Your SOAS Alumni magazine
Welcome to the new SOAS World magazine
Dear Alumni,
We are delighted to share Issue 9 of the SOAS World alumni magazine and to welcome you to its new home on the SOAS website.
This edition is about trust. Wherever you live and work, you will know how much depends on it, whether in a classroom, a boardroom, an embassy or your own community. With elections coming up in many parts of the world, millions of people are deciding whom to trust.
Three alumni diplomats, Stephanie Al-Qaq, Scott Riswold and Dr Jim Hoare, take us behind the scenes of their profession. Maro Itoje, captain of England and the British & Irish Lions, reflects on leadership and finding common ground. Professor Nick Westcott and Professor Emma Crewe explain why trust is hard to earn and easy to lose.
What stands out across all of these conversations is the people. Our interviewees remember the debates in class and the friends from every corner of the world. Some have given back in turn: after retiring from the Foreign Office, Jim Hoare returned to SOAS to teach a course on North Korea to a new generation of students, and he has since become a regular donor. As Scott Riswold puts it, "Be proud of your SOAS degree. It is a huge asset."
There are many ways to stay part of our global alumni community: attending alumni events, joining your regional alumni group or connecting with one of our Alumni Ambassadors. Please keep your details up to date so we can tell you about events near you.
As SOAS alumni, you play an essential role in shaping the future of SOAS and supporting the next generation of students, whether by mentoring, sharing valuable insights from your sector or opening doors for talented students. Find out more about volunteering.
Every November, our Giving November appeal raises funds for scholarships that help students facing financial hardship to start or continue their studies. It is supported entirely by SOAS alumni and friends.
We would love to hear what you think of the new SOAS World, so please share your feedback or get in touch at alumni@soas.ac.uk.
With best wishes,
Shona Aitken
Director of Advancement and Chief of Staff to the Vice-Chancellor
The Trust Issue
A special edition on trust, featuring SOAS alumni in diplomacy, Maro Itoje and two leading SOAS academics.
SOAS World - Issue 9
In this issue
From Pyongyang to BrasÃlia: three SOAS alumni on life as a diplomat
What does diplomatic work really look like, and how do diplomats build trust between countries? A British ambassador, an American diplomat in Manila and Britain’s first representative to North Korea share the stories behind the headlines and what they learnt at SOAS.
Maro Itoje: lifting others, from the line-out to the classroom
England and British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje studied Politics at SOAS while starting his professional rugby career. He talks about his experience at SOAS, his philanthropic projects in the UK and in Lagos and the three things he believes every leader needs to earn trust.
Hard to earn, easy to lose: SOAS academics discuss how to build trust
Why do voters trust some leaders and not others? Can you negotiate with someone who lies to your face? SOAS professors Nick Westcott, a former diplomat, and Emma Crewe, Head of the School of Anthropology, Media and Gender, explain how trust is lost and rebuilt.
Alumni featured
Maro Itoje
BA Politics, 2017
Stephanie Al-Qaq
MSc International Relations, 2000
Scott Riswold
MSc Economics of Africa, 2003
Jim Hoare
PhD History, 1971
Take Part
There are many ways to take part in the SOAS alumni community. Wherever you are in the world and whatever stage of your career you’re at, you can stay connected, share your experience and help shape the future of SOAS and its students. Here are a few ways to get involved.
Join a network
Regional alumni groups, led by alumni volunteers, bring graduates together for informal events and meetings with visiting SOAS academics. You can join the LinkedIn group for your local network, or become an Alumni Ambassador and represent SOAS in your community.
Volunteer
Your experience can make a real difference to students and recent graduates. As a SOAS volunteer, you could mentor a student, speak at an alumni event, offer an internship at your organisation, make introductions in your sector or work with your former department.
Giving November
Every November, our Giving November appeal raises funds for scholarships that help students facing financial hardship to start or complete their studies, and a gift of any size makes a difference.
Leave a legacy
You can support future generations by leaving a gift in your will. Legacies fund scholarships, research and projects such as the care of our Library. As SOAS is an exempt charity, they are free of UK inheritance tax.
Read more
Alumni Benefits
Your connection to SOAS continues long after graduation. Discover the benefits available to you as a SOAS graduate, from lifelong library access and online journals to career support and exclusive discounts.
Alumni Events
From informal meet-ups in your city to talks with SOAS academics and leaders, our alumni events bring the SOAS community together around the world.
Discover what’s coming up near you.
SOAS News
Catch up on the latest from SOAS: new research, rankings, campus life and the achievements of our students and staff. Discover how SOAS continues to make an impact around the world.
Built with Shorthand