QM News 60 (pdf 1305KB) - Queen Margaret University

PAGE 08 - ANNUAL FUND
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Reporting on QMUC's first alumni
reunion in the state of Oman, in April
2004, thirteen graduates attended a
lunch hosted by Peter Whitelaw,
Head of the International Office, who
was representing QMUC at the Gulf
Higher Education Exhibition in
Muscat.
One graduate is engineer Mohammed
Al-Bahanta, who gained an MSc in
Information Management in 2002 and is
now Head of ICAO (the International Civil
Aviation Organisation) International
Standards at Salalah International
Airport.
He commented: "The QMUC meeting in
Oman has been more than just an
opportunity for me to meet with my
friends many of whom I hadn't seen for
a long time. It has given me
opportunities to make some new
contacts that otherwise would never
have been possible."
Former classmate Mansoor Al-Shabibi
who is now Head of the Medical Library
at the Royal Hospital in Muscat agrees:
"It was a great pleasure to meet with
other colleagues again here in Oman
after a long time. I hope this will
continue for ever."
If you would like to arrange a reunion or
catch up with staff from the International
Office, please contact Peter Whitelaw on
pwhitelaw@qmuc.ac.uk.
QMUC reunion in Oman, 2004
Name:
Loraine Webber
Course:
Communication Studies
Current Job:
Television Presenter/Journalist
1. Why did you choose QM?
At the time there was no other
course quite like it on offer.
2. How has your degree course
influenced your career?
I probably would not be in this job
today - the course helped me
make contacts and gave me the
confidence to pursue a career in TV.
As luck would have it - the day I after
I graduated from QM I started work
at STV!
3. How did you get to where you are
today?
By working hard and getting lucky!
4. Describe a normal day at work:
There isn't - every day is different!
Some days I will be out on
location covering a story, some days I
will be presenting the programme in
studio. If I'm not assigned to
reporting or presenting duties - then I
would be researching stories for
special reports and news features.
5. Most memorable moment at QM?
I think this must be getting the
chance to take part in an exchange
scheme to SUNY Brockport. I spent
my second year of study in America
and it was a wonderful, eye-opening
experience!
6. Biggest regret?
I wish someone had told me to
smarten up a bit - my student years
were mainly marked by some really
bad fashion mistakes. Parrot
earrings - yes really!
7. If you could relive your university
years, what would you do
differently?
Drunk less of my student loan in the
Union and attended more morning
lectures!
8. What ambition would you most like
to achieve?
I have been lucky enough to achieve
my ambition to work in a vibrant,
exciting industry that I love. I am
now about to take some maternity
leave - so I guess my next ambition is
to enjoy the challenge of
motherhood!
9. Any advice for new graduates?
Get as much experience as you can
through work experience and
placements. Contacts are vital in this
industry!
Many thanks to Lorraine for taking
the time to share these valuable
insights!