Dubai, UAE – September 20 2017: La Trobe University, an Australian multi-campus public research university based in Melbourne, has held a special alumni celebration in Dubai.

Nearly 60 La Trobe University alumni and other guests gathered at the event to celebrate the University’s 50th anniversary. Some alumni flew from other GCC countries to attend. 

Mr Kelly Smith, La Trobe’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), hosted the event.

As well as local La Trobe alumni, now pursing successful careers, guests included government officials and officials from the Australian Embassy and the Austrade office. Also in attendance were high-ranking representatives from universities in the region who are seeking partnerships with La Trobe University. 

Many alumni studied at La Trobe on government scholarships. La Trobe University has strong links with government bodies in the region and has been receiving students from various ministries and sponsor bodies for nearly two decades. 

The event was part of World La Trobe Week – a celebration of La Trobe’s cultural diversity and global alumni community. In that week, La Trobe hosted alumni events in eight international cities, including Hanoi, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

Mr Kelly told the meeting: “We are now a truly global university, with 190,000 alumni based in more than 100 countries.” 

He explained that La Trobe has set up an online International Mentoring Program “to connect students with alumni and support them through a program of learning, networking and professional development”.  It aims to “help today’s students start their career”.

Mr Smith said the success of the alumni event in Dubai “demonstrated La Trobe’s enduring connection to the Middle East”.