Spotlight on