The alumni association for graduates of the Department of Business and Economics at Reykjavík University, RU Connect, will be formally established on Thursday, November 6. The first event will take place in Olympus on the university’s third floor from 5:00–7:00 PM. Katrín Ólafsdóttir, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, will welcome guests, followed by a stand-up comedy performance by Ari Eldjárn.

Elín Helga Lárusdóttir, Director of the BSc programme at the Department of Business and Economics, graduated in 2021 with a BSc in Business Administration and has worked at RU since 2023. She has been working on establishing RU Connect, explaining that the idea is to allow people to maintain connections with former classmates, teachers, and staff:

You meet so many people during your undergraduate studies, both teachers and students. So, it can feel a bit strange to part ways with such a great group when you graduate and start working. With RU Connect we want to make it easier for people to maintain these important connections with their group, which is very much in the spirit of RU. Within the university, there is a vibrant social life, easy access to teachers and staff, and it’s a great place to be with a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

Between 2000 and 2025, over 6,000 students have graduated from the Department of Business and Economics (formerly the Department of Business), including those from undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes. Elín Helga says it has been somewhat of a task to decide where to begin and how to reach former students, teachers, and staff. LinkedIn has proven to be one of the most effective platforms, but those interested can also register for RU Connect here.

We are pleased to have initiated this because alumni work is important, for example, in relation to international quality accreditations. As for future events, the plan is to shape the program based on the wishes of the members, but we envision events that emphasize networking and conversation, combined with informative talks about current topics. I encourage everyone who has studied or worked with us to register for the association. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make yourself known, and experience the atmosphere at RU again.