The Spring is on its way...

Sarah
Since my last blog update I've been working on several goals to attain my dream career of working in events and PR, in particular for the third sector.Sixth month into my internship, I've had some amazing opportunities to help out with events including; organising an International Wave alumni reception in Hong Kong, assisting Joe with the bingo calling at the No Mince Pies event for the community, and helping out at the Not the New Year Party for the Brookes Society for Retired Staff. 

Aside from this, as an intern I've been completing group training with City and Guilds for Principles of Marketing short course and working on promoting and gathering information for the Yearbook. In the next few months I will also be working on the 2015 MBA Summer School and Gala Dinner, and organising an event for Accounting, Finance and Economics at the Harris Manchester College, Oxford. So at this point, there's still six months to go and lots to look forward to in the department.

Oh, and meanwhile, here's a selfie of Grace and I in our Christmas jumpers for Save The Children's #xmasjumperday at Brookes back in December.

Grace

Since my last post I have been working hard to obtain my Principles of Marketing short course with City and Guilds. I have loved group training with all of the interns every Thursday as we completed this eight week course, and am happy to have passed! This photo was taken on our last day where we all look as good as gold.

I’ve continued to organise numerous events, including an alumni dinner in the beautiful Headington Hill Hall. I’ve loved organising an event to thank alumni for their support of a specific academic department, and am sure it will be a great event celebrating all that alumni and the University have achieved!

I’m happy to say that I have recently been offered a new position with an Oxford-based charity and have accepted the job - sadly this means I will be leaving my current role and the alumni team at the end of March. I have really enjoyed the work I have been doing and the team have been so supportive which I have really valued. Although I’m sad to go, I’m excited for what’s ahead and I’m sure I will stay in touch with Brookes.

Joe

Although we are only two months into the 150th Anniversary year, it has already been packed full of events.  I’ve also enjoyed leading tours for alumni of the new campus developments in Headington, particularly the John Henry Brookes Building.

Last week we all helped at a Brookes Society event in the JHBB, getting the chance to meet a number of the university’s retired staff.  This was followed by a brilliant lecture by Sir Clive Booth, Brookes’ first Vice Chancellor to be appointed after Oxford Polytechnic became Oxford Brookes University in 1992.  This led to much reminiscing at the reception afterwards, and it was fascinating speaking to guests who worked at the university during that landmark period in its history.

Within the Faculty, I continue to plan a number of events, from reunions and alumni receptions, to networking evenings and guest lectures.  In addition, all three of us have begun delivering presentations to final year students, advertising the benefits of joining the alumni network after they leave in the summer.

We have also recently completed our eight week Principles of Marketing short course, and I was delighted to hear this morning that I have passed!  This will be an incredibly valuable addition to my CV and will add to the vast array of training we continue to receive as part of our internship.

We were sad to hear recently that Grace will be leaving us at the end of the month, as the next exciting stage of her career awaits.  I’d like to wish her the very best in her new role.  The office won’t be the same without her cheeky smile and eagerness to answer the phone…!

150th Anniversary, events, yearbook and more

Grace:
At the start of my internship I received lots of training, including fundraising, databases and group intern training. It has been really enjoyable and interesting to have regular training with the interns across the University. Being trained in the database has in no way been boring as I wrongly expected - it’s been so useful in understanding how we can maximise communication with our alumni.

I’m also happy to say I have just become a qualified fundraiser, having passed my introductory certificate, which is great as Brookes' Development office are members of the Institute.





Within the faculty, I have been working hard on organising events as part of our 150th celebration.

This has involved working on public lectures and dinners, and has given me the opportunity to get used to meeting with employees across the university.





I’ve had the chance to try my hand at producing material for print, liaising with designers and copy editors, designing posters and a Department of Planning Alumni Newsletter.

I have dealing with all sorts of requests and queries (both phone and email), writing press releases, leading focus groups with students, creating electronic direct mail and regularly talking on the phone (which I have loved).


Sarah:
Last semester, was the start of my internship and I was completing a lot of training on fundraising, databases, and group interns training. This training is really beneficial to my career and I now have some professional training that I can add to my CV.

As time went on, it got steadily busier with several projects building in the Faculty of Business and the Alumni Relations office. In the alumni office, as well as continuing some of the previous interns’ work, Grace, Joe and I launched the Yearbook Reps scheme to promote Yearbook 2015 to students. In addition, we started to plan a joint event between Careers and Alumni, and I also worked the launch of the 150th Anniversary International Wave in Hong Kong.

