Alumni Connection Week

Celebrating and Supporting Our Alumni Community

Connection Week is back! From 28th April to 2nd May 2025, join us for a special week dedicated to University of Suffolk graduates.

Designed by alumni, for alumni, this exclusive event offers a range of opportunities to reconnect with your university, expand your network, and explore exciting new experiences.

Since its launch in 2023, Connection Week has provided a space for graduates to engage, learn, and celebrate their shared connection with the University of Suffolk. This year’s programme, created in response to alumni feedback, promises something for everyone.

We invite you to be part of this vibrant community and make the most of the events and activities on offer. Stay connected, stay inspired, and continue your journey with us.

Programme

You will find the programme below, with exciting events already lined up. Keep an eye on our social media updates as well and join in the fun!

We will be holding a Connection Week drop in launch on Monday 28th , 10 till 2 in the Waterfront Foyer, open to all alumni, students and staff to come along and see us for tea/coffee and treats. Our ever so friendly team will be there to meet you and tell you a bit more about what we are doing and what the Alumni Relations and Development Team can offer.

Drop in and see us anytime during the week.

Launching Suffolk Salutes 2025 – Celebrating Alumni Excellence 

Nominations for our next round of Alumni Awards will be launching during Connection Week on Monday, 28 April 2025.

University of Suffolk alumni have gone on to achieve remarkable things, from forging exciting careers and conducting impactful research to making a profound difference in their communities. To honour these achievements and strengthen alumni connections, the Alumni Relations and Development Team have developed the Suffolk Salutes Alumni Awards.    

Taking inspiration from English Heritage’s renowned London Blue Plaque scheme, which celebrates individuals linked to significant places and cultural heritage, the Suffolk Salutes Alumni Awards aims to highlight graduates who have made extraordinary contributions.  

Each award is marked with a plaque on the Ipswich Campus, creating a lasting legacy that links our alumni to the university’s physical and cultural landscape.  The awards recognise alumni who have excelled in at least two of the following criteria:

Remarkable demonstration of compassion, kindness or heroism

Outstanding contribution to the educational, cultural or economic well-being of society and/or the issues facing society today (such as equality, diversity and environmental sustainability)

Outstanding contribution to, and impact on, the University’s reputation and the wider life of the University community (such as through innovation or social responsibility)

The awards ceremony will be held in September where our winners will be awarded their plaques by the Vice-Chancellor. 

Open to alumni, staff, and students, we invite you to nominate anyone you believe deserves this recognition and meets our criteria. Closing date for nominations is Friday, 23 May 2025 at 5pm.

To submit a nomination, please complete the nomination form below or reach out to alumni@uos.ac.uk for more information. 

NOMINATION FORM

Your nominations help us celebrate the outstanding individuals who contribute to the University of Suffolk community. 

Join our English team on Monday, 28 April for the last session of the Talking Shop 2024/25 programme.

Stay in touch with our writing community by attending this free workshop with our award-winning Visiting Fellow in Creative Writing, Dr. Ashley Hickson-Lovence.

Ashley has recently won the 2025 East Anglian Book of the year Award for his young adult novel-in-verse, Wild East.His teaching is captivating and inspirational and he is an influential and motivational speaker for anyone, not just those interested in creative writing.

This workshop will be taking place from 1.00pm to 2.00pm in the Waterfront Building, Room W129. No booking required, just turn up!

For any queries, please contact: emergingwriters@uos.ac.uk

Find out more about our English courses:

Interview with the Vice-Chancellor – The Power of Alumni: Staying Connected, Making an Impact

Join us on Monday, 28 April at 5.30pm for an exclusive interview with Professor Jenny Higham, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the University of Suffolk. In conversation with our Development Director, Sarah Westwood, Jenny will share insights into the University’s growth, her vision for the future, and how alumni can support our ongoing efforts. 

We invite our alumni to submit questions during the live interview or if you prefer to send us questions prior to the interview please send them to alumni@uos.ac.uk.

This session will be live and will also be recorded for you to watch at any time. Don't miss the chance to hear directly from our Vice-Chancellor about the impactful role our alumni play in shaping the University’s future. 

Join us online for exclusive sessions for University of Suffolk graduates!

We’re excited to invite you to our engaging and informative online sessions, exclusively designed for our graduates.  All sessions will be available via the links (coming soon) on Facebook and LinkedIn and recorded and available to watch any time.  All sessions should last no longer than 30 minutes and allow for questions to be answered live. If you prefer to submit your questions prior to the session please email them to Alumni@uos.ac.uk.

Tuesday, 29 April at 12:30PM 
Session Title: Proud to Be a Suffolk Graduate: What Does It Mean to Be an Alumni? 

