Written by EXCO BUPS Committee
Hi Everyone!
We hope that you are doing well and keeping safe.
Introduction
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and amidst much uncertainty, BUPS remains committed to our promise of standing united with you and providing our fullest support to the Bartlett School of Planning. It has been truly heartening to witness the wider BSP community coming together and supporting one another as we move forward.
We understand how important open and effective communication is, particularly during these trying times. We are excited to share what we have been working on and our plans for the future. Join us on our journey!
NEW COMMITEE
We made calls to form the new BUPS Executive Committee in June, and are delighted by the overwhelming amount of responses. It truly is heartening to see so many stepping up wanting to make a difference in the BSP community.
We were thoroughly impressed by what all applicants could bring to the table, and after much consideration, are excited to present our newest batch of committee members:
Get to know us better at www.bups.london/about-us and in the upcoming newsletter!
Also, we would like to take this opportunity to show our appreciation to the previous committee members for their hard work and dedication despite everything that went on (yes, we are looking at you - the 2 strikes and the COVID pandemic). Thank you Guoda, Dominika, Man Pok, Fola, Jasper and Kameliya!
INSPIRE, MENTOR, CELEBRATE
We have a strong team raring to deliver an exceptional set of activities, events and resources for you. Our motto - ‘Inspire, Mentor and Celebrate’ - will continue to form the basis of what we have planned out. Look forward to:
Career Initiatives
We will continue to provide a curated selection of careers events on top of the newly-refreshed HelpHub website. Due to the current circumstances, these events will be held online until further notice. However, we assure you that our career events will be as good, if not better, than before. We are also working closely with the BSP Careers team throughout the year to ensure that your needs are met.
Networking and community integration
We will still be holding our regular coffee sessions (yes, we realised that “coffee mornings” might not be the best name given time zone differences). Do join us online to discuss general advice, planning ideas or just some friendly banter.
Welcome Week
This year’s lineup for freshers will look pretty different from previous years. We remain committed to welcoming our new friends into the BSP community and celebrating the achievements of previous cohorts. We are currently exploring the best ways to organise a memorable Welcome Week. Let us know if you have any suggestions!
Academic support and resources
Providing mentoring, advice and support has always been the cornerstone of BUPS. Look forward to a new section on our webpage for a repository of online tutorials and resources, to support you in your learning.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
Social media has become especially vital for staying connected, now more than ever. We have various channels and platforms to meet your needs:
Freshers Facebook Group
Freshers, this is for you! Get to know your coursemates, even if you aren’t physically going to London just yet. We will also be providing important updates on Welcome Week, course-related events and other opportunities to help ease you into the BSP. Have burning questions about university but have nobody to ask? Hit us up there! Find the Facebook group at -
Bartlett School of Planning Facebook Group
A network for all urban planning students regardless of your year group. Other than getting important updates on course-related events, information and opportunities, come here to share your experiences, queries, knowledge or even interesting urban planning articles you have come across! Find the Facebook group at -
Online Forum
For more structured debate across the wider planning community, BUPS is trialling a new initiative on our website. We are hosting a forum page and we invite everyone to share their thoughts and ideas on everything planning, design, management and real estate. Everyone is free to share articles and engage in discourse. Of course, discussions are not limited to academia and can be about living in London and school life in general!
BUPS Social Media Pages (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook )
Subscribe to our social media channels for regular stories and important updates on what’s new within the BUPS community. We constantly re-post the most interesting articles and projects within the planning community for your enjoyment. You can also reach out to us by dropping us a message!
Next Steps
Freshers’ week will take a very foreign form this year. However, we are still committed to creating a platform to celebrate the successes of previous cohorts while welcoming new colleagues into our undergraduate community. We are currently exploring ways to execute online events, let us know if you have any ideas!
BUPS is also currently looking for contributors to our weekly blog entries once term starts, check out our website for more details and we encourage all of you to participate!
A Final Message
We look forward to serving all members of the Bartlett School of Planning and providing you the support you deserve! If you have any suggestions on events, career opportunities, anything you would like to see, get in touch with us through our email --
Or any of our social media channels --
Thank you, take care and see you soon!
