WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER ALUMNI E-BULLETIN We hope you will enjoy reading the last alumni e-bulletin of 2007. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to contact us over the past year. If you have any feedback for the team, or would like some assistance with organising a reunion next year, getting in touch with old classmates, or any other alumni-related matter please contact us at alumni@abdn.ac.uk. We look forward to updating you on the latest news and developments from Aberdeen next year. | APPROVAL GRANTED FOR NEW UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Aberdeen City Council has today (6 Dec) granted detailed planning consent for the new University library. In her recommendation to the planning committee Dr Margaret Bochel, Head of Planning and Infrastructure, described the proposals as “imaginative, dynamic and thought-provoking”, adding that the plans would give the City a “truly iconic landmark building”. Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor, said: "The strength of the recommendation from the planning department - and the approval today by the planning committee - is a wonderful testament to the ambition and sophistication of the library project and endorses the iconic nature of the design. This is not just a project for the University. It is intended to be a cultural landmark of which all people in Aberdeen and in Scotland can be proud." The University will proceed with detailed design work into the summer of next year, prior to taking the project to tender. If you would like to support this project, or find out more, please click here. |
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MESSAGE FROM THE STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, ANGELA FRASER I would like to begin this month by thanking all those who have been in touch with me since I began writing these updates. The sharing of knowledge and experience has been invaluable. Please continue to stay in touch by contacting me at sapresident@abdn.ac.uk. With the clocks going back and the sky beginning to turn black in Aberdeen as I write this at 3.30pm, the Students’ Association has turned its attention to student safety, in particular, the poorly lit roads between the campus, Hillhead Halls and the Hillhead Centre (Keith Park to most of you). I am sure that many of you are familiar with this problem from when you were students at the University. I am pleased to report that the Students’ Association is now working with the University, the City Council and Grampian Police to increase lighting in this area and to look at different ways to improve student safety on this route. This issue has been raised by many groups in the past and now, with greater support, we hope that 2008 will bring marked improvements for our students. FEATURE STORY: ALUMNI, WE NEED YOUR HELP! | If you would be willing to talk to students about your career path and answer questions about your personal experience then we invite you to join us for Careers Week, to be held on 18 – 22 February 2008, at King's. Careers Week is aimed at final year students and will be a series of talks, presentations, Q&A sessions, workshops, exhibitions and networking opportunities involving a range of experts, professionals and Aberdeen graduates promoting different industries. The University is looking for alumni volunteers to get involved in this event, and other career-related initiatives. Whether you can visit campus to give a talk, or provide a career profile for University literature, or participate in an e-mentoring programme, or student web chat, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you. Please also contact us if you would be willing to accept Aberdeen students on placement at your organisation. You might not realise how valuable your experiences and knowledge can be to students so please do not be shy! We look forward to discussing these opportunities further and answering any questions you might have on this subject. Contact us at alumni@abdn.ac.uk. |
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| BOOK OF THE MONTH This month we are featuring Allan Thomson's Through The Dark Wood. This is a 'whodunnit' with a difference, scratching underneath the surface of family values and outward respectability, and exposing the destructive elements within. Thank you to Allan for sending us a copy of his book! If you would like to recommend a book for a future feature please get in touch. Read more... |
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FORTHCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS 8 December 2007, Aberdeen: The winter Meeting of the General Council, featuring a report from the University's Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor C Duncan Rice, will take place in King's College Centre from 11am. All graduates welcome. 18 January 2008, Cambridge MA: 'The Ancient Universities Alumni Burns Nicht'
Join alumni from Edinburgh, St Andrews, Oxford and Cambridge at this special black tie event at the Cambridge Boat Club featuring all the traditions you would expect; pipers, haggis and ceilidh dancing! Contact Jim Day for information or to book your place. 13 February 2008, Berkeley CA: Those living around the San Francisco area are invited to attend an evening reception at the Women’s Faculty Club, University of California, Berkeley, on Wednesday 13 February 2008. The University’s Chancellor’s Assessor, Alistair Mair, will give an illustrated update on developments at Aberdeen and the evening will also enable you to meet old acquaintances and make new ones! Contact Jim Day for information or to book your place. 5 March 2008, Edinburgh: Innovate with Aberdeen is a showcase of the University of Aberdeen's policy informing and commercial activities. This afternoon and evening event will take place at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. Join us for a packed programme of exhibits and talks highlighting some of the University's world-class portfolio of commercially-focused research activity. For queries, please email c.anderson@abdn.ac.uk. More events ... | AND FINALLY... Many thanks to everyone who completed the survey in the November e-bulletin regarding the student newspaper, Gaudie. The results of the survey are summarised below: - 75% are interested in receiving current editions of Gaudie
- 46% would want it delivered monthly, whilst 28% want it weekly
- 53% are interested in accessing editions of Gaudie from their time at Aberdeen
- 68% would be willing to pay an annual subscription
We will be discussing the results in more detail with the Students' Association and will report on plans in a future edition of the e-bulletin. |
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