A Case Study for Student-Alumni Netwoking: the Guild Musical Theatre Group

As a member of this Forum told me recently, a good theory is all very well, but we need an example to show that it can work. So here is one such example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2UG13_xyR4&list=UU9026NfiQsgHiYhb77QRDdQ

And here is why I think it can work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQDtSioYr1w

The Guild Musical Theatre Group (or 'GMTG' as it is known), is a former student society of mine, at the University of Birmingham (England). For nearly 30 years, students from every department and school of study come together, to put on musical theatre productions, for the enjoyment of the student population, among many others. In face there are quite a few student societies like this, at colleges and universities around the world, where students can pursue their passion. What makes this one special, is that over the course of these years, it has become much more.

The society's Alumni have gone one to do great things. Everything from starring roles in the Book of Mormon, at London's West End; to the world famous train proposal by the Adam Street Singers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mWXrHi1Rks  many of whom were Guild Musical Theatre Group's Alumni. Meanwhile, the students themselves have built the society up to a very professional level, extending their operations to include classes, and community projects. While many students do it for fun, some have a burning desire to work in the performing arts industry. And so this is, in effect, a training school for the stage, in all but name.

So what would happen if all 28 of so generations of Alumni and students were brought together? They would be able to build themselves a powerful arts network. The performing arts as an industry relies so much on personal connections: and so this network would have both the academic insight and the business connections, to guarantee some very good career opportunities for students and for Alumni who took part in it. For so long, students have jumped at the chance for a career in the arts: and here is a prime opportunity to create one. I had hoped that a 30 years' reunion would be the catalyst for this, but sadly the event did not take place. However, there are other ways for the students and Alumni, to make connections.

I have encouraged the student committee to contact the Alumni they know, and set up events etc, to make connections. The challenge that both sides will face is an obvious question: 'what's in it for me'? As a fellow Alumnus told me about mentoring and coaching the students, "I want to help" he said, "but I have a family to feed and a business to run. What reason would I have to take time away from my family and business, to do this?" The students, likewise, have many exam commitments, and may not be able to spend their whole time networking.

So here's what's in it for both students and Alumni: current members of GMTG who are serious about a career in the performing arts, may have the drive and the passion to succeed; but what they will need are the connections within the industry to make that happen. The Alumni in turn, who now work in the performing arts industry, are pretty tenacious artists, and have a can do attitude to their work. But like all of us Alumni, they will still need new ideas and innovations for their businesses, from people who can think outside the box: the kind of ideas from new projects that the students are working on.

So what could happen, is a two way information sharing process, to help both sides. Alumni who need new ideas for their businesses can attend an online Q & A session, as the current committee have suggested so far. The students could throw ideas at them, from their own learning experience - let's face it, no two generations of  students are the same. After all, every year brings a new generation of students; and another generation graduates to join the Alumni. So there are always new perspectives on an issue that the students can offer. The Alumni in turn can then answer the students' questions about how best to get into the arts industry, and who best to approach as their connections.

This process would help both students and Alumni, and I hope that it can be made a permanent part of the society's operations. Granted that the ultimate decisions on student Alumni networking will reside with GMTG's Committee: and I respect that some members are simply part of GMTG for fun, and to broaden their learning experience. But for the sake of members who are serious about a performing arts career, I strongly recommend that you consider taking this opportunity, because it will reap some serious rewards. And here's the thing: these principles could apply to any student society or Alumni network.

For example, within a science club, students with a passion for science could exchange information with Alumni who are practising scientists. Even if they weren't science students themselves, the club's member's interest would ensure many new ideas and insights that could help the Alumni. The Alumni in turn could give good advice to any students who were considering changing their career path to science. The same knowledge transfer arrangement, could be set up between engineering, medical, or sports students and Alumni, to name a few examples.

So I would like to propose that the Guild Musical Theatre Group be considered as an example of student-Alumni networking; and I look forward to the efforts of students and Alumni, over the next few months, to make new connections and share knowledge.

Student Internships for All?

After a recent conversation with one university's student ambassador, I was surprised and disappointed to learn, that student internships aren't available to students from all schools of study. As the ambassador told me, some students have come simply to broaden their horizons: they are not necessarily going into the profession they are studying for. Therefore, the focus is normally on the business students, who are presumed to be motivated to go into their professions: at least for this university. But I say that the students who are clearly set on going into a profession should all be given the chance to gain work experience as interns.





It may be true that students do change their choice of study, and yes, I do remember that at University, we weren't always sure what we wanted to do after graduation. This is still certainly true for students today. For example, I was told that psychology students aren't necessarily wanting to become full time psychologists when they graduate: they are trying to broaden their learning experience. And yes, some science and mathematics students I have known, are now working in financial roles; because their knowledge of numbers is transferrable.





But there are students in each school of study who do have a genuine passion for their chosen subject. After all, higher education is quite and investment: and this is a clear incentive for a graduate to put his or her knowledge to use. Internships should certainly be used when a college or university is geared to one profession. A film academy, for example, has students who are clearly serious about working in that industry: and students should be given every opportunity to works as runners, grips etc, to learn the craft firsthand.



Also, the theory of studying for a profession can be very different from working there in practise. So if a student is not sure, then what better way to know, than to be exposed to the real thing for a few weeks? Besides which, to academic professionals who are reading this article: I put it to you that even the most motivated of business students can still change their minds, and hence, their career paths, after graduation. I've known a few who have. No one is entirely sure what profession we may end up in, and many of us have held down several different roles, from different industries. But when a young person's family invest in full time education at a college or university, to study for a chosen profession; then a student should always be given the chance to gain actual experience in that profession.





Even if someone is not seriously considering the profession that he or she is studying for; their work as an intern could still transfer vital knowledge into that industry; while the student in turn gains transferrable skills from the mentoring and coaching of industry professionals. Using psychology as an example; students of psychology could still bring some useful insights, based on their own learning experience. The psychologists in turn, may be able to show the students their work firsthand: so that some student interns may actually decide that is what they want to do, after graduation.




I remember at the Law Faculty, that internships were encouraged, in the form of pupillages and similar arrangements, usually at the end of our Sophomore Year. While internships are certainly encouraged now, by all university careers officers, I would go one further; and say that a student's internship should form an integral part of his or her final year of study. After all, medical and dental students have work experience as part of their degrees: so why shouldn't their fellow students of other Schools have the same?





An industry is an industry. Each profession needs input from the next generation of future professionals. The students of each subject in turn, need the mentoring and coaching, to prepare for that industry. So it is logical and fair, that students of every school of study should always be given the option to work as interns in their chosen industry. The knowledge transfer to both the students and mentors is invaluable: as existing mentoring schemes have shown. We need to make sure that this happens within all industries, to ensure opportunities for students of all professions. And for the many non-graduates who deserve the chance in to work in their chosen industry: I strongly support qualified assessment, leading to full blown apprenticeships, as their way into the profession of their choice.