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Events archive
This is an archive of alumni events that took place more than 12 months ago. To view more recent events, please go to Past events.
Heriot-Watt University Club, Hong Kong visits Huizhou, China
On 20 March 2010 a group of 20 alumni and students from the Heriot-Watt University Club, Hong Kong visited a household goods factory in Huizhou, Guangdong in China.
Mr Ken Lee, an alumnus of the EBS MBA programme and director of the factory, accompanied members on a tour and shared his experiences of the difficulties of running a successful business in the international marketplace.
EBS holds its biggest ever event for alumni and students across the Caribbean
Edinburgh Business School (EBS) has hosted many events around the world since the conception of its Alumni Club in 2006, but never before has it received such an overwhelming response to an event as it did in Trinidad on 29 January 2010.
More than 500 guests were welcomed by the EBS team to the Hyatt Regency Trinidad to mark the inaugural alumni event of the Caribbean chapter. The EBS team that travelled to Trinidad for the event included Professor Keith Lumsden (Director), Sally MacLeod (Marketing Manager), Alick Kitchin (Business Director) and Morag Heggie (Director of Administration).
EBS was particularly honoured to welcome His Excellency, President of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor George Maxwell Richards and his wife, Her Excellency, First Lady of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards.
His Excellency has been a long-time supporter of EBS and Heriot-Watt University and in 2007, during a visit to Edinburgh, he was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of the University. EBS's long-standing and distinguished Approved Learning Partner in Trinidad, SBCS, was represented by Executive Director Dr Robin Maraj and several of his executive team and tutors.
In her speech, Sally MacLeod welcomed guests to the event and spoke of the importance of the EBS alumni network across the world and its strength in the Caribbean. Lyana St Bernard, EBS's Caribbean alumni ambassador, spoke of the significance of having a Heriot-Watt degree in the Caribbean and her hopes of how graduates could now help shape Trinidad and Tobago's business, social and political systems.
Professor Lumsden spoke of EBS's 21-year history of delivering MBAs, both by distance learning and through a network of 26 Approved Learning Partners across the world – a truly global programme that now has over 14,300 graduates and 10,300 active students.
The upper left image (left to right) shows Sally MacLeod, Vijaya Maraj, Robin Maraj, HE Professor George Maxwell Richards, HE Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards, Alick Kitchin, Keith Lumsden, Ruth Reid-Lumsden and Morag Heggie. The lower right image shows Lyana St Bernard, EBS Caribbean Alumni Ambassador, addressing the event. To download more photos, please click here.
Edinburgh Graduation – November 2009
Edinburgh Business School hosted more than 100 of their 395 eligible graduands at the EBS graduation lunch party on Thursday 19 November 2009.
After the formal graduation ceremony, EBS graduates and their families and friends enjoyed a buffet lunch and mixed with fellow graduates and EBS staff.
EBS's Sally MacLeod spoke about the Edinburgh Business School Alumni Club and reminded the new alumni that they now had exclusive access to wEBSpace, EBS's own networking website.
(Sally MacLeod, EBS Marketing Manager, addresses the EBS graduation lunch party.)
Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong host annual dinner
The Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong hosted their annual dinner on Saturday 28 November 2009 at the Royal Pacific Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.
Over 70 alumni and current students had the opportunity to meet Professor Steve Chapman, the Principal and Vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, alongside other senior university staff members. The dinner was a great success and an enjoyable night was had by all.
Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong goes to Macau
Over 20 Hong Kong alumni boarded the ferry to visit Macau on Saturday 12 September 2009.
The trip included visiting Macau International Airport as well as the Ruins of St Paul, a 17th-century Portuguese cathedral in Macau dedicated to St Paul the Apostle and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
From there the group went to the Macau Tower; where two brave alumni performed a 233-metre bungee jump – the highest bungee-jump in the world! The evening was rounded off with dinner at a local Portuguese restaurant and a spectacular fireworks display. A busy trip and a great day full of fun.
For more photos, go to www.hwuclubhk.org/photo_album.
EBS Alumni Club, Zambia launched
Professor Alex Scott, Academic Director of EBS, officially launched the EBS Alumni Club, Zambia on 14 July 2009 at the Southern Sun Ridgeway in Lusaka.
Sylvia Lumbwe, the club's vice-chair, outlined the objectives of the Zambia chapter: to share professional and academic experience with students, promote the EBS programmes, provide guidance to prospective students and fundraise for educational purposes. The club hopes to make a contribution to the economic development of Zambia.
