It’s hoped a thousand graduates will register and attend a virtual drop-in programme taking place for Kingston University alumni on November 26.
The day will host a series of interactive workshops, global reunions and expert-led talks from alumni and academics.
Sarah Duncan, Development Manager for Kingston University’s Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE) team said: “We want students to know that once they graduate they are still part of the Kingston community and can benefit from ongoing education, careers support and networking opportunities.”
As part of the day, the alumni team will be raising money for the Digital Poverty Appeal. The appeal works to ensure Kingston University students have access to the internet and the technology they need in order to succeed in their degrees, particularly now that much teaching has moved largely online.
Nearly 25 per cent of KU students lack the technology they need to study online and teaching for the rest of this semester is set to be fully online from December 7, apart from a small number of practical-based courses such as Pharmacy, Chemistry and Engineering.
As well as investing significant amounts of the university’s own money to help students, KU is reaching out to alumni to ensure that these students get this support.
Hundreds of alumni also volunteer to support students through mentoring as part of the Beyond Barriers scheme, delivering guest lectures as part of courses or helping develop student business ideas through Bright Ideas.
The 2019 Kingston is Global event was a huge success from. Sixteen reunions took place around the globe, with Kingston alumni networking and meeting for socials in America, Australia, Botswana, Cyprus, Canada, Greece, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Pakistan, Spain, Nigeria, and of course Kingston.
This year will still see region-specific reunions happening but they will be online. There will be a virtual networking lounge where students are encouraged to connect with successful alumni, including the people speaking at the event.
There will be a range of Kingston alumni guest-speakers including Frances Haque, Chief Economist for Santander who will be running a talk on demystifying economics.
Neomi Bennet, a nurse who launched her own company to help medics apply deep vein thrombosis socks more easily on patients and Robert Nicoll, co-founder of ChipsBoard, an idea developed for the Bright Ideas scheme to make sustainable building material from potato pulp, will also be speaking.
The day is a part of the alumni team’s work to keep graduates involved with the university and to ensure that that they can support alumni in their personal and professional development no matter how long ago they left Kingston. It is also a good chance for students to network.
Current students can access careers advice and guidance with the alumni on LinkedIn and can speak virtually with alumni specifically from their area of degree and joined societies.
The day is free for Kingston University students and alumni and you can sign up here.
Grace Henley 
Josh Smith 
Ella Rebbitt