Preparing for the future

As part of the College’s efforts to improve our students’ awareness of potential postgraduate or career options, the annual UC Pathways Dinner was held on Wednesday, 24 May in the Syme Dining Hall.

Second and later-year students were given the opportunity to suggest an industry or profession they are interested in, and the College then extended invites to professionals from the relevant areas.

Building on the success of last year’s Pathways Dinner, the number of students who attended the event increased significantly, with the evening providing a networking opportunity between 64 students and 26 industry professionals (most of whom were UC alumni). Guests attended from sectors such as medicine, psychology, pharmaceutical science, veterinary science and lab-related research, fashion design and enterprise, law, journalism, archaeology, conservation and geology, engineering (aerospace, biomedical, chemical, mechanical and software), marketing, investment, finance, business consulting, teaching, arts management and performance, advertising and communications, property, construction and urban planning, international development, politics, and international relations, alongside resident tutors and staff. The evening was filled with the wonderful buzzing sound of connections being formed between our students and guests.

Our Head of College, Dr Jennifer McDonald, opened the event and invited our students to explore the question: “What are the possible pathways for me after I have finished my degree? Should I embark on further studies, or what career options should I be considering?” Dr McDonald also conveyed her appreciation to the President of College Council, Jane Peck, members of the College Council, Anna Crameri, Prof Liliana Bove and Micaela Jemison, our industry professional guests, and UC staff for making the time to attend the event.

The College very much appreciated the evening’s keynote speaker, Kerry Cue, an alumna of UC who is a humourist, mathematician, journalist, and author. Kerry’s speech was a marvellous demonstration of using humour to convey an important message. She shared her personal journey of career twists and turns, and encouraged the people in attendance to consider the implications and advantages of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, when preparing for the future.

The College would also like to extend its sincere thanks to our alumni, friends of the College, Resident Tutors, UC student Sarah Roberts (who assisted with the preparation of the event), and of course our staff for their kind contribution, ensuring the event was a huge success.

Andre Louhanapessy Dean of Studies

UC Alumni Abroad