Shaping the future of your University and alumni community
Our alumni have a unique opportunity to shape the future of Newcastle University through Convocation, an annual meeting of our alumni community.
What is Convocation?
Convocation is a formal name for the University's alumni community. A meeting of Convocation normally occurs once in every calendar year and gives an opportunity for alumni to join discussions with the University leadership team about the latest developments at the University and future plans.
As a member of our alumni community, there’s nothing extra you need to do to formally join Convocation. You just need to sign up to attend our meetings to make your voice heard.
Every three years, we elect a new Chair of Convocation.
Anyone can nominate themselves as Chair of Convocation, and everyone in our alumni community will have the opportunity to vote in the elections online.
Convocation Election 2022
The results of the most recent election for a new Chair and Deputy Chair of Convocation are available here.
The Chair of Convocation is Nick Richardson (BSc Zoology, 1977), and the Deputy Chair of Convocation is Clare Talbot-Jones (BA (Hons) Modern Languages, 2004).
At the meeting you will hear an update from the University and from the Chair of Convocation. As required by the University's statutes, the meeting will also discuss the re-appointment of Imtiaz Dharker as Chancellor of the University for a period of four years following the nomination and recommendation of Court and Senate.
This meeting is open to all alumni of Newcastle University and will be held both in-person and online.
Event details (pre-registration required) Date: Saturday 4 November 2023 Meeting: 11:00 - 13:00 (GMT) Location: Keeton Lomas Lecture Theatre, Armstrong Building, Newcastle University and online Registration form
Refreshments will be available before the meeting from 10:30 (GMT).
Convocation 2024 will be held on 12/13 July 2024. Please save the date. If you would like to register your interest please complete this form.
If you meet one or more of the below criteria, you are entitled to be registered as a member of the convocation:
All alumni of the University;
Those alumni of the University of Durham who were during their courses registered students of the Newcastle Division of the University of Durham before the appointed day;
Those alumni of the University of Durham who were during their courses matriculated students at Sunderland Technical College
If you’re part of our alumni community, you’re automatically a member of Convocation – there’s nothing extra you need to do!
If you want to be involved in the annual meeting of Convocation, then you just need to sign up when registrations open.
We’ll send you an email inviting you to the meeting, and the registration link will also be available on our website and social media channels. To make sure you don’t miss it, update your details with us so we know how best to reach you.
The annual meeting of Convocation is your opportunity to hear about the latest news from Newcastle University. The University's Executive Board will update you on the past year, sharing our successes as well as the current issues facing the University and future challenges we anticipate.
You’ll be able to ask questions of our leadership team and connect, or reconnect, with members of our University community.
With the backing of other alumni, you can also raise matters with the University Senate, Council or Court, as appropriate, helping to shape our future.
Under the statutes, Convocation can discuss and make representations on any matter relating to the University, this includes the appointment or reappointment of the Chancellor of the University.
Any member of our alumni community can nominate themselves as Chair of Convocation, as long as they are not a salaried member of staff at the University.
We elect a Chair and Deputy Chair of Convocation every three years, with the next election taking place in October 2025.
All alumni have the opportunity to vote for the next Chair in an online election. You’ll be notified when voting opens via email, so please make sure you have provided us with your up-to-date contact information.
