Bournemouth University launched its BU Proud in the Community campaign with an event at AFC Bournemouth.
The campaign looks to promote the close relationship that the university enjoys with a number of local businesses and organisations, as well as the involvement in the community of staff, students and graduates.
Specifically, the event marked the launch of a series of bus advertisements featuring Bournemouth University graduates who have stayed to work in the area after graduating university.
The adverts include graduates who now work at Liverpool Victoria, RNLI, Lush and the Bournemouth Echo, as well as AFC Bournemouth and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.
One such graduate, Rob Mitchell, now works as Commercial Director at AFC Bournemouth and is also president of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). Rob, who graduated with a degree in Leisure Marketing, said, “I’m delighted to be involved with the BU Proud in the Community campaign with Bournemouth University because I hold the university really close to my heart.
“It has been very rewarding to be involved with our partnership with BU – it’s great to have that involvement and work with students and help them progress and get the experience they need for later life.
“It really helped me to get where I am today and it’s a great university.”
Bournemouth University’s Chief Operating Officer, Jim Andrews, added, “Bournemouth University is proud to be involved in the education of so many young people from our region and beyond. However, the impact of BU goes way beyond what happens in our lecture theatres, and today we celebrate our partnerships with so many local organisations that make that happen.
“From student work placements, to graduates staying locally and adding to the local economy, and the volunteering work our staff and students do locally, BU plays a key role locally and our BU Proud campaign is focussing on these relationships.”
Other local companies in attendance at the event included Streetwise, Santander and Kaplan International.
A competition was introduced as a part of the launch with a signed AFC Bournemouth shirt on offer for the winner. Anyone who sees Rob’s bus should tweet a photo of it to @bournemouthuni using #BUProud to be in with a chance of winning. More information can be found at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/buproud.
