The Gulf-UK alumni network comprises of over 7500 UK graduates in various fields of work. The profile of UK alumni in the Gulf varies from fresh graduates and young professionals to community influencers and national leaders. The network aims to provide a range of opportunities for networking and professional development to raise the profile of the UK as well as continue to demonstrate UK values and maintain positive disposition towards the UK.

As part of the activities for the network during these unprecedented times, the British Council has designed a series of digital engagements and seeking volunteer speakers from the UK on various topics.
The sessions will be recorded and be made available to British Council staff and the wider Gulf-UK alumni network through LinkedIn and other social media channels.

British Council is seeking professionals and academics from Institutions/ organisations/ universities in the UK to speak at live webinars on the themes listed below.

1. Social Entrepreneurship
This webinar will be aimed at members of the UK alumni network in the Gulf who are either existing or aspiring entrepreneurs looking to understand social entrepreneurship and will cover an introduction to social entrepreneurship, showcasing of examples and case studies and resources for aspiring social entrepreneurs. The format will be interactive and will make use of digital breakout discussions.
-Webinar Date: First week of July (date and time TBC)
Expected audience: 30 – 35 aspiring or existing entrepreneurs

2. Okay to not be okay: Unpacking the pressure to be productive during crises
This webinar will explore the increasing pressure and expectation from people to be productive during the current crisis, looking at what it means and its impact on mental health. It will unpack whether the pressure to achieve, to write the next King Lear or discover what is beyond gravity, can be counter-productive and have adverse effects on individuals’ mental health. Lastly, it would aim to provide some recommendations on coping with the trauma of the crisis in a healthy way.
Webinar Date: 10 June 2020
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm BST
Expected audience: 100 UK Alumni from the Gulf