Independent University Newspaper
Copenhagen Business School

Popular searches:

Independent University Newspaper

Copenhagen Business School

New alumni network on cybersecurity gives valuable insights

Illustration: Shutterstock

A large number of unofficial alumni networks flourish at CBS. A new addition is the cybersecurity network that enables students and alumni to connect and talk about an industry where people otherwise keep their secrets closely guarded. The networks are a useful way for alumni to stay in touch with CBS while giving back as well as being updated on the newest research and post-graduate education.

News |   04. Jan 2023

Emilie Jacobsen

Freelance journalist

The official CBS alumni network boasts 22,000 members. Alongside, many smaller alumni networks have been started and are run by CBS lecturers or alumni. Some are country specific; some are topic specific.

One of the newest examples of the latter is the alumni network for cybersecurity founded by Jan Lemnitzer, Assistant Professor at the Department of Digitalization.

“With a topic-specific network on cybersecurity, we can share information with each other in a tightly knit community,” says Jan Lemnitzer, Assistant Professor at the Department of Digitalization. Photo: Private

“To learn something new in cybersecurity, you often have to ask businesses about their flaws or failures. It can be very difficult to get people to talk about this if you meet them at a standard alumni network function. With a topic-specific network, we can share information with each other in a tightly knit community,” says Jan Lemnitzer.

Besides the need to share information, he also appreciates the opportunity to remain in contact with former students in the business. The new network has already helped some of his students find internships in the cybersecurity industry.

Networks enable alumni to give back to CBS

Opportunities for mentorships for current students and maintaining connections with former students are some of the reasons Anna Patricia Dencker mentions when explaining why CBS makes a great effort to keep its alumni close.

As a relations manager, she works with the official alumni network.

“CBS alumni are a very important link to the ‘real world’ both in terms of recruiting mentors and guest lecturers. For alumni, it’s an opportunity to give something back to the university. In our experience, they are very proud of being CBS alumni and want to help current students,” she says.

“CBS alumni are a very important link to the ‘real world’ both in terms of recruiting mentors and guest lecturers,” says Anna Patricia Dencker, Relations Manager who works with the official CBS alumni network. Photo: Bjarne MacCarthy

The MBA alumni network, with 1,900 members, is one of the smaller alumni networks where this has worked exceptionally well.

As Maria Valentin Palgaard, Business Development Manager, with responsibility for the MBA Alumni network explains:

“Our alumni support the entire value chain: they are ambassadors and attract students, are mentors and inspirational speakers, and provide important networking opportunities,” says Maria Valentin Palgaard, Business Development Manager, in charge of the MBA Alumni network. Photo: Thomas Lekdorff

“Our alumni support the entire value chain so to speak: they are ambassadors and attract students, they participate in lessons, find speakers for lectures, are mentors and inspirational speakers, and provide important networking opportunities.”

The networks also offer alumni the opportunity to stay in touch with current research and post-graduate education.

Specialised network means more focused events

Even though a large official alumni network exists, Jan Lemnitzer feels that his network will still be relevant. He fears that messages about cybersecurity would drown in a larger forum and might not reach their intended audience.

Besides, he is looking forward to the specific alumni network hosting events on topics different from those of a business conference.

“One example is an event regarding the cyber war in Ukraine. At the first alumni meeting, we discovered that several of our guests would find it interesting to learn what is going on, and a forum like an alumni network is exactly the right place for that,” says Jan Lemnitzer.

For the alumni, the cybersecurity network represents an excellent way to connect with others in the business and meet up with old classmates. Alexander Schwaninger, Management Consultant at the consulting company Implement, attended the first meeting of the cybersecurity network.

“It’s nice to have a forum where new ideas and the latest developments in the field are presented,” he says.

He attended the first meeting on 6 October 2022 and described it as informal with a good mix of students and alumni.

The cybersecurity network plans to meet about once every quarter.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

New alumni network on cybersecurity gives valuable insightsby

  • News

    Layoffs break the crucial trust between organisation and employee

    CBS is laying off a number of employees soon, which will affect our university in different ways. When employees are fired without having done anything wrong, it shatters the trust between the organisation and employees, while also taking a toll on productivity, according to a CBS expert. Layoffs also affect the ‘survivors’, who are forced to adapt to a changed workload and the loss of cherished colleagues.

  • News

    Here to help – at the touch of a button and at Campus Desk

    Exam anxiety? Lost student card? I’ve wedged my car between a Fiat 500 and a lamp post, can you help? You never know what you’ll be asked next. But that’s just how the Campus Desk team like it. And if they can’t fix your problem, they’ll know someone who can. CBS WIRE asked the team about the whole range of topics they advice on every day.

  • News

    Why so sudden? The CBS financial crisis explained

    Employees and union representatives have posed many questions in the wake of the 17 August announcement of a firing round. In this interview, University Director Arnold Boon explains how Senior Management has been working with the budget and a change of financial strategy since the fall of 2022, and why layoffs are now necessary.

  • Illustration: Ida Eriksen

    News

    Here’s what you need to know about the master’s reform

    The political parties behind the master’s reform have adjusted their original proposal to shorten or reorganize up to 50 percent of master’s programmes after pressure from CBS and the other Danish universities. Fewer shortened master’s and longer to implement changes are some important revisions to the reform. CBS’ president is pleased that the government and other parties behind the reform have listened to some of the critique given by the universities but raises concern about cutting more study places in bachelor’s programmes.

  • News

    CBS Quiz Time: Unraveling the success story

    A successful university environment such as CBS is often associated with academic pursuits, but campus life extends far beyond the classroom. At CBS Quiz Time, a student society motivated by creative thinking and social engagement, students join in a refreshing range of creativity, excitement, and social interaction. CBS WIRE talked to Celine Møller-Andersen to find out about the society’s vision, strategies and the factors that are driving its rapid expansion.

  • Gif of the week
  • Blog

    Uncertain times: Essential for business schools to understand their market

    The alliance of European business schools met at CBS in June to enhance recruitment strategies, stay informed on industry trends, and analyse where the global economy is heading. The CBS MBA Programmes shares some key take-aways from Associate Dean and Professor Jesper Rangvid’s presentation.

  • News

    Working hard all summer: Bachelor Admissions

    The employees in charge of bachelor admissions at CBS are a small exclusive team. They ensure the validity of diplomas and the fulfilment of entry requirements for bachelor’s degrees at CBS – and, not least, that the applicants get the necessary help to upload the right documentation and find their way around the application procedures.

Follow CBS students studying abroad

CBS WIRE collaborates with Videnskab.dk

Stay connected

Close