UAB Alumni East Coast Chapter inaugurated in New York
After Brussels and Beijing, the UAB visited New York on Wednesday 24 May to inaugurate its UAB Alumni East Coast Chapter, a network promoting the exchange of professional experiences among Catalans living on the US East Coast who studied at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
The new UAB Alumni East Coast Chapter was inaugurated in New York on Wednesday 24 May 2023 in an event which took place from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the NH Collection Hotel (NY Madison Avenue, 22 East 38th St.). Some fifty people attended the inauguration, in addition to representatives of the Catalan entities found in the city, such as the Ramon Llull Institute, the Catalan Instiute, the ACC1Ó Office, and the Government of Catalonia's US Delegation.
The event was presided by Javier Lafuente, Rector of the UAB; Màrius Martínez, Vice Rector for International Relations at the UAB; Maria Pilar Pérez Ordoño, Director of the New York Office of the US Delegation of the Government of Catalonia; and Montse Cebrián and Roger Sunyer, coordinators of the new UAB Alumni Chapter.
According to Rector Lafuente, networks like these "are very important for the UAB and they allow us to maintain relations with our alumni living all over the world and generate connections in all those areas that can be of benefit to them".
Vice Rector Martínez affirmed that "I am sure this chapter will be a huge success, because the people I see here have demonstrated to have the energy, hope and will to create an amazing network". He went on to say that, "we foresee a very enriching network on the horizon, not only for the UAB, but for all Catalan institutions located in New York. We all agreed today in acknowledging the value of these types of networks, and the UAB is spearheading such projects to make them a reality".
The director of the New York Delegation of the Government of Catalania pointed out that this UAB Chapter "is one more way to make the Catalan culture more visible internationally".
A networking session was prepared for the attendants in which they were able to chat about the country and the opportunities, dynamics and facilities the chapters offer to newcomers. The inauguration ended with a tasting of different Catalan products.
UAB Alumni Chapters
The first international UAB Alumni Chapter was created in Brussels on 21 September 2016, in a city in which many alumni live and work. And located outside of Europe is the UAB Alumni Beijing Chapter, which was inaugurated at the start of March 2018.
The UAB Alumni Chapters are regional groups created abroad that offer graduates living in that region the possibility of getting to know each other and working together. These groups seek to delve deeper intot the opportunities and benefits of collaborating with people from different academic backgrounds who share the same geographic location.
The objective is to create synergies among UAB graduates as well as among external agents, reinforce their prestige and consequently that of the University, promote the exchange of knowledge and professional experiences, and contribute to the personal and professional growth of UAB graduates.
The UAB to attend the 75th NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo in Washington
Taking advantage of the trip to the United States, Rector Lafuente will be meeting with different international university representatives and Catalan institutions located in the US. On Tuesday 30 May, he will travel to Washington to participate in the 75th NAFSA Annual Conference, organised by the Association of International Educators, the world's largest and most diverse nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange, where education leaders, students and changemakers from over 100 countries will be attending.