International officer Neil Christie travelled out to Kenya last month on a recruitment drive for the University only to meet in Mombasa a fellow former pupil of Harris Academy in Dundee.
Neil had sent out enquiries before his trip offering to visit schools and was delighted when he received a warm welcome from the headteacher of Mombasa Academy.
He explains: "When Irene Noble, the headteacher of Mombasa Academy received my invitation she noted the Dundee connection and replied immediately. It was only when we began to correspond that we realised we had even more than Dundee in common. We both attended the same high school."
Kenya is one of the University’s key target areas for international recruitment this year. Neil went to Kenya with Dianne Pemberton Pigott, the alumni relations officer, to promote the University at the British Council recruitment fair and to bring our alumni in Kenya together. Neil visited schools while Dianne spent time with alumni at Kenya Medical Training College.
Pauline Horton from medical education has also been fostering links in Kenya representing the university at the KMTC graduation ceremony in November to greet the University of Dundee nursing students who are due to graduate this summer. Pauline also attended the first meeting of the University of Dundee alumni group. Jona A. Owitti gave a presentation to his fellow alumni on computer security.