On Friday 17 April, an alumni event for aviation students was held at the High Wycombe Campus for an afternoon of dedicated networking between alumni and current students.
The event was designed to support students as they prepare for careers in the aviation industry and was co-organised and hosted with alumnus Michael Ashworth, the aviation course team, the Careers and Success team and supported by the BNU Alumni Network.
Kicking off the event, everyone highlighted the value and importance of the alumni network in creating links between alumni and current students of BNU. Networking events like this offer students a valuable opportunity to engage directly with graduates working across aviation roles.
Around ten alumni from BNU attended and were joined by 20-30 current students and BNU staff. After a short tour of the campus for some of our alumni members, there was the opportunity for current students to network and talk to alumni about the aviation sector. Through informal conversations, students were able to gain first-hand insights into career pathways, industry expectations and the transition from studying to employment.
Having graduated from BNU in 2019, Michael was a key organiser of the event and helped promote it to other alumni. Since graduating, Michael returned to BNU to become an associate lecturer and taught at the University from 2020-23. After a stint at Wizz Air, Michael if now fulfilling a lifelong dream as a first officer at British Airways.
Speaking of the event, Michael said: "It was fantastic to be a part of bringing alumni together from across the aviation courses in one room. Other than showcasing how BNU has changed over the years, including investment in new campus infrastructure, it's a reminder of how far we've come since our graduation, the roles that can be achieved and even better to connect with current students about what they can expect once they leave university. I am already looking forward to the next one, as this occasion grows year on year!"