Dear alumnus

A belated happy New Year to you all!   Campus is buzzing once more, with students busily revising for their exams and finalists starting work on their dissertations.  How many of you can remember going through the very same experience?

As usual, the Alumni Office are very busy, with plenty going on as the new year commences.  This year’s Alumni General Meeting takes place on Friday 15 February in the Council Chamber of the Student Union Building, between 10.30 and 12.30.  The agenda will include the Vice Chancellor outlining the Strategic Plan for the University, a presentation by the Director of Sport, Chris Earle on preparations for 2012 and Loughborough’s involvement in the Olympics.  All Alumni are welcome to come along, if you’d like to attend, please contact Jane Fitzmaurice in the Alumni Office on (01509) 228649 or email her at J.F.L.Fitzmaurice@lboro.ac.uk

The latest edition of the Alumni magazine will be hitting doormats around the end of February.  We’ve been working hard on a new design for the magazine and really hope you like it.  As always, we welcome feedback concerning the magazines style and format.  If you have any comments to make concerning the magazine or indeed the E-newsletter or website, stories you think are newsworthy please send them to alumni@lboro.ac.uk

We have over 13,000 registered members on the Alumni website.  We’re absolutely delighted with this and are keen to increase the number to 20,000.  Have you registered yet?  If not, go to www.lboro.ac.uk/alumni and use your ID number to register.

If you would prefer not to receive E-Newsletters please follow the opt-out instructions at the end of this email. 

Marilyn Johnson

News @ Loughborough

New Alumni website

During February 2008 the Loughborough alumni website (www.lboro.ac.uk/alumni) will be undergoing development work which will move the website over to a new system to allow us to make future improvements to the site based on the feedback we receive from users. Please keep an eye on the notices on the site as it will keep you informed of any changes to the services available to you through the website

Towards 2016 – Loughborough University announces Strategic Plan

The University has published its Strategic Plan ‘Towards 2016’, outlining the way it will work and the outcomes it aspires to achieve over the next ten years.

The plan looks at areas including;

• Internationalisation of Loughborough University
• Becoming a leading international research-intensive institution by 2016
• Consolidating Loughborough’s reputation for sports performance, education and research and encouraging sports participation at every level

You can view “Towards 2016” online as a PDF

Postgraduate Open day – 20^th February

Loughborough University Graduate School will be hosting a Postgraduate Open Day on the afternoon of the 20th February 2008. We take great pride in the large number of Loughborough Graduates who choose to return to study with us. You can find out how you can continue your education at Loughborough and book a place for the open day online.

Loughborough Student Union launch ‘Lufbra is Going Global’

December 2007 saw the launch of the new Student Union Publication, ‘Lufbra is Going Global’.  The publication is aimed at embracing the idea of Loughborough as a truly international university.  You can read issue 1 online.

Loughborough to host National Performance Centre for hockey

Loughborough University will host the country’s first National Performance Centre (NPC) for hockey as part of a new initiative announced by sport governing body England Hockey.  Loughborough has teamed up with Nottingham Trent University to form the East Midlands NPC which allows players to access top quality coaching and athlete support whilst continuing their education.  Find out more about this exciting new venture.

Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute Opens

In October 2007, Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute opened for business.  The Institute is an exciting new £15M venture to boost research and enterprise in the sport and leisure sector.  If you would like to find out more about the Loughborough University Sports Institute you can read about it online.

Honorary Graduate named President of King Abdulla University

Professor Shih Choon Fong, who was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by Loughborough University in 2005,  has been named the founding President of King Abdulla University of Science and Technology – selected by the King himself!  Professor Shih, who was credited with transforming the National University of Singapore from a teaching university to a research-intensive one that takes pride of place among the top 50 universities in the world.  Our congratulations go to Professor Shih on this prestigious appointment.

Appeal to all Geography graduates

Did you  graduate from the Department of Geography between 1999 and 2002? would you be interested in providing current students ideas about the type of work they might do after their degree? then please get in touch and we can send you a simple form to complete. Your details may be used to create a brief profile which will be used on the Careers Centre and departmental web pages. See other testimonials at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/gy/admissions/testimonials.html

Contact: Dr. Richard Hodgkins, Senior Lecturer, Geography.

Email: R.Hodgkins@lboro.ac.uk  Or Yvonne Hamblin, Careers Centre, Email: y.c.hamblin@lboro.ac.uk

2007 Graduates invited to enter The Loughborough University Business Plan Competition 2008

All Class of 2007 Alumni are invited to enter the 2008 Loughborough University Business Plan Competition.  This is the first time entries have been accepted from Loughborough Graduates.  You must have graduated in 2007 to have entered.  Individual and team entries will be accepted, with cash prizes including a £1500 first prize up for grabs.

