AUT stays connected with MBA Alumni event
The alumni department and the MBA office hosted an exclusive networking event this month for over 50 prominent MBA and MPA alumni at the Auckland Art Gallery. The event also saw the launch of a digital alumni platform for this group.
‘AUT Connect’ will pilot in 2017 and potentially be rolled out to alumni groups right around the university. Working across both desktop and a mobile app, AUT Connect lets alumni find each other across the world, allowing users to message, list events and jobs and select their availability for mentoring.
Director Alumni Relations, Sam Mickell, says this is an important step in AUT providing a contemporary alumni offering that reflects the dynamic nature of the university and its graduates.
“Our alumni are innovative and working in a rapidly changing world. To remain relevant and stay connected to them it’s important to provide useful ways for them to connect with the university and the global community of over 75,000 graduates,” he said.
The pilot will begin with this group and roll out across the university once it is proved successful.
The MBA event also featured a private showing of Explore Aotearoa, a temporary exhibition, which explores New Zealand’s rich history through more than 120 historical Māori and Pākehā portraits by our most prolific colonial painter, Gottfried Lindauer.
Vivien Zhou (MBA, graduated 2014 with distinction) said the event was “a great way to connect with other AUT alumni in the business community”.
Luke Liu (MBA, graduated in 2010) said alumni events are an important way for him to connect with AUT and expand his business network.
“I studied at undergraduate and postgraduate level at AUT, and six years later I’m still here attending the University’s events – that says a lot about how I feel about AUT. It’s also a great way for me to build my network,” Luke said.
Ken Lee, Director, MBA and Professional Masters at AUT said he’s excited about using technology to connect alumni and sees targeted events provide key opportunities for alumni to network in the community.
“By creating a platform where people can network and build links, our graduates can leave with the critical connections to industry that make AUT graduates stand out,” he said.
Sam Mickell said further events aimed at specific alumni will be rolled out next year.
“This year alumni events have taken place in Ho Chi Minh City, New York, San Francisco, London, Norway and Auckland. Creating face to face networking opportunities is still important and an effective way to maintain the lifelong connection between AUT and its alumni,” Sam added.
There will be more events in the future. Please join our LinkedIn page to keep up to date with event and networking information here. The new alumni website will be launched early 2017, stay connected with us and find out about alumni events and services at www.aut.ac.nz/alumni .