success here at Suffolk.
Professor Jenny Higham Vice-Chancellor and CEO, University of Suffolk
MEET THE TEAM
Welcome to our new Development Director, Sarah Westwood
Sarah joined us at the beginning of September after 20 years' experience in fundraising and alumni relations at the University of Cambridge, most recently as Development Director at Robinson College.
Sarah says:
"I’m thrilled to have joined the University of Suffolk at an exciting time as we look towards our tenth anniversary and the fulfilment of big ambitions.
It’s an honour to lead the University’s fundraising and alumni relations programme, working with Kate Burgess, Alumni Relations and Development Manager, Natasha Hodby née Brame, Gifts and Grants Officer, and Jane Skelt , Administrator.
I’m enjoying getting to know our diverse community of alumni and supporters, and my new commute through the gorgeous Suffolk countryside to the University’s waterfront home is breathtaking. I look forward to what the year ahead will bring."
"I'm enjoying getting to know our diverse community of alumni and supporters... I look forward to what the year ahead will bring."
— Sarah Westwood Development Director
Please join us in welcoming Sarah to the team and wishing her well in her new role.
You can contact the Alumni Relations and Development team at alumni@uos.ac.uk.
GRADUATION 2024
We were delighted to welcome our Class of 2024 graduates back for their graduation ceremonies this year. We celebrated their achievements not only in Ipswich, but in Great Yarmouth, Bury St Edmunds, Malta and Sri Lanka as well.
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our graduates. Graduation is a wonderful celebration of all you've achieved, and we hope that, however you chose to mark this special day, you carry forward a deep sense of pride in your university. As you step into the next chapter of your journey, remember that this is just the beginning.
Our connection doesn’t end here. You’ll always be part of our community, and we look forward to supporting you, celebrating your future accomplishments, and championing your successes for years to come. Congratulations once again, and here’s to all the extraordinary things in store for you.
Please share your photos of graduation, whatever year you graduated, on social media by using #UniSuffolkGrad or tagging us in.
GRADUATION
Find out more about the benefits and services we offer here and connect with us on social media:
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Suffolk Business Grads
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Engineering, Arts, Sciences and Technology Grads
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SUFFOLK SALUTES
In September, we celebrated the inaugural 'Suffolk Salutes' awards ceremony — a meaningful occasion inspired by English Heritage’s London Blue Plaque scheme. 'Suffolk Salutes' was created to link our people and campus with a shared heritage and culture, cultivating a strong sense of belonging and pride in our university’s rich history.
Through this initiative, we proudly honour the remarkable achievements of our alumni, each represented with a commemorative plaque displayed outside our teaching spaces. These plaques serve as lasting symbols of our graduates' contributions and as sources of daily inspiration for all who pass by.
For this inaugural year, we invited both staff and students to nominate alumni who met specific, impactful criteria. We were delighted by the response, receiving numerous nominations from our academic and professional staff, eager to spotlight the incredible stories within our graduate community.
Each nominee was considered based on the following:
Remarkable demonstration of compassion, kindness or heroism
Outstanding contribution to the educational, cultural or economic wellbeing of society and/or the issues facing society today (such as equality, diversity and environmental sustainability)
Outstanding contribution to, and impact on, the University’s reputation and the wider life of the University community (such as through innovation or social responsibility)
Six outstanding members of our alumni community were chosen for an award by a panel of staff:
Ania Hobson
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Class of 2011
Selected for outstanding contribution to, and impact on, the global art scene
Alexandra Munn
BSc (Hons) Special Education Needs and Disabilities, Class of 2018
Selected for remarkable demonstration of compassion, kindness and heroism
Imogen Snowling
BSc (Hons) Midwifery, Class of 2021
Selected for outstanding contribution to the NHS and impact on the wellbeing of her colleagues
Jasmin Taylor
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, Class of 2020
Selected for outstanding contribution to her sport and impact on the University’s reputation
Jemma Yarnton-Peacock
BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy and Oncology, Class of 2014
Selected for outstanding contribution to the NHS and impact on aspiring University of Suffolk students
Kay Saberton
BA (Hons) English and MA Creative and Critical writing, Class of 2019 and 2021
Selected for remarkable demonstration of compassion, kindness and heroism
Our winners were presented with their plaques by Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor, at a presentation evening on 24 September 2024. Congratulations to them all for their fantastic achievements. Read more about each of our award winners here.
'Suffolk Salutes' will reopen for nominations in spring 2025, when we will be extending nominations to our wider alumni community. We look forward to the continuation of this scheme for many years, honouring our history as we look forward to the future.
