Alumni Christmas Drinks in the City, December 2011
Over 50 alumni, former staff and current staff joined the Alumni Association team at the Old Joint Stock Pub for a Christmas drink in December. The event provided an opportunity for alumni and former staff to catch up as well as make new contacts. A number of alumni who completed their studies earlier this year met alumni who graduated from 2010 back to 1949 at the event.
Student photographer, Ronald Gunawan, also attended the event and took some wonderful photographs which we have placed on our online gallery.
School of Education Reunion, Class of 2010
A number of former students and staff and current staff attended the School of Education’s first graduate teacher training reunion in July. Former students from the class of 2010 reunited for lunch at Café Ikon on Birmingham City Centre celebrating the success of their first year in teaching and catching up with their former lecturers.
Alumni Careers Event: Changing Career Direction
The Alumni Association welcomed guest speakers Fiona Cohn and Anthony Howell to the University in June 2011 for the first Alumni Careers Event. The event offered alumni thinking of changing their career direction the opportunity to not only gain some professional advice and guidance but also to network with other alumni in the same position.
School of English Reunion Dinner
In June 2011 alumni and former staff from the School of English reunited at Opus Restaurant in Birmingham. The dinner organised by the Alumni Association was hosted by Professor David Roberts, Head of English, and provided those attending with an opportunity to catch up and reminisce about their time as a student.
1980s Decade Reunion, Birmingham School of Music
Birmingham City Conservatoire welcomed back students and staff from the 1980s in March for a day of reminiscing and musical entertainment. The reunion, organised jointly by the Alumni Association and Birmingham Conservatoire Association (BCA), brought together over 130 former students and staff, with some travelling from as far as the United States in order to attend.
For many this was the first time they had seen each other in over 20 years and therefore a lot of time was spent catching up with one another and discussing what had and hadn’t changed at the Conservatoire.
John Smith, BCA Hon Secretary, kicked off the day with a trip back to the 1980s sharing photographs from the archive and identifying events of the 1980s. Professor David Saint, Acting Principal, chaired a discussion inviting guests Fiona Palmer, Richard Silk and Damian Cranmer to share their memories of Birmingham Conservatoire in the 1980s. The day was closed with a concert performed by current Conservatoire students.
Photographs from the Reunion
Celebrating 125 Years of Art at Margaret Street - Alumni Reception
In September 2010 former students and staff, current students and staff, and friends of the University’s School of Art united at an alumni reception to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the School of Art building more affectionately known as ‘Margaret Street’.
Purpose-built for the study of art in 1885, the building, which is located in Birmingham City Centre’s museum and gallery area, is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary education environments in the country. It is still the home of the University’s School of Art today retaining many of its original features including wood interiors, stained glass windows and mosaic floors, north facing studio lighting and splendid stairwells.
Over 330 guests attended the alumni reception and took the opportunity to view the 2010 Arts Based Master’s Presentation which showcased the work of completing students from the MA course. A special 125th anniversary exhibition ‘When We Build Let Us Think That We Build Forever’ was also available to view which included material from the archives, new commissions, and works by artists such as Kaye Donachie, William Gear, David J Mabb, Matthew David Burrows and Heather & Ivan Morison.
Past students of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, part of the University, also contributed to the 125th anniversary exhibition submitting over 100 pieces of work from a variety of disciplines including architecture, graphic design, visual communication and fine art. The work was projected in the gallery space as part of the exhibition. Work produced by current staff was displayed in the new gallery space. Overall the exhibition offered the viewer the opportunity to look back at the School of Art’s rich and fascinating history.
As the School of Art building celebrated its 125th birthday, Head of the School Professor John Butler said he envisaged a bright future. He said: “The School of Art is still very much a relevant landmark in the City and we continue to provide a stimulating, creative and contemporary environment for students at all levels of higher arts education. We offer a comprehensive art programme ranging from a pre-degree foundation course, to two undergraduate BA courses, an Arts-Based Master’s Programme with nine awards, a residency Research Fellowship and Higher Research Degrees.”
Celebrating 125 Years of Art at Margaret Street website
See more photographs from the event on our Flickr
1990s Decade School of English Reunion
Birmingham City University’s School of English held its first official reunion in June 2010. The Reunion, organised by the Alumni Association, reunited over 30 former students and staff who studied or taught at the School during the 1990s decade.
The evening included a reminiscing session with Professor Howard Jackson, Professor of English Language and Linguistics, who had taught the majority of the former students attending the reunion during their time at the School. Many shared fond memories of being a student and noted all the changes made to Baker Building since they studied at the School.
See some more photographs from the event on our Flickr
Reunion of City & Guilds Students 1971-1974
On the 2nd of March 2010 a group of past students who attended the Jewellery School in the early seventies arranged a reunion to see the facilities that are currently available at the School. The tour of the school was conducted by Gemmology Course Director Kate Hopley who showed the group around the building. Head of School Professor Jack Cunningham took time out from his busy schedule to meet with the group and he explained how modern production technology played a major part in preparing the students for life in the competitive jewellery industry. Deputy Head of School, Terry Hunt re-acquainted himself with the reunion members, having taught them during his first year at the school back in 1971. All the visitors commented on the changes to the school, not just the physical appearance, the school looked very different in 1971 it was a rabbit warren of small rooms and narrow curling staircases, but also the changes in the equipment and technology available to the students today. After visiting the school a long lunch was enjoyed by all at the Pasta Di Piazza on St. Paul’s Square. All the visitors promised not to leave it another 36 years before getting together again.
