7 minute read
Reunion
Let’s get together
Every year, hundreds of alumni meet up to talk about old times and how things have changed since their day! WLV Life catches up with some of the reunions that have taken place over the past year.
A group of former Erasmus students enjoyed a trip down memory lane when they returned to Wolverhampton a decade after studying at the University.
The students from Italy, France and the Czech Republic have remained friends since first arriving in the West Midlands in 2009.
And although they hold a reunion every year, they decided to return to the place where their friendship started to mark their 10th anniversary.
During their visit, they enjoyed a tour of the University’s new facilities, including the impressive Rosalind Franklin Building, and visited familiar sites from their days in the city.
Former law student Pavla Ladova, from the Czech Republic, said: “The University has changed so much. It’s very modern and very nice now, and the students are very lucky to study here. Coming to the University was life-changing and shaped my future life. Every day was memorable – there were no boring days! We had fun, we travelled a lot, we learned the language and made amazing friendships.”
Reflecting on why they meet up annually, Jacques Abeng Essamba, from France, who is now an agency recruiter in the online gaming industry, said: “It gives us the opportunity to take a step back and think about how we have moved on in our lives, what we have learned and how
Erasmus students’ 10-year reunion
things have changed.”
David Wedge, Alumni Relations Manager, said: “We are always delighted to welcome back our alumni to have a look around the University to see how it has changed.”
Graduates having a ball!
The annual Graduation Ball took place at the Grand Station, Wolverhampton, when hundreds of graduates celebrated the end of their studies in style, and were welcomed as new members of the Alumni Association.
Dozens of alumni enjoyed a reunion to mark the 25th anniversary of the University’s specialist support for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
Organised by Grace Peddie and Louise Rhodes, from the University’s Student Support and Wellbeing BSL interpreting team, the event saw 60 graduates, spanning 2008 to 2019, attending. These included a former Erasmus student from Sweden, and 10 former members of staff coming together for a celebration in the Chancellor’s Hall.
Special guests were Dr Megan Lawton, founder of the Visual Language Centre (VLC), John Hay MBE and Honorary Fellow of the University of Wolverhampton, and former Fashion and Textiles student Keith Makombe, BA (Hons), MA, who is now an Artist in Residence within the University.
John Hay, who played a key role in the development of the subject area of Deaf Studies and senior lecturer in Deaf Studies and British Sign Language/Interpreting for 15 years, said: “What a fantastic night I had meeting both old and new faces, especially the ones who came to University at the same time as mine in 1998! It was really interesting to know what sort of employment deaf graduates are now engaged with in the big wide world.”
Prof Megan Lawton, Professor of Learning and Teaching in Academic Practice, told the gathering: “Over the last 25 years we have supported over 244 Deaf students to study in higher education over a full range of degree programmes, we have trained over 200 interpreters and through deaf studies have educated students who have gone on to key roles across both the public and private sectors. We’ve not done a bad job; I give thanks for a University that was open to new ideas and to an amazing group of people that it has been my pleasure to work with over the last 25 years.”
One graduate who attended said:
“There is one thing for sure, and that is that the excellent support the Deaf student community has received from the University and the interpreters. I am glad I made a right choice to be educated here and I left the University with my head held high.”
Dominican Republic alumni
University of Wolverhampton graduates who are based in the Dominican Republic have organised their second reunion, where they reminisced about their time here.
The members of the Dominican Republic Alumni Association met up at Carmesi, in Santo Domingo, where they also welcomed students who were about to depart to Wolverhampton to join the University in September 2019.
It’s great to see another active alumni association overseas.
Anyone thinking about a reunion: just do it!
Languages staff and students reunite
Former BA Modern Languages and European Studies students and lecturers met up for their fifth reunion since 1984.
In total, 15 alumni, who studied at the University between 1973 and 1977, and seven academic staff – plus partners – travelled to Wolverhampton from as far as Spain and France for the event.
Sheila Searle, one of the organisers, said: “The course started the year the UK joined the-then EEC and the Cold War was still raging. Many of us went on to use our languages throughout our careers.
Marking 25 years since graduation
Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems Class of 94 enjoyed rebooting their friendships when they celebrated their 25-year anniversary in their old stomping ground.
It was organised by Marc Groves, who is now a lecturer in Social Care at the University, who gathered a group of graduates together to travel across the country to meet up in Wolverhampton.
They started at the Hog’s Head before enjoying a tour of the University.
“The Marble, Sports Hall and the Arts Block were the same, but the rest was unrecognisable from our stay between 1990 and 1994,” said Marc. “Anyone thinking about a reunion: just do it! Do not over complicate it, make it convenient.”
“The reunions are always something to look forward to and our next one is planned for 2023 – 50 years after we all first met on the BAML course.”
Among those attending was Alan Dobson, the former head of the course, who gave the keynote speech, while the former head of the Faculty, John
White, sent a message.
Podar World College alumni reunion
About 40 alumni from Podar World College in Mumbai, India, who studied for the BA (Hons) Business Management in association with the University of Wolverhampton, enjoyed a reunion.
The graduates, who were from the classes of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, returned to celebrate the graduation of the new alumni class and they met up with Pro Vice-Chancellor Mr Tim Steele.
Dr. Vandana Lulla, Principal, said: “It was wonderful to see everyone and many of those who couldn’t attend sent voice messages, live video, emails.”
After the formal graduation ceremony, all the alumni celebrated at the Alumni Ball.
New Alumni Association for Sri Lanka graduates
Ibrahim Sahib Fathima Nushani Mohamed Nizar Abdul Mueez
An alumni association has been launched where you can catch up with others who studied at Wolverhampton or partner institutions in the country.
Launched at the beginning of the year, the private Facebook community page has over 100 members, all of whom live in, or are from, Sri Lanka and studied a University course.
Mohamed Nizar Abdul Mueez, the group’s ambassador, and Ibrahim Sahib Fathima Nushani, deputy ambassador, said the aim of the group is to be a social and professional networking that is open to all University of Wolverhampton award graduates.
Mohamed said: “The launching of the Alumni Association in Sri Lanka opens up an array of opportunities for strong and professional collaboration. Being appointed as the ambassador, I am thrilled that we now have a platform to promote the values and ethos of the University. I strongly believe that our collective efforts will lead to the establishment of a dynamic Alumni Association in Sri Lanka.”
facebook.com/groups/SriLankaWLValumni
Ibrahim added: “As the deputy ambassador, it grants me an opportunity to bridge a strong relationship between the University and its fellow alumni to establish a solid and vibrant Alumni Association in Sri Lanka from which all the alumni would benefit immensely. I’m delighted to be a part of this global network.”
Enquire about forming an alumni group –wlv.ac.uk/networks
