6 Impact Report
A spotlight on volunteering
Every year, alumni and supporters donate their invaluable time and expertise to Keele to enrich the educational experience for so many students. Below is a sample of the many ways alumni have volunteered, and some of the motivations behind doing so during 2025:
Delivering a lecture to current students
Thom Bartley( Law & Business Administration, Class of 2008) returned to campus to lead an Industry Voices session, an extracurricular lecture series aimed at those with an interest in the creative industries.
“ It was amazing to be back! As a working-class kid from the Black Country, university introduced me to people from all walks of life. While a degree is important, I think the real value of university – especially Keele – is in the relationships it fosters. Those connections and experiences have played a huge role in shaping my path, and I wanted to do the same for others by coming back to speak to current students about my career to date.”
Some alumni, like Adam Konowe( see‘ Keele in the USA’ below), also join academic sessions remotely via Microsoft Teams – showing location and time zone are no barriers to a lifelong connection to Keele.
Careers networking
During the spring, Gareth Smith( Geoscience, Class of 2004) revisited campus to take part in a Q & A session with students looking to do placements, and progress careers, in the area of geoscience. Gareth, a Senior Reservoir Geologist & Sedimentologist at Petrostrat, also brought current colleagues back with him for the event, so that students could benefit from his wider network.
“ I had four brilliant years at Keele, the place which put me on the path to where I am today. I could, therefore, not pass up the opportunity to go back and to present to the geoscience undergraduates along with four other colleagues, where we were able to engage with the young up-andcoming geoscientists of our future.
“ It was nostalgic and great to chat with familiar faculty member faces and to discuss how things had evolved and developed over the years, as well as to discuss potential ventures and opportunities which Keele, its students, and Petrostrat may develop together.
“ Despite all these years, the good old campus feel came flooding back and the opportunities afforded to me by the geoscience faculty are still very much appreciated and will never be forgotten. We spoke to the students about what potential careers are out there and we recalled a few funny stories along the way; my encounter with a brown bear whilst in the field got a few giggles. My colleagues and I had a great time and were made to feel very welcome and we are all actively continuing to engage and to forward our relationship with Keele.”
Hosting reunions for alumni around the globe
Fazal Mohamed( Information Technology, Class of 2001) lives in Sri Lanka, where we have a thriving alumni community, much thanks to the efforts of Fazal and a core team of eight peers who organise an annual reunion for alumni in Colombo, timed alongside with other Keele Day celebrations around the globe.
“ The regular reunion of the Keele alumni in Sri Lanka takes me back in time to the memories of wonderful camaraderie and learning experience of the Keele Masters programme in Sri Lanka. The quality of the qualifications availed to me by Keele opened many a path in my career and to other fellow Keele alumni. The knowledge and insight I gained cannot be measured. I am honoured to keep the light of Keele burning in Sri Lanka with other fellow Keele alumni by being involved with my batchmates in organising these regular reunions and will certainly continue this tradition in the days to come. Our alumni group have already formed the‘ Alumni Association of University of Keele( Sri Lanka)’ and would welcome new members.”
Reviewing funding applications
Matthew Critchley( Psychology, Class of 2020) took an active role in the Keele Key Fund allocation process in 2025, when he returned to campus to join the panel who decided which student and staff applications received the available funding.
Inspiring alumni
We celebrate our global alumni community and their successes through‘ Inspiring Alumni’ profiles, which are promoted across digital and physical signage. We are incredibly grateful to the alumni who are willing to share their story in these features, which help enhance Keele’ s reputation and enthuse today’ s students about their future careers.
Read inspiring alumni profiles: keele. ac. uk / study / inspiring-alumni