12 SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY
This year saw our staff and alumni take on incredible challenges raising funds for our Spark Fund.
Hundreds of incredible runners took to the streets for the Ipswich Half Marathon, a 13.1-mile route around the town, including five formidable staff and alumni from the University. A huge thank you to our runners — Bobby Forsythe, Carmen Ortiz-Granero, Laura Reeves, Lungi Bushell and Ross Kemble — who raised just under £900 between them for our students.
A few weeks later, nine brave individuals, including both staff and alumni, took part in the Suffolk Whole Hog, raising over £1,000 towards our Spark Fund! Squelching, climbing and crawling through five miles of muddy obstacles, our team emerged victorious and slightly bruised. All nine participants said they would do it again in a heartbeat and had so much fun taking part.
The money raised by these two incredible challenges will support students from priority backgrounds transition to higher education, helping them with essentials such as stationery, travelling to and from university, books and bills.
If you are interested in donating to the University of Suffolk, please contact us at giving@uos.ac.uk or visit our website.
SUFFOLK HAUNTS
The fourth and final book in a series of anthologies written by MA Creative and Critical Writing students and alumni was launched in October. Suffolk Haunts is inspired by some of the county’s spooky stories and concludes a project launched four years ago giving our students and alumni the opportunity for their work to be published.
The project began in 2020 when the first book of tales penned by Master’s students, Suffolk Folk, was published. The book celebrated local folk tales and was followed by Suffolk Arboretum — stories about trees and nature in the county — before the release of Suffolk Reflections, about the county’s lakes, rivers and waterways, last year.
Dr Lindsey Scott, course leader for the MA Creative and Critical Writing, said: “Seeing our students apply their imagination to form dramatic and compelling stories around landmarks in our county is a huge pleasure. With each anthology we have been able to celebrate their successes, and we couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication they put into their work.”
Suffolk Haunts is available to buy from Waterstones and independent bookstores in the county, as well as from online retailers.
Find out more information on the MA Creative and Critical Writing course.
LATEST NEWS
Region's largest mural unveiled on campus
As part of the Wild Walls Festival, the largest wall mural in Suffolk has been unveiled on the James Hehir Building on our Ipswich campus.
The mural, called ‘From Ipswich with Love,’ measures 576 square meters and was created by artist ATMA.
“It is exciting that a contemporary street art festival of this kind has been hosted in Ipswich, celebrating not only local talent but also bringing in internationally renowned artists to the region. The University is proud to support Wild Walls, not only by providing space for a mural that will become a positive and colourful addition to the Waterfront, but also welcoming everyone to come and enjoy the art market and graffiti exhibition."
— Nigel Ball Head of Arts, University of Suffolk
Suffolk scoops inaugural 'Community University of the Year' award
The University has been named as the first recipient of the ‘Community University of the Year’ award by the Daily Mail University Guide
The award has been given for developing the University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company, which is delivering NHS oral health care for Suffolk and North-East Essex, and also for working with partners to provide a university centre at The Place in Great Yarmouth
THE FULL STORY
"The Daily Mail ’s inaugural 'Community University of the Year' award is designed to recognise the role universities can play in not just the lives of their students but in lifting and impacting the wider community in which they operate. Suffolk is a shining example of what can be achieved when a university looks beyond its campus and considers its potential as a catalyst for change and as a force for good for society more widely."
— Alastair McCall Editor, Daily Mail University Guide
READ THE FULL STORY
READ
University of Suffolk Dental CIC shortlisted for national NHS Parliamentary Award
Our innovative Dental Community Interest Company has been shortlisted for the national finals of the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2024.
The Dental CIC, commissioned by Suffolk and North-East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) earlier this year, provides high-quality NHS dental and oral health care services in the area and supports dental workforce training and education.
"We are so honoured to receive the East of England regional award and be shortlisted for the national NHS Parliamentary Award for 'Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care.' This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at the University of Suffolk."
— Lorraine Mattis
Chief
Executive, University of Suffolk Dental CIC
University X-rays reveal artefacts secrets
A new collaboration between the University of Suffolk and Colchester + Ipswich Museums Service is uncovering new secrets for special objects in Ipswich Museum’s collection, including one dating back 200,000 years.
The University’s Senior Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography, Christoper Cobb, invited a team from the Service to bring a variety of carefully selected items from the museum’s collection to be X-rayed in the University’s state-of-the-art radiography suite.
The museum is set to publish the full results at a later date.
