Public Policy Alumni Gather for Campus Tour and Informal Reception

Public policy alumni gathered on October 15 for a tour of CEU's new building on Nádor utca, and a reception in Október Hall. Director of Career Services and Alumni Relations Ann Gagliardi led the campus tour. The tour included a demonstration of one of the smart classrooms in Nádor 15, led by SPP Careers and Alumni Coordinator Marija Stojanovska Rupcic, as well as a visit to the rooftop terrace with its stunning views of Budapest.

During her welcoming remarks, Gagliardi explained that the event was intended primarily to give current students and alumni a chance to meet and get to know each other. She briefly summarized some of the many changes that have taken place at SPP in recent years such as the integration of the former Department of Public Policy in summer 2015 and the harmonization of the areas of concentration and specialization. MPA and one-year MAPP students can now select from among the same five areas: Development, Governance, Higher Education Policy, Media and Communication, and Security. All SPP students can also apply to the SPP Internship Fund for a financial contribution to support unpaid or very low-paid internships, enroll in the Job Search Basics and Beyond course, and seek advice and support from the SPP Office of Career Services and Alumni Relations.

The office recently surveyed the cohorts who graduated in 2015 to gather data for a "first destination" report outlining what former students were doing and where they were working six months after graduating. Gagliardi noted that the report contained information about the "first destinations" of more than 80 percent of students who graduated in 2015: "an exceptional result." She said that the survey revealed that many graduates had changed jobs within the first year. "This is consistent with evolving trends and something we are paying close attention to in our work with students and alumni," she said.

Participating in surveys and providing invaluable data for SPP Career Services is only one of the ways that public policy alumni are supporting SPP. Some alumni are also working with the office to set up internship opportunities for current students. "We are very grateful to our alumni for their help with this. It's an area that our office looks forward to developing further," said Gagliardi.

Gagliardi urged all alumni and friends to attend Simply Networking on November 10.