Join our Alumni Relations Team and the Careers Team as they share everything you need to know about staying connected to the University of Suffolk. Discover our mutually beneficial alumni offer, explore exciting opportunities to engage with the university, and learn how to make the most of your lifelong connection with Suffolk. 

Speakers: 

Kate Burgess - Alumni Relations and Development Manager 
Vicki Doughty - Futures Manager, Careers, Enterprise and Employability Team

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS SESSION ON HERE

Wednesday, 30 April at 12:30PM
Session Title:  The Power of Giving

In 2022/23, new funds donated to universities exceeded 1.43 billion.  In this session we explore the difference that donations make to our university, what are some of the common myths about how a university is funded and reasons why individuals and businesses choose to support higher education. 

Speakers:

Sarah Westwood - Development Director
Dionne Walton - CEO, Student's Union

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS SESSION HERE

Thursday, 1 May at 12:30PM 
Session Title: Grow Your Business with the University of Suffolk

Join our Business Engagement Team to discover how the University of Suffolk collaborates with businesses and employers. Whether you’re looking to drive innovation, enhance enterprise, or exchange knowledge, this session will give insight into how we can support your growth. If you’re a business eager to work with the university but unsure where to start, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the possibilities.

Speakers: 

Graeme Derby - Head of Business Engagement
Kate Burgess - Alumni Relations and Development Manager

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS SESSION HERE

Friday, 2 May at 12:30PM 
Session title:  Exploring Social Justice and Legal Support in Suffolk 

Join us for an insightful session with colleagues from the University of Suffolk Institute of Social Justice and Crime (ISJC) and the University of Suffolk  Legal Advice Centre. 

This session will highlight the ISJC’s mission to tackle social issues that hinder an equitable and inclusive society, as well as provide an overview of the Legal Advice Centre, which offers free advice on family law and support for new businesses and start-ups. 

Speakers: 

Professor Miranda Horvath - Director, Institute of Social Justice and Crime 
Dr Linda Cooper - Deputy Director, Institute of Social Justice and Crime 
Eleanor Scarlett - Director, University of Suffolk Legal Advice Centre

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the impactful work being done to promote justice and support our communities. 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS SESSION HERE

Our Postgraduate Open evening is an excellent opportunity to visit our campus and get a taste for what postgraduate study at University of Suffolk can offer. 

On Wednesday, 30 April from 4.00pm to 7.00pm, you will have the chance to talk with our lecturers directly about their course offering, and to discuss with our support services any queries you may have surrounding your study.

Don’t forget as graduates of University of Suffolk or previous or partner institutions, you have access to a Postgraduate Loyalty Discount! You can find further information here.

Find out more information and book your place using the link below.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Join us on Thursday, 1 May as we proudly celebrate 10 years of Paramedic Science at the University of Suffolk! 

This special reunion is open to all Paramedic Science graduates, staff and former staff.  It's our way of honouring the University’s legacy and celebrating the incredible achievements of our graduates who continue to make a difference in this vital field. 

The event will take place from 5.00pm to 7.30pm at the Waterfront Building. Come and enjoy an evening filled with music, food, and heartfelt appreciation from the University of Suffolk team.

Spaces are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today — we look forward to seeing you there!

Note: This event is invitation only, open to Paramedic Science graduates and invited attendees. 

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

For the first time ever, we are holding a virtual cycling challenge, open to all alumni, students and staff wherever you are in the world!

Help us cycle the 1,189-mile journey by either joining us on campus, where we will have static bikes in the Waterfront Foyer during Connection Week, or cycle in your own time and submit your miles to us.

We will be fundraising to support students from priority backgrounds to access education and we are asking cyclists to donate a £5 entry fee. For further information or queries contact giving@uos.ac.uk.

SIGN UP TO THE CYCLE-THON HERE

This year, the Careers team will be around to provide advice and support. Further updates coming soon.

In the meantime, if you need help and support with careers advice then please contact the team on careers@uos.ac.uk.

As well as all of the above we will have regular, daily activities taking place for you to get involved with.

Connecting People with Place

Get involved with our social media campaign ‘Connecting People with Place’ .
"Wherever you are in the world, share a photo of your location and let us experience the beauty and connection it holds for you. Show us what makes it special and help bring us closer to your world!" 
Send us photos via social media or email to alumni@uos.ac.uk with the details of the photo as well as your name, course and graduation year.

Suffolk Links

Suffolk Links is back! No matter where you are in the world, we’d love to hear your favourite thing about Suffolk.
Send us your thoughts to be added to our ever growing paper chain, or if you're on campus, feel free to stop by our stand in the Foyer and share your positive thoughts with us in person.  Let’s celebrate what makes Suffolk special together!

Come and see us in the Foyer 

The Alumni Relations and Development Team will be in the Foyer from Monday to Thursday 9-5.  Come along for a chat and find out more about what we do. 
Take part in the Suffolk Cycle-thon!

Campus Tours 