Find out more information on our CPD Health Programmes
"It was wonderful to see this collaboration has uncovered some new secrets for these fabulous artefacts, some of which date back hundreds or thousands of years, and we look forward to seeing the publication of the full results of this study in due course."
— Christopher Cobb
Senior
Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography, University of Suffolk
READ THE FULL STORY
READ THE FULL STORY
OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
Exclusive opportunities for alumni
Alumni Postgraduate Loyalty Scheme
As a proud graduate of the University of Suffolk, you’re eligible for a 25% discount on postgraduate tuition fees, including PhDs! Take advantage of this exclusive alumni benefit to continue your academic journey with us, deepen your expertise, or open new career opportunities.
Ready to take the next step? Reach out for more details and start planning your postgraduate studies today.
Take a look at our postgraduate courses.
Continued library access
Did you know? As a University of Suffolk graduate, you can continue accessing our
Events
Mark your calendars! Connection Week, our annual celebration for alumni and supporters, is back from 28 April to 3 May 2025. This special event is designed to celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduates and keep you connected to the University of Suffolk.
Get ready for a week packed with engaging activities and events, available both online and in person. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, share experiences and interact with the University community.
More details will be shared as we get closer to the time, so make sure your contact information is up to date. Save the date and stay tuned for updates.
library even after you graduate. Unlock a world of resources, research materials and quiet study spaces to support your lifelong learning.
Apply for an alumni membership here.
Careers support beyond graduation
Remember, your connection to the University of Suffolk doesn't end at graduation. You still have access to our Careers, Employability and Enterprise service for guidance on job searches, career planning, skills development and more.
Contact the team today to take the next step in your professional journey at careers@uos.ac.uk
Have your say
Help us make the next Connection Week unforgettable; tell us what you would like to see.
What would you like to see during the week? Any activities, speakers, or events you’re excited about?
Topics for Lunchtime Lives — What discussions or themes should we cover in our online sessions?
Organise your own event — Want to host a meetup or activity? We’re here to support you.
Share your ideas and suggestions with us at alumni@uos.ac.uk. Let’s make this week truly memorable!
Join us for an Open Lecture
As part of our public engagement, the University hosts a programme of 'Open Lectures' which are free to attend for staff, students, alumni and the wider public. Speakers include our own academics, honorary graduates and other fascinating speakers recommended by our academic schools. We also host a series of panel discussions on topical issues, called 'Spotlight Suffolk,' with plans for an event focusing on sustainability in February 2025. The 2024–2025 programme is still being finalised, but make a note of these dates:
Tuesday 14 January: Artists Daniel and Clara will discuss their work around landscape and place.
Wednesday 22 January: Honorary Graduate Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch will discuss his latest book, Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity.
Thursday 6 March: Honorary Graduate Charlie Haylock will discuss the ‘History of Surnames,’ starting with the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings through to Norman times.
All events start in the early evening in either the Waterfront Building or The Hold. For more details and to book nearer the time, visit uos.ac.uk/events
English Talking Shop: 2024–2025 programme
If you are looking for more opportunities to stay in touch with our writing community and attend free workshops with award-winning authors, publishers and agents, please see our 2024–2025 programme of Talking Shop events below.
To register your attendance, email emergingwriters@uos.ac.uk with ‘Talking Shop Booking’ in the subject line. You can request to book a place at all of our events or a selection of your choosing. We will add your name to the guest list and send out further details before each event.
Monday 9 December, 1.00–2.00pm
Ferdia Lennon (novelist)
Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize
W1.26, Waterfront Building
Tuesday 28 January, 7.00–8.00pm
Dev Kothari (children’s author)
Common Word Diversity YA Prize Online
Tuesday 4 February, 6.00–7.00pm
Joelle Taylor (poet, author, performer)
T. S. Eliot Poetry Prize
WLT1, Waterfront Building
Tuesday 25 March, 3.30–5.00pm
A. K. Blakemore (poet and author)
Desmond Elliott Prize
W1.29, Waterfront Building
Monday 7 April, 1.00–2.00pm
Salma Begum (literary agent)
Greyhound Library
The Hold
Tuesday 29 April, 6.00–7.00pm
Ashley Hickson-Lovence (novelist, poet, literary critic)
WLT1, Waterfront Building
OUR AMAZING ALUMNI
Dr Obinna Ejiogu
Class of 2024
For PhD student and lecturer in Leadership and Management, Obinna Ejiogu, graduation week represented the opportunity to celebrate two new qualifications.
Obinna graduated with a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice on Tuesday 22 October, before receiving a Brighton University PhD the following day.
