With graduation ceremonies in full swing up and down the country, a common theme throughout is a reminder from universities that even upon leaving an institution for good, you can still remain an active part of its community through involvement with its Alumni scheme.
These schemes seek to keep graduates in touch with both the university and one another, organising events based on reunions, networking and fundraising. Furthermore, they present opportunities for graduates to develop their own careers, through interaction with the university and others who are at the same stage or further along in their career progression.
Being an active alumnus can help maintain existing contacts built at university that may otherwise have been lost, and also meet those with similar interests who you never encountered at university. In addition to simply attending certain events, there is often a chance for additional involvement through volunteering to help organise and run these events. It doesn't take long to find a success story; my own university's website tells of a former student, now in events management, whose business ideas were heavily influenced by their experience organising alumni events as a volunteer. In addition to this, one of their most significant subsequent clients would also happen to be a graduate of the same university. This exemplifies the dynamic nature of an alumni community. It suggests that even for those wearied by an initially unsuccessful graduate job search, the real value of the three or more years spent in higher education may be yet to reveal itself. When it comes to career development, the certificate you're handed at the graduation ceremony could only prove a fraction of what university does for you.
Jon, GRB Journalist