Internal Alumni Reception, November 2009
Birmingham City University held its annual Internal Alumni Reception in November to celebrate the continued contribution and commitment shown by alumni who have chosen to stay on the campus after graduation and become employees of the University.
The Reception was held on the City North Campus and hosted by Professor David Tidmarsh, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University. Over 40 alumni and current members of staff attended the Reception and assisted the Alumni Association is identifying former staff on the photograph board. The Alumni Association plans to hold another Internal Alumni Reception in November 2010.
Alumni Speaker Series 2009-2010: An Evening with David Nicoll, Midlands Business Person of the Year, who me?, Wednesday 14th October 2009
To be a successful business person you don't need to do anything magical, you just need to look at the world in a slightly different way - that was the advice given to current and former students of the University by alumnus and 2009 Midlands Business Person of the Year David Nicoll.
Entrepreneur David Nicoll, whose association with the University dates back over 20 years having studied both an Accountancy degree and MPhil at the University, entertained over 40 staff, current students and alumni as he launched the University's new ‘Alumni Speaker Series'.
David, who has run his own business, JTD CerTax Accounting, since 2005, markets himself as the ‘Accountant with attitude' and prides himself on being different - or as his clients put it, ‘just the right side of crazy'.
He gave a number of helpful hints on how to go it alone and make it a success in a business environment, believing that first and foremost is the ability to manage and use fear positively.
"It can be blooming scary sometimes. To find yourself sitting in a back office of the house with no clients, having not lived in the area long and always commuted, not knowing any businesses or neighbours takes a certain amount of fear," he joked.
"The mortgage needed paying in 31 days, I had no money coming in and needed to go out and get it. Not everybody has the ability to look at fear and think, okay, I can do that. I joined a network of small firms and by the third year I was the biggest firm in the network.
"Having that adventurous spirit and just going out and having a go is the key. You've got to ask ‘what's the worst thing that could happen?' and the answer is not a lot actually."
David, whose skills include being a qualified accountant, marketer, PR expert, journalist, NLP trainer and qualified hypnotherapist, said that the most important thing is to have fun when you're in business; the ability to network and make connections is also critical for SMEs.
Birmingham School of Music Pre-1970 Reunion, March 2009
Former students and staff of the Birmingham School of Music, who attended before 1970, were invited to the reunite in March. The Reunion, organised by the Alumni Association in partnership with Birmingham Conservatoire Association, bought together 120 former students and staff, with some travelling from as far as France and New Zealand in order to attend.
This was the first time some had seen each other in over 50 years and a lot of time was spent catching up with one another and sharing memories of their time at the School. Many had never been to the building at Paradise Place, as it was only opened in 1973 by the Queen Mother, with the School previously being based temporarily at Dale End.
The reunion was closed with a concert performed by current students including an impressive piano solo from Tatiana Dardykina who is currently studying MMus degree at the Conservatoire having already gained a Distinction on the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma course.
Internal Alumni Reception, November 2008
In November Birmingham City University celebrated the continued contribution and commitment shown by alumni who have chosen to stay on the campus after graduation and become employees of the University. A lunchtime reception was held at the City North Campus for all alumni currently working for the University. It anticipated that this will become an annual event.
Town Planning Staff Reunion, November 2008
Colin Wood, Senior Lecturer, in The Birmingham School of the Built Environment organised a reunion for former town planning staff in November 2008. The reunion was held at Strada restaurant in Birmingham City Centre. A number of former staff attended with plans to hold another reunion in the future.
Architecture Centenary Ball
This August the Birmingham School of Architecture celebrated its centenary with a black tie ball at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. The ball was attended by over 250 alumni, former staff, current staff and friends of the School. The Acting Head of Architecture, Hannah Vowles and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Tidmarsh, provided a welcoming speech to all attendees describing the School’s and the University’s plans for the future. Ruth Reed, who was recently elected as the RIBA President, also spoke thanking those in attendance for their support.
See photos of the event at Flickr
Celebrating 50 Years of Planning Education
In November 2007, Birmingham City University’s Birmingham School of the Built Environment held its first official reunion for former students and staff of planning.
The reunion, organised by the Alumni Association, was held on the City North Campus in Edge Building. The School had been celebrating 50 years of excellence in planning education throughout 2007 and the reunion marked the end of the celebrations.
Over 100 former students and staff from various years registered to attend the reunion that was kicked off with a welcome from the Dean of the Faculty, Professor John Rouse. The Head of Property Construction and Planning, Jean Badman, followed with a presentation on the School as it is today.
Former lecturers of the School, John Wright and Alan Green, continued with an entertaining sketch of the history of planning education at the University. A number of guests contributed to the reunion by sharing their memories with other attendees of their time at the School which included humorous tales of field trip antics. The reunion was closed with a buffet in Café Edge and a glass a wine.
Alumni Association Officer, Rachel Whitehouse, said “The feedback we have received has been extremely positive. Everyone seemed to have a great time and managed to reconnect with a number of friends and colleagues. We hope that this is the first alumni reunion of many for The Birmingham School of the Built Environment.”
For more photographs, please visit http://www.planningis50.com/.