Topping Out

This week saw a milestone in the construction of the new Campus Centre building in Luton. The Vice Chancellor and other senior University staff took part in the traditional Topping Out Ceremony.

High on the roof of the new building the university staff were joined by representatives of the architects and the builders. At the ceremony the VC received a glass plaque to mark the occasion. He then pressed a button which inflated the roof for the atrium. The University Chaplin also blessed the building.

From September the Campus Centre will become the home for many of the student support services.

Alumni E-Zine Launch

The first edition of the new alumni Noteworthy E-Zine has gone live.

The May edition includes a profile of Bedford graduate Michelle Rowe. Michelle recently launched a charity to help school children in Malawi. We also have details of a new graduate internship scheme and the forthcoming nursing and midwifery reunion.

The Noteworthy E-Zine is sent to over 16 000 University alumni on a quarterly basis. This is in addition to our annual Noteworthy printed publication.

If you:

• have some alumni news or
  
• know of an alumni with a story to tell or
  
• haven't received your email notification yet
  

Please email the alumni office.

Two New Faces in the DARO

This week I welcomed Shamim and Rene to the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO). They have joined us on temporary contracts to deal with data entry, graduation and the nursing reunion.

Shamim (left) is a level two BA Business Studies student. Rene, from Kenya is on the MSc in Computer Security and Forensics. They here until the end of July.

They will be kept busy maintaining records on the database and with the graduation ceremonies in Bedford and Luton. We also have a large reunion taking place in June. The Nursing, Midwifery and ODP Reunion is at Putteridge Bury on Saturday 12 June. Shamim and Rene will be helping with the event.

Freshers' Quiz Winner

I was delighted to meet earlier to day Marwa Qari who is the winner of the Freshers' Quiz prize. Marwa, from Pakistan is a first year Law student. Marwa correctly answered the 'who's who' questions.

She is the winner of a £50 Amazon voucher and she already knows what she wants to get. The diligent student is off to purchase further text books.

Marwa said: "I'm delighted, you've brightened up my day. I was witing an eassy when you called with the good news."

Alumni TV

Ever wondered what you look like, or sound like, on TV? So have I and I found out this week with the release of the latest UoB video on YouTube.

In what I hope will be a series of alumni interviews I recorded an interview with Bharti Tailor the newly elected Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain. Here I'm talking to her about PM Gordon Brown.

With the help of Pete in our web market team I arranged the set and planned the recording. I thought the set was reminiscent of Big Brother and the lighting could have been better but on the whole a good first effort.

Alumni Fantasy Footie

This Saturday sees the fourth round of matches in the Barclays Premier League. And I've had a good response to the initial UoB Alumni Fantasy Football League.

So far we have 16 teams competing and there's room for more. Kevin Teoh (BSc Psychology, 2008) leads the way with his 'Monkeys', closely followed by Alistair Shearer's 'Superstars' (BSc Sports Studies, 2007).

Those already staring at the trapdoor of relegation include the Somersby Saints and the Football Team (Rich Hayward and Andy Cockburn respectively).

Bharti Tailor

Today I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Bharti Tailor, Alumna and the Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB).

A graduate of 1997, Bharti's career includes working in local government; setting up her own business as a consultant; volunteering as a chaplain and now leading the HFB . Looking back, she has fond memories of her time here on the BA Community Management course.

In our interview Bharti sets out her goals for HFB, appreciates the opportunities her degree gave her and the philosophy that under pins her business dealings.

Details of our conversation will be available soon from the alumni website.