The 50 current students and alumni who attended the event listened to Professor Scott deliver a talk on why effective management is so difficult and what can we do about it.
The event was also attended by Mr Sandford Mupanga (Executive Director of ZICAB, EBS's local representative in Zambia) and Melanie Sturmheit (Regional Manager of EBS Southern Africa).
EBS graduates join celebration in Serbia
Graduates of Heriot-Watt University who studied the EBS MBA at the English School of Belgrade (ESB) were treated to a local graduation celebration in Belgrade at the end of June.
Edinburgh Business School has held a successful partnership with ESB for several years and Professor Keith Lumsden, Director of EBS, sent a personal letter of congratulations that was read out at the ceremony by Mrs Ljiljana Lazić, founder of ESB.
Families and friends joined the celebrations, held at the Dusko Radovic Theatre, enjoying performances by the choir of Zemunska Gimnazija and the Balkan strings trio.
Zambia holds its first alumni club event
EBS Alumni Club, Zambia held its first get-together in Lusaka on 21 May 2009 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel.
An executive committee was elected with area responsibilities being given out in Projects, Membership and Legal. The Zambia club hopes to hold an official launch event in July 2009.
EBS Alumni Club, Norway meets for dinner
Jon Øyvind, Edinburgh Business School's alumni ambassador in Norway, held an informal dinner at the Christiania Café in Oslo on Thursday 14 May.
The dinner was attended by students and alumni, and provided a relaxed environment for socialising and business networking. It was also a great opportunity for students to ask graduates about their experiences and how they kept up their momentum throughout their studies.
Edinburgh Business School hosts reception in Dubai
Edinburgh Business School was delighted to welcome over 100 alumni, students, prospective students and guests to their cocktail reception at the Al Murooj Rotana in Dubai on 15 May 2009.
Following on from last year's successful first event in Dubai, the reception began with EBS's Business Director, Alick Kitchin, presenting to prospective students who were interested in learning more about EBS programmes. Students then had a chance to ask questions and chat one to one with EBS staff.
After the information session concluded, the main reception began and was hosted by members of EBS staff: Sally MacLeod, Shirin Jarrar and Kristy Cassidy. The reception was also attended by Marie-Betsy Sayegh Akl, CEO of EBS's partner in the Middle East, EBS Arabworld, and two members of her team, Nathalie Farah and Cynthia Karaan. Matt Philips, EBS's alumni ambassador in Dubai, made a short speech about his personal experience of studying the MBA and how it has helped his own career.
Lovely venue, great food and a real buzz – the party was a big success, and another excellent opportunity for some social and professional networking between students, alumni and staff.
EBS graduates celebrate in Trinidad
Professor Keith Lumsden (Director of Edinburgh Business School) and Alick Kitchin (Business Director) attended the annual celebration of achievement event in Trinidad on Saturday 19 April 2009.
The celebration, organised by EBS’s local partner, the School of Business and Computer Science (SBCS), allows alumni to mark the occasion by crossing the stage and receiving hearty congratulations from Dr Robin Maraj (Executive Director of SBCS).
This year over 100 EBS alumni participated. Dr Elton Bobb (Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Government of Trinidad and Tobago) was in attendance and delivered an address.
Keith and Alick also toured SBCS’s new campus in Trincity, its fourth in Trinidad.
Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong
On 9 April 2009, 28 alumni and students enjoyed a trip to Beijing organised by Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong (HWUC-HK).
The HWUC-HK delegation visited the Marketing Department of the Tsinghua School of Economics and Management, and discussed academic matters with Professor Zhou Ping and Professor Zhang Jian Ru. The students of Tsinghua University and the HWUC-HK alumni and students also held very productive discussions.
The gala dinner in the evening rounded off this successful event in style. Many Beijing alumni are keen to organise similar events in future.
EBS holds a reception in Nigeria
EBS Alumni Club, Nigeria held a successful reception at the banquet hall of the Elomaz Hotel in Lagos on Sunday 15 March 2009.
Over 30 alumni, students and prospective students attended the reception, where information was available for those interested in studying the EBS programmes. The event was also a valuable opportunity for students and alumni to meet and exchange experiences.
Professor Keith Lumsden visits Glamis Business School in Mauritius
Professor Keith Lumsden, Director of Edinburgh Business School, was in Mauritius to meet the students and alumni of Glamis Business School on 14 March 2009.