Whilst in the Faculty of Business, I started to put together a round table discussion, two 150th Anniversary events, a brand new newsletter, and a reunion dinner. I even got the opportunity to help run the bingo in a No Mince Pies event for the local community!
 
I’m looking forward to seeing all of these events through the end in the next semester and completing my training courses in leadership (ILM) and marketing (City and Guilds).

Joe:

The first four months of my internship have flown by and have already been packed full of events and activities.  September was mainly filled with my induction, which involved meeting a lot of new faces and drinking lots of coffee.  We also began our internship training series, which gave me the chance to meet all of the other interns from across the university.  

By October I had started work in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, my designated faculty for the year.  I attended a few faculty events to get a feel for the kind of things going on there, before beginning to introduce myself to the various heads of departments and get the ball rolling.  

Most of my time in the Faculty so far has been spent organising events for the 150th anniversary celebrations this year.  These include a 10 year physiotherapy reunion, an Occupational Therapy alumni lecture and a faculty wide careers events for final year students.  I also helped to create a newsletter for the department of Clinical Health Care, where I have been involved in the planning for the 125 Years of Nursing in Oxford anniversary, happening in 2016.  

More centrally, all three of us have started work on the 2015 Yearbook, enlisting a number of 'Yearbook Reps' from the current final year cohort to help us plan and advertise the book.  We are also planning a university-wide careers event and have all become qualified fundraisers.  It’s been quite a productive few months in hindsight!

With 2015 now upon us, I’m greatly looking forward to getting stuck in with finalising the events I have been planning as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations.  The year has already started off memorably for me, as I interviewed Doris Simms, our oldest living alumna on her 96th birthday about her time at the Oxford Schools of Technology, Arts and Commerce in 1935 (eight decades ago!).  

You can see the interview on the new 150th Anniversary timeline. 

Hello, and welcome to our new blog!

Every month we’ll give you an update of all the goings on in Alumni Relations through the work of our three interns, Sarah, Grace and Joe.  

With events planned in each of the four faculties, as well as across the wider university as part of the upcoming 150th Anniversary in 2015, it’s going to be a busy twelve months for our interns.  Whether you’re a current or former student, a member of staff or just have a general interest in university life here at Oxford Brookes, there’s bound to be something that interests you below.

But first, let’s get to know our three interns a bit better…

Joe Parton '13

History Graduate from Oxford Brookes

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

I’m originally from Loughborough, and came to Oxford Brookes to study history in 2011.  Throughout my time here I thoroughly enjoyed both living in Oxford and studying at Brookes, and when the John Henry Brookes Building opened in my third year I realised how much of a privilege it was to be studying at such a prestigious and well-regarded university.  That is why I chose to remain a part of Brookes after I graduated, becoming an intern in DARO.  I am working for specifically with the HLS Faculty, and although my degree was in a different faculty, I’m very excited to get stuck in with all the events going on across the four departments here.  I’m also looking forward to helping the University’s reputation grow even further during the 150th Anniversary celebrations next year, with loads of events planned already.  

Grace Kinnaird '13

Publishing Graduate from Oxford Brookes

Faculty of Technology, Design and the Environment

I studied Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes, which is pretty near to my home town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire. I absolutely loved what I studied for all three years of my degree and made some of the best friends both through lectures and student societies. I chose to do this internship because I think that the high level of training and experience available is difficult to find elsewhere. By working for alumni relations within the faculty of Technology, Design and Environment I have already been able to work with colleagues from a wide variety of teams while promoting and organising alumni activities. As we celebrate our 150th anniversary over the coming year, I’m looking forward to working alongside the faculty to reconnect with our alumni and help them to celebrate this occasion alongside the university.

Sarah Brice '13

Business Graduate from Oxford Brookes

Faculty of Business

I studied International Business Management at Oxford Brookes, and I’m originally from the Swindon area (so reasonably local). I’ve really loved living and studying in Oxford, and working here for an additional year is such a good experience. I chose to do an internship as I needed more experience in engagement and fundraising to get into the third sector (charity work). The specific internship I chose was linked to alumni relations and fundraising, which enables me to get the skills linked to the career I want to do. In the role, I’m linked to alumni relations in the Faculty of Business, and so I get to see the careers that other business graduates have gone on to do, from banking, to marketing, to starting up their own businesses, social enterprises, or charities. One of the best things about being an intern this year, is that it’s a unique opportunity to be part of the 150th anniversary celebrations, and I’m looking forward to helping out with organising these events for my faculty.

Welcome!