Issue No.4, January 2008

SMU Alumni UK Chapter

Since the establishment of SMU Alumni UK Chapter in June 2007, the Chapter has had a core group of seven who are permanently based in London. It also has many associate members who are in the UK on a temporary basis for training programs, exchange programs, postgraduate studies or short-term job postings. The majority of the members are in London but some are spread out with one based in Wales! Most of our members are in the professional services or financial sector.

L to R: Alex, Valerie, Rachel, Alwyn, Jasmine,Charles, Victor, Anna, Eileen

The UK Chapter serves as a support group for SMU alumni who relocate to UK. The Chapter is an information source for happenings in the UK and Singapore, an avenue for networking and even a channel for economies of scale on shopping and bargain hunting! Some members are particularly good at sniffing out good deals and bargains which goes a long way to help ease the pressures of London’s high cost on alumni pockets.

All activities are member-funded and the Chapter meets quite regularly. The first gathering was at a local Singaporean restaurant, ‘Kiasu’, at Bayswater, where we celebrated our nation’s 42nd birthday with Singaporean food which the alumni missed terribly. Other events include a road trip to Oxford and a couple of hotpot feasts at members’ places.

If you’re in, or are planning to visit the UK (either for a short trip or to stay), please feel free to contact the UK Chapter via its Chapter President Victor Ong (BBM/BAcc Class of 2004) at alumni_uk@smu.edu.sg. Victor and his team believe that the strength of an alumni chapter is in its members, and they hope that they can reach out to more alumni and students.

As the UK Chapter grows in strength and diversity, Victor and his team hope to organize more activities such as tours and networking sessions.