It caps off a remarkable body of academic qualifications for Obinna, who already holds a BSc in Engineering, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and an MSc in Finance.
Starting his journey in Suffolk in 2021, Obinna pursued research exploring small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), completing his PhD in three-and-a-half years. Obinna chose Suffolk as he wanted somewhere outside London and the ‘big cities.’
He said: “I love staying around coastal areas and Suffolk came up. I did a little research on some indices such as crime rate, cost of living, and Suffolk came top of my list. Also, the newness of the University of Suffolk was a big factor and I got a recommendation from my brother.”
During that time, he has also been teaching in areas around management and human resources and scooped two awards at two different academic conferences; one from the University Forum for Human Resource Development in 2023 in Dublin for his paper on factors that
help or hinder the success of SMEs in Nigeria (where he won the 'Best International Paper' award), while the second was at the University Forum for Human Resource Development 2024 International Conference in Lisbon, where he was awarded the 'Best Poster Presentation' prize.
He said: “I am very happy. It’s been a rigorous three years so getting that completed and focusing on the future is a good feeling. My journey here at the University of Suffolk has been amazing. I’m a person of Faith and as such I pray for everything and before embarking on anything. My supervisors were very encouraging and helpful. The Suffolk Doctoral College really took their time to take care of us. They gave me the opportunity to do the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice and the opportunity to first be an occasional lecturer, and the following year employed me as a parttime lecturer. The University of Suffolk is a small community with very friendly staff.”
Prior to his research studies, Obinna had spent more than 16 years in the banking sector in Nigeria. It was his experience there which helped inspire him for his future studies.
“I was a group head at one of the leading banks in Nigeria, and I had a lot of customers where I managed their portfolios,” he said.
“There were some customers’ businesses which did well and some not so well. That got me thinking about what the problems or challenges were that meant, in the same business climate
and conditions, some did well, and others didn’t do well. I thought, why not do that as PhD research?”
His years in the banking world also help illustrate to his students how the theory they are taught applies to the real world.
He added: “Teaching theory is not enough — I love when you are teaching students and you are helping them develop social skills, management skills, so that when they go into industry, they are able to do well.”
Obinna now intends to carry on teaching and research in HR management, but also has advice for other international students considering PhDs too.
He said: “I have been studying the PhD for three years, teaching for two years, I have attended academic conferences, I won two awards at two different conferences — it’s not just coming to do research — you have so many opportunities along the way.
“Graduation was great. I think this was one of the greatest moments in my life.”
For more information on our portfolio of courses within the Leadership and Management Academy, see here.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY
Studying a postgraduate course can help you to further your career. The majority of our courses offer you a choice of full or part-time study options so you can balance work, life and study.
All graduates of University of Suffolk and previous or partner institutions are eligible for a 25% discount on fees for both postgraduate and PhD study.
Dilshani Samarasinghe
MBA, London School of Commerce, Sri Lanka Class of 2023
With our graduation ceremony recently taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, we caught up with 2023 MBA graduate, Dilshani, who shares her experiences of studying with the University of Suffolk.
"I am currently serving as a Health Underwriting Manager at Fairfirst Insurance LTD in Sri Lanka. My educational journey includes two degrees from University of Colombo, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon and an MBA from the University of Suffolk, which have collectively shaped my professional skills and leadership capabilities.
"While my earlier degrees provided a solid foundation for my professional development, shaping my skills and knowledge into who I am today, the MBA has significantly sharpened my strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and leadership and management skills, allowing me to approach challenges with a broader perspective. Further, it has provided me with knowledge on valuable skills such as financing and marketing, which were new areas for me to learn as a person who majored in a sciencebased background.
"My diverse educational setting has been instrumental in my career progression, allowing me to effectively analyse risks, work together with stakeholders, and drive towards success at Fairfirst.
"I applied to the MBA programme through British School of Commerce, Colombo, in Sri Lanka because it offered part-time study series via online lectures and an assignment-based course which allowed me to balance my studies with professional commitments.
"In my opinion, the main strengths of the University include well-experienced lecture boards, friendly environment, supportive lecturers, and access to resources such as libraries (online). Additionally, the online MBA course was not boring at all due to teamworkbased activities.
"As an MBA student, my experience through this course was enriching and rewarding. The diverse curriculum allowed me to explore new areas such as finance and marketing. The online process was very convenient for me and having lectures once in two or three months also was quite beneficial for me too. In conclusion, the combination of a supportive learning environment significantly enhanced my skills and prepared me for the challenges of my career."
