Worldwide view from our presidents
by Michèle Nardelli
For
the first time in the history of UniSA’s alumni association, leaders of
the five international chapters visited Adelaide last month to get an
inside view of the University.
The week long visit was designed to give the presidents a greater insight into UniSA’s operations but also to help UniSA learn more from them about the offshore chapters and how they can be supported and nurtured.
And it is a very diverse perspective, with growing chapters in Hong Kong (1488 registered members), Taiwan (189), Malaysia (845), Singapore (1401) and London (60). Some presidents, such as Taiwan’s Li-Chu Wang (Lisa), had been in the job for just two weeks while Badrul Jaafar was one of the founding members of the Malaysian chapter almost six years ago before becoming president in 2004.
But the common thread between them is a loyalty and affection for UniSA and a desire to keep the connections and networks with fellow graduates alive in their countries.
All of the chapters reported ongoing social activities, from Christmas drinks and annual dinners to regular happy hours, a budding Toastmasters group in Hong Kong, charity fundraising events and, in Malaysia, a mountain climbing expedition and a bowling tournament.
Each chapter has special challenges. For the London chapter, which runs in collaboration with both Adelaide and Flinders Universities as a South Australian Universities alumni group, UniSA President Geoff Turner says there is a built-in fluidity with new members always coming and going because of the transient nature of the expat population in London.
"It is challenging but I see our role here as being less about building longstanding networks and more about providing a breath of home for people living in London and Europe – kind of mateship in action," Turner said.
For close neighbours in Singapore and Hong Kong, Richard Quek and Tim Lee, the chapters provide an invaluable network of business associates and young entrepreneurs facing similar challenges.
"What we have with our alumni chapters is a collection of highly intelligent and educated professionals and I think the chapter allows us all to benefit from that expertise," Singapore chapter President Richard Quek said. "Whether we are raising money for a charity through our activities or just networking, we all benefit from our shared experience and education and can learn more as a group than as individuals."
Quek says he sees the chapters as an opportunity to build the UniSA brand internationally because graduates are great ambassadors for the educational experience they have had at UniSA.