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As the world reopens, we are delighted to have the opportunity to connect with our wonderful alumni community. Head of Alumni & Supporter Engagement Emily Howie shares some of her highlights of the last few months.

Our Aberdeen Alumni Club were one of the first groups to get back to in-person gatherings last August and I was delighted when they asked if I would like to attend their afternoon tea at Banchory Lodge. I couldn’t believe that we were all passing round tiered cake stands with baked delights. It was a lovely afternoon even although the rain was pouring down outside.

I particularly look forward to our annual London Burns Supper held at the Caledonian Club in London each January. This year was nerve-wracking as we watched the COVID numbers and government advice to see if the event could go ahead. It did, and it was a fabulous evening with our star alumnus guest speaker, Burns enthusiast Clark McGinn (MA 1983). We even managed some ceilidh dancing but I for one felt slightly out of practice (out of breath) after the lockdown break and I have discovered that I can’t wear high heels anymore.

Emily, pictured far left, enjoying the London Burns Supper.

Despite the smooth return to our in-person activity, we know that virtual events add a different, but equally important, element to our programme. Our online Global Burns event in January, which marked the end of a two-year project researching the history of Burns Suppers and mapping these events in the 21st century, was attended by more than 570 from more than 50 countries. Our alumni certainly enjoyed the opportunity to take part online. The chat function was buzzing as people logged in from all over the world, sharing enthusiasm for the topic, the speakers and, for the first time for me anyway, a virtual reality experience. I didn’t expect to end up (virtually) in the Kirk graveyard in thunder and lightning. It was pretty atmospheric. 

The Global Burns event included the unveiling of a specially commissioned piece of artwork by David Mach, which many of our alumni community helped to create by submitting images of their own Burns events in 2021.

Artist David Mach (pictured left) beside his work 'The Flying Haggis' with UofG's Dr Pauline Mackay, a lecturer in Robert Burns Studies.

Likewise we have been overwhelmed by the participation in our World Changing Glasgow Conversations programme. In this series of online events, we're connecting leaders in our community of researchers, partners and alumni to drive change and deliver impact through meaningful debate. Topics have included COVID-19 and the global economy, mental health and suicide prevention, and reparative justice and the role of universities. All of these events are available to watch on our web pages.

Tartan Day is held each April in New York and while I didn’t attend this year, my colleagues Margaret Clift and Clare McTaggart joined a group of alumni taking part in this year’s Tartan Day Parade. They had a fab time. I know from attending events like this in the past that all those attending enjoy the buzz and excitement and are always so proud as alumni to fly the Team UofG flag.

In June we invited donors and special guests to attend a very exciting landmark in the University’s campus development programme, the opening of the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre. Although our naming donors, John Shaw (MA 1970) and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, were unable to attend, it was lovely to hear from John’s brother Alasdair, also an alumnus, along with special guest and Official (curtain) Opener Professor Sir David MacMillan (BSc 1989), Nobel Laureate.

Emily (far left) with UofG Chancellor Dame Katherine Grainger (MPhil 2001), Scotland’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch (BDS 1991, DDS 2004) and Dr Poonam Malik (PhD 2003) from University of Strathclyde.

The winter 2021 graduations in November were the first to go ahead after the pandemic and it was fantastic to see the campus alive with the excitement and anticipation of these special celebrations. I always enjoy manning the Alumni stand in the marquees at graduation. It is lovely to see our new graduates as they come out of the Bute Hall wearing their robes before gathering for photos with their proud families and a glass of fizz. There was certainly lots of chatter this year and maybe just a few tears.

Commemoration Day in June is always an important date in the University calendar. The grass gets cut, the Cloisters get swept and all the robes in their different colours get hung up ready for wearing. As well as creating new honorary graduates, it’s also an opportunity to welcome back our golden jubilee graduates to celebrate 50 years since their graduations. This year we had those from 1972, 1971 and 1970. It was a special day.

One of my proudest event moments this year was also a ‘proud mum moment’ when my youngest child, Rebecca, who is a University Nursery student, was asked to join a group of children from the nursery to present gifts to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they visited the University in May to speak to students and staff about mental health initiatives as part of Mental Health Awareness week.

Looking to the future, we are especially looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2020 and Summer 2021 back in August for their special alumni graduation celebration events. I think these will be emotional events. These cohorts of alumni had a very different University experience to the rest of us, but I know that all of us who work at the University are incredibly proud of the way that they adapted to the remote learning and exams and are excited to see the world-changing roles that they go on to play in their lives.

I also very much hope to get back to China before long. Prior to the pandemic we were holding at least two big events in the country each year and our local association were planning their own smaller events.