Insights Online - Alumni

Hear more about the Insights Online Week from our alumni hosts.

What was the Insights Online Week? 

Due to Covid-19, the 2020 Insights Programme was re-designed to be exclusively online. Nearly 100 Insights students took part in the online week, supported by experts in the Careers Service, providing the opportunity to gain personal, professional and cultural insights from twenty alumni volunteers across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. 

The aim was for students to work entirely online in small groups to gain an insights into job sectors and careers, benefit from alumni experiences and advice, make new connections with alumni and fellow students, and develop skills in networking, communications, professional behaviours, and team working.

Over the course of the week students attended a range of activities and skills workshops from top tips on online networking to building resilience and managing change with the weeklong programme culminating in a group project on the future of work in their chosen sector.

Students also had the opportunity to learn from alumni experiences of  building resilience and managing change with a panel discussion on the topic, and to connect and network online in small breakout groups with twenty UK and global Insights alumni hosts at the Insights Gathering. There was also the opportunity to connect with further alumni through activities via Platform One, the University's online community for staff, students and alumni.

Why take part in the Insights Online Week? 

I've been participating as an alumni host since the inception two years ago and felt it was important that the students didn't miss out on the opportunities it provides because of covid-19 restrictions

I normally host the students socially in London and have really enjoyed doing so in the past and although this was not possible this year, I thought it was a good opportunity to still be part of such an important occasion

I enjoyed hosting an Insights group last year and wanted to do something that would help the program continue to run despite the current travel restrictions

Insights hosts' thoughts on the Online Week 

Our Insights hosts found the week to be an overwhelmingly positive experience as 100% of surveyed hosts would recommend participating in the Insights Programme to other alumni.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience

The Conversations with Alumni: Resilience and Change event had four alumni panellists from across the UK, USA and Hong Kong who shared their experiences of resilience and adaptation and answered students’ questions.

It was interesting to be part of and great to have such an international and varied panel so thank you for the chance to participate

At the Insights Gathering students were given the opportunity to network in small groups with Insights hosts. These short conversations and networking experiences gave a chance for students to learn about their alumni hosts' work and what it is like to live and work in different locations around the world. Following the Insights Gathering, alumni and students were able to continue the conversation through LinkedIn and Platform One.  

Some of the connections are now going beyond the virtual world.

I am now connected via LinkedIn with most of the student in my breakout rooms [from the networking session] and look forward to continuing the relationships using that medium with one already lined up to meet in person in London in the future

I have had 2-3 students follow up already so I am arranging calls with them for later this week

It was a privilege to participate