Durham University Business School is turning 50 in 2015!

The autumn months are creeping in and, with the change of seasons, we also welcome a new cohort of students to Durham University Business School. The beginning of a new academic year brings a time for alumni to reflect on the experiences of their first few weeks at Durham; the excitement, anticipation and, perhaps, even first day nerves.

In 2015 we are inviting all DUBS alumni back to Durham and the Business School to retrace their steps and reminisce on their time in the City as the School turns 50. This milestone anniversary will include a 'Celebration Weekend' in Durham from Friday 10 - Sunday 12 April 2015 with the opportunity to visit the new, state-of-the-art School premises and to meet with fellow alumni. Booking is now open for this event. To secure your place at what will prove to be a memorable night click here.

In this issue we focus on the theme of giving back to your alma mater with this being one of the great ways in which you, as an alumnus or alumna, can retain and build upon your connection with Durham and the Business School. The DUBS Alumni Network offers many ways to do this, be it your time or via a donation to the School. To find out how you can support DUBS and become an Alumni Ambassador please click here.

We also focus on a number of resources offered to members including our Instructus Markets digest and the 2014/15 DUBS Webinar Series, in addition to a range of our upcoming events both in Durham and internationally. 

As always, we hope you find our e-newsletter of interest and look forward to welcoming many of you at one of our events in the near future.

The DUBS Alumni Relations Team.

DUBS Webinars Series 2014/15

The DUBS Webinar Series is back for 2014/15 with the Alumni Relations Team providing a range of exciting webinars delivered by expert speakers designed to help you in your career. These interactive webinars will offer all members the opportunity to gain practical tips, advice and insight on a range of careers-related topics.

The webinar schedule and topics can be found below:

• Thursday 23 October 2014 - Cross Cultural Leadership
• Thursday 20 November 2014 - Effective Negotiation Skills
• Tuesday 27 January 2015 - Future Proofing Your Career
• Tues 24 February 2015 - Stimulating Creativity & Innovation at Work
• Tuesday 24 March 2015 - Using Coaching Skills at Work
• Tuesday 28 April 2015 - Improving Time Management and Efficiency.

To find out more click here.

Instructus Markets Briefings

Instructus Markets is a bi-weekly round-up digest of all the most important news and events currently having an impact on global economies and markets. The round-up is deliberately designed to cut out the jargon which afflicts most financial commentaries and instead explains financial affairs in a straight-forward, accessible manner.

Instructus Markets highlights the key macro-economic and corporate events currently affecting global markets with the latest round-up headline articles including:

• ECB acts to head off threat of deflation and stimulate growth but does not resort to full blown QE.
• Commodity prices fall sharply on weaker US and Chinese demand.
• Twitter issues its first convertible bond.
• Scotland's vote to stay part of the UK sees a short-term bounce in Sterling and the FTSE100.
• Lloyds sell further 11.5%of TSB as lock-up ends.

To read the full round-up click here.

Become a DUBS Alumni Ambassador and give back to your alma mater…

The DUBS Alumni Network run a mentor scheme whereby current students are matched with mentor volunteers from the alumni and business community. Here Claire Rose, MBA alumna and Mentor of the Year 2013/14, shares her experiences of the scheme and encourages anyone considering becoming a mentor to get involved:

"Mentoring for Durham University Business School… the big question has to be ‘why do it?' And the big answer, as with many really big answers, is that it is far too deep, interesting and complicated to be anything other than completely enjoyable! Being a DUBS mentor certainly isn’t about glory, money, ambition or kudos - it's more about people, place, and development potential. Doing something stretching, interesting and useful, in real time, with really interesting people. It makes you smile!

I have been mentoring for the Business School for six or seven years now. However, my association with the University goes back much further, almost into the mists of academic time; across at least three Chancellors (yes I remember Peter Ustinov and his love of Wimbledon), through the establishment of Queens Campus Stockton (I was there the day HM Queen Elizabeth II visited to open the building, and can tell you the tale of the search for the perfect fountain pen), and I have seen the Business School, with its focus on quality and engagement, grow and develop across that time.

Durham’s focus on the quality of the student experience combined with its research-led teaching provides a strong base for a solid mentoring experience which is both good natured and collegiate. As the Business School works internationally, so do its alumni mentors and I have been fortunate to build mentoring relationships with students from all around the world during my time on the team.

So why am I writing? Well, both to encourage fellow alumni to engage with the process and also to encourage the newly arriving Business School students to do the same. Being an alumna mentor for the School is to some degree, perhaps, a lifestyle choice, reflecting our shared experience. That, plus it’s really interesting and great fun too! So, come on down and join the party!

It is an unexpected delight to be awarded ‘DUBS Mentor of the Year 2013/14’. It is a pleasure to speak about something that I really enjoy; and send a large ‘well done’ to all my lovely mentees and mentor colleagues I have grown to know as friends over the past few years. Mentoring really is an extension of the Durham Collegiate experience. Bring it on for 2015!"

To register your interest in becoming a mentor or for more information on the scheme please contact the Alumni Relations Team.

Join our MBA International Study Experience (ISE)

Applications for the MBA International Study Experience (ISE) will open on Friday 24 October 2014.  As DUBS alumni you are eligible to join the ISE. 

The fee for alumni is £1,300 and payment will be required upon application. Please email the International Team to confirm your interest and to receive the application form nearer to the departure date. This year the ISE destination choices are:

China - Beijing (and another city TBC):

Hosted by: Jointly by the Central University of Finance & Economics (CUFE) in Beijing and another partner.
Arrival at Destination: Sunday 12 April 2015 (mid-afternoon)
Departure from Destination: Sunday 19 April 2015 (morning)

Germany - Mannheim, Frankfurt, Heidelberg):

Hosted by:     Manheim Business School
Arrival at Destination: Sunday 12 April 2015 (mid-afternoon)
Departure from Destination: Sunday 19 April 2015 (morning)

For more information please click here or for any queries you may have do not hesitate to contact the International Team.