Ten semi finalists will be selected by 25th February 2008, with chosen finalists required to submit a full business plan by 18th April 2008.  Presentations to the 3 winners will be at an awards ceremony in June.

For more information and an entry form and the competition guidelines please contact Marina Pickles on 228679 m.pickles@lboro.ac.uk or go to the Student Enterprise web-site www.enterpriselufbra.co.uk.  Closing date for the submission of entries is Friday 18th February 2008.

High Performance Triathlon Coach Appointed

Loughborough University has named Gavin Smith as its first ever High Performance Coach for Triathlon.

Smith, will oversee Loughborough’s squad as it prepares for Beijing .  Find out more on this story

Dancing on Ice - Vote to keep Backley in!

Former Javelin world record holder, Olympic medallist and Loughborough University alumnus Steve Backley is currently competing in ITV’s weekend ‘Dancing on Ice’ show.  Steve and his partner Susie Lipanova would really appreciate your support to keep them in with a chance of claiming the title.  Watch the show to see how you can vote to keep Steve’s dream alive!

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Events & Reunions

Lufbra in London

The next Lufbra in London is at The Pitcher and Piano on Thursday 6^th March from 6.30pm onwards.  This is a fantastic networking opportunity for Loughborough Alumni or simply an opportunity to catch up with your classmates.  More information is listed here.

Real Varsity Match Loughborough 1^st XV v University of Bath

This year’s Real Varsity rugby match takes place on Wednesday 30^th April.  Further information and kick off times will be available shortly on the Alumni Association website at www.lboro.ac.uk/alumni

Loughborough University International Athletics (LIA)

This year’s athletics meeting is on Sunday 18 May.  Further information on start times and ticket prices will be available nearer the event.  Watch this space!

IPTME Double Anniversary Reunion Dinner Dance

IPTME are happy to announce a 20th and 40th Anniversary celebration for students of The Institute of Polymer Technology and IPTME on 07 June 2008.  Further information and ticket prices are listed here

Student Union May Bank Holiday Extravaganza

The Students Union would love to see any alumni return for the May Bank Holiday weekend (2nd - 5th May) for an action packed long weekend.  On Friday night come and re-live those University nights out at

FND and then Saturday get involved in RAG’s Beer Keller.  Other events over the weekend include the Fringe Festival, Beer festival and on the Bank Holiday Monday,  FreeFest will be outside in the sunshine (or rain!).  Any questions about any events of that weekend or any of the other Student Union activities please email David Gerty (Union President) at president@lborosu.org.uk

Roam – A Weekend of Walking  March 15^th, 16^th and 17^th 2008

Roam, A Weekend of Walking brings to Loughborough six artists who invite you to come walking with them to investigate the town afresh.  The walks will be devised and led by artists from a range of artforms. You might be taken on a walk that is a performance in which the set are the streets of Loughborough.  Alternatively, we have commissioned a poet to take you on a poetic journey around the town and a visual artist who will act as an alternative tour guide.  Running alongside the walks will be a walking fair that will take place on the Saturday at Charnwood Museum.  If you are interested in taking part in these walks contact Nick Slater in LUSAD at N.Slater@lboro.ac.uk       

Alumni invited to 33^rd WEDC International Conference, Ghana

Alumni are cordially invited to an early evening cocktail event during the 33^rd conference  of The Water, Engineering and Development Centre , held to discuss the following:

Access to Sanitation and Safe Water: Global Partnerships and Local Actions

The conference will be held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel ( http://www.gbghana.com/l-meet.html) in Accra Ghana between the 7^th to 11^th April 2008.  For further details on this event, please contact the Conference Administrator on +44 (0)1509 228304 or at wedc.conf@lboro.ac.uk

Norwegian Alumni Association AGM

The Norwegian Loughborough University Alumni Group will be holding their Annual General Meeting on 11 March 2008.  For further information, including agenda for the meeting,  contact Per Sverdrup at goggen@sverdrup.net  

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The Alumni e-newsletter is produced by Loughborough University Alumni Association and is copyright© Loughborough University 2008. This is a web version of the email sent to all alumni and friends who have not opted out of the e-newsletter. If you have any queries related to the e-newsletter please email alumni@lboro.ac.uk or visit the alumni web site.

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