The University of Southampton

ECS alumni reconnect at 2014 London reception

Published: 15 May 2014
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ECS alumni from almost 60 years attended this year's London reception, held at BMA House, London, on Tuesday 13 May.

Around 200 alumni were able to reconnect with fellow students and academic staff, and to hear news of latest developments in the University and in Electronics and Computer Science.

Professor Peter Smith, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, told alumni that their support was invaluable to student activities in ECS, enabling student development projects, the establishment of student societies, and the creation of new mentoring programmes. Alumni also play a large part in the ECS Careers Hub activity by offering internships and graduate jobs to ECS students, by bringing their companies to the annual Careers Fair, and by taking part in the programme of student careers conferences.

Professor Smith also introduced Professor Tariq Durrani, distinguished alumnus of ECS, who is this year aiming to become President-Elect of the IEEE. All Graduate Student Members of the IEEE are elible to vote in this election. ECS alumni members can sign the petition electronically at: http://www.ieee.org/petition.

Professor Mark Zwolinski, Deputy Head of ECS, updated guests on recent developments, including the launch of the new degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton Malaysia Campus, and the award to the University of the unique Regius Chair in Computer Science, to which Professor Nick Jennings was recently appointed.

The main address of the evening was given by Professor Dame Wendy Hall, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Head of the School of Electronics from 2002 to 2007. Professor Hall is this year celebrating 40 years since graduating from her undergraduate degree at Southampton, and will be giving the keynote address at the University's annual alumni reunion event in July.

'ECS has always been a strong and lively community', said Professor Hall, 'and as we continue to innovate with new degrees and new research directions, it is wonderful to see that our alumni are playing such an enthusiastic and innovative role in technology development in their professional lives.

New initiatives for which ECS will be seeking alumni support in the future are the ECS-Inspire programme, which aims to help shape student development across the degree programme, and for enterprise activities, including business start-ups.

For further information on ECS alumni events or supporting student projects, careers activities, or research engagement, contact Joyce Lewis, Senior Fellow-Partnerships and Business Development (tel. 023 8059 5453).

See photos of the event on our flickr Photostream

Our LinkedIn Group: 'ECS Alumni, University of Southampton' contains information on all ECS alumni events, and has over 1300 members. Information on the July reunion is available from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni/2014reunionexperience_makeyourcomeback.html.

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