The topic for discussion was ‘The Global Financial Crisis’. The gathering of around 50 were very eager to interact with Professor Lumsden and discuss the impact of the crisis on the small economy of Mauritius. The bets were on to guess the date when the recession will be over.
The event was held as part of the 10-year anniversary of Glamis Business School. During those 10 years, the partnership with EBS has enabled the local delivery of quality education and created leaders in various industries ranging from textile and finance to agriculture and tourism.
Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong discuss the financial crisis
HWUC-HK held a seminar at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 20 February 2009 to discuss how the financial crisis is adversely affecting Hong Kong's business environment.
The presentation and discussions dealt with how businesses can successfully apply for credit, an issue that has become a serious concern for many small and medium-sized enterprises in recent months. Speaker Thomas Chan, a former banker and Director of World Link Business Consultants Limited, offered his professional recommendations to attendees.
Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong annual dinner
Heriot-Watt University Club – Hong Kong held their annual dinner on Saturday 29 November 2008.
More than 60 alumni and students attended the event, which was held at the YMCA of Hong Kong Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Rob Morton, Heriot-Watt’s Alumni Relations Officer, represented the University and Gigi Sei, HWUC-HK’s Chairman, welcomed everyone to another very successful event.
Edinburgh Business School hosts reception in Cairo, Egypt
Over 120 alumni, students and staff attended a cocktail reception hosted by Edinburgh Business School at the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel in Cairo on 28 October 2008.
The event was hosted by EBS staff Sally MacLeod (Business Development Manager), Dr Moira Storey (Director of Quality and Standards) and Barbara Jamieson (Marketing Faculty), and was the second alumni event to be hosted by EBS in Cairo in the last 18 months.
EBS realises the immense value that this type of networking event provides to alumni and students and the opportunity that it affords them to make new and useful business contacts.
The reception was also attended by Marie-Betsy Sayegh Akl, CEO of EBS’s partner in the Middle East, EBS ArabWorld, along with senior members of faculty from the American University in Cairo and Ain Shams University.
The image on the left shows Dr Hussein Eissa (Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Ain Shams University), Marie-Betsy Sayegh Akl (EBS ArabWorld), Barbara Jamieson (EBS) and Dr Amr Elatraby (Programme Director, Ain Shams University).
The top MBA down under
On 22 October 2008, EBS Director Professor Keith Lumsden and Business Director Alick Kitchin attended a student and alumni event held at the offices of EBS Australia in Sydney.
EBS has been active in Australia since 1991 and Heriot-Watt University has awarded the MBA degree to over 200 Australians.
In the past year, Heriot-Watt University has been the first European university approved to offer degrees by the New South Wales authorities, and the EBS MBA programme has been the first to be recognised and approved for local delivery.
Edinburgh Business School has also set up EBS Australia, in association with Think Education Group, as its permanent headquarters in the country.
Professor Lumsden said: “the international recognition and portability of the MBA programme has long made it an attractive option for Australian business professionals. In a country of huge distances, a flexible, distance learning MBA degree is also of great value."
Malcolm Kinns, the executive responsible for the EBS MBA programme in Australia and New Zealand, said that “interest in the MBA programme is expected to increase as more and more business professionals seek to upgrade their skills and employability in a time of economic downturn".
Last year, EBS ran exam centres in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Rockhampton, Roxby Downs and Sydney.
Edinburgh Business School hosts alumni event in Hong Kong
More than 60 alumni and students gathered at the InterContinental Hotel in Hong Kong for an event hosted by Professor Keith Lumsden, Director of Edinburgh Business School. Professor Lumsden was delighted to be back in Hong Kong after so many years to meet with so many students currently studying the EBS programme and hear directly from graduates about how completing the MBA has changed their lives.
The cocktail reception, held in the Cherry and Peach rooms overlooking Hong Kong harbour, allowed guests spectacular views of the famous 'Symphony of Light' fireworks show.
EBS Alumni Event in Johannesburg, South Africa
A small group of EBS alumni and current students attended an event in Johannesburg hosted by Dave Carruthers, Marketing Director of SABMiller Africa & Asia, on 25 July 2008.
Dave gave an overview of global SABMiller plc, whose portfolio includes mainstream and premium brands such as Grolsch, Peroni and MGD. He highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of growing from a South African base and how the company developed into Africa, Eastern Europe and the fiercely competitive US market.
Dave also gave some insight into branding and how beer fulfilled the need for refreshment and sociability.
The event ended with a visit to the in-house pub, where the sociability of beer was appreciated.
