Alumni programme for college students launched

A GROUP of colleges have seen the launching of a new community of previous attendees.

Alumni of Reading College and Bracknell and Wokingham College, are invited to take part in the new programme.

Activate Learning has launched its new web portal to provide a space for alumni to stay in touch after they leave.

Former students will also be able to sign up for access to exclusive alumni benefits, including discounts on further courses, volunteering posts, business engagement opportunities, and events.

Gary Headland, Activate Learning CEO, said: “We have a long tradition of welcoming former students back into our colleges to help develop the next generation of talent.

“By creating our new Activate Alumni programme, it allows us to better recognise all our amazing former students, the contributions they continue to make to our colleges and the contributions they make to their communities.

He explained: “It’s really motivating for our current students to meet alumni and see what they’ve gone onto achieve and this motivates them to push themselves to succeed.

“We know this is a vital element to a successful learning experience and is central to our Learning Philosophy.

“With a greater emphasis on community than ever, and our place within it, we want to develop even stronger connections with our communities, so we are better able to serve their needs.”

He said that Activate Learning is “Really excited to re-engage our former learners and see our Activate Alumni community grow and flourish.”

James Scott, former student at Merrist Wood College and alumnus of Activate Learning, said: “Without college, I don’t think I could have done what I do now.

“We had some great teachers that I admired – they all took a lot of pride in what they did, and I looked up to them.”

James studied Landscape Construction at Merrist Wood College, and has since established his own national award-winning garden designand-build business, The Garden Company.

Sam Skeates, a former creative media student at Bracknell and Wokingham College, recently returned to the college to address current media students after having secured an apprenticeship at BBC Radio Berkshire.

Paul Boddy, Sam’s former tutor and media lecturer at Bracknell and Wokingham College, said: “We are extremely proud of Sam’s achievements.

“He was a Distinctionlevel student at Bracknell and Wokingham College and always put in 100% effort throughout his course.

“His visit showed what can be achieved by studying Creative Media here and gave our current students a valuable insight into the process of applying for and working in an apprenticeship.”