22 events across France and around the world. Nearly 300 participants. On June 3 and 4, UniLaSalle Alumni celebrated its 159th anniversary. Since 1867, the association has been fostering the alumni network by organizing events that bring people together.
But its role is far from limited to maintaining connections. Today, UniLaSalle Alumni plays a key role in supporting students and recent graduates as they build their career paths. It also participates very actively in the life of the school, taking part in strategic decision-making.
Christophe Brasset (Agriculture, 1984, Beauvais), president of UniLaSalle Alumni, tells us more about the central role of this venerable institution.
3 Questions for Christophe Brasset, President of UniLaSalle Alumni
The network now has nearly 27,000 members. What role does the alumni association play within the school?
I like to quote Philippe Choquet (editor’s note: Executive Director of UniLaSalle): “Alumni, you are the school’s after-sales service.” UniLaSalle devotes a great deal of attention to its students over the course of five years. After graduation, those ties can weaken if we’re not careful. That’s where the alumni step in.
The alumni association helps maintain the connection between the school and its former students, as well as between graduating classes and generations. Alumni Day, held on June 4, was a perfect example of this: some evening events brought together current students and alumni who graduated 50 years ago. Half a century gathered around the same table!
But our role isn’t limited to welcoming recent graduates into the network and maintaining contact between generations of alumni.
Nous collaborons sur tous les fronts et à chaque instant avec l’école :
- En étant membre du Conseil d’administration d’UniLaSalle. L’association siège au conseil en tant qu’entité, mais plusieurs administrateurs sont aussi issus des bancs de l’école. Nous y apportons notre vision d’Alumni sur les orientations stratégiques.
- En faisant partie intégrante du Centre de carrière. Nous accompagnons les étudiants ou les jeunes diplômés en recherche d’emploi, les diplômés en quête de réorientation professionnelle, grâce à notre service de coaching.
- En intervenant dans les formations. De nombreux Alumni interviennent dans les cours en tant que professionnels ou experts.
- En soutenant la Fondation Jean-Baptiste Gagne – UniLaSalle, qui permet de financer des bourses d’études, des travaux de recherche ou encore des projets pédagogiques. Nous sommes un relais d’information important pour le mécénat de l’école, notamment en expliquant aux Alumni pourquoi l’école a besoin d’eux.
Oui, nous pouvons dire que nous occupons une place importante au sein d‘UniLaSalle.
What brings us together is this Lasallian characteristic.
UniLaSalle has grown significantly in recent years, particularly through the merger of several schools with different histories and unique characteristics. How does UniLaSalle Alumni work to foster a shared sense of belonging?
This is a real challenge. In any case, I’ve made it a priority for my term as president.
The alumni network is a natural fit for recent graduates from the Beauvais campus, as there’s a certain continuity there. This is less true for the other campuses, which have changed their identity following mergers.
In this context, how can we foster this sense of unity? As we toured the campuses, we concluded that what unites us is this Lasallian identity. Our approach to education, the importance we place on commitment, education for all—including the most disadvantaged… On the Amiens campus, I met some alumni who told me: “Actually, we had Lasallian values without even knowing it!”
Our role is to rally around this distinctive character. We must be present on our various campuses and talk about our values. There isn’t much in common between environmental science and electronics—both of which are fields of study at UniLaSalle. However, the way these values are shared is very much in common.
The conference and roundtable discussion held on June 18 at the Rennes campus, “Storm Warning for Business: Will People Make the Difference?”, is part of this effort. Sharing these values and fostering a connection to them helps develop a sense of belonging to UniLaSalle across all our campuses.
We will also achieve this by including alumni from all four campuses on the Board of Trustees. I am working toward this goal.
In what ways is having a dynamic alumni association an asset for students and recent graduates?
It’s a strength on many levels.
The UniLaSalle Alumni network is a tremendous help for entering the workforce. For one thing, it gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to see what becomes of a UniLaSalle graduate after 10, 20, 30, or 40 years in their career. I remember that when we celebrated the 40th anniversary of our graduating class, we spent the evening with fifth-year students who particularly enjoyed talking with us about our career paths.
A large and dynamic alumni network provides easier access to people in jobs that interest them—people who can help them integrate into a company or find contacts in a new region. It’s a great tool for mutual support, strengthened by the large number of UniLaSalle alumni.
Thanks to the Career Center’s coaching—in which we are fully involved—students and recent graduates can also receive help improving their resumes, securing interviews, or better structuring their job search. A quick phone call to alumni can often make all the difference in a job application.
Finally, they can rely on the association to organize networking events such as “Apéritifs citadins,” “Entr’Actes,” or class reunions. We provide them with all the tools to make their lives easier. They choose the date and location; UniLaSalle Alumni handles communication and registration.
Today, we can be proud to provide a high level of service to our alumni. This support is essential in helping them maintain connections not only with their former classmates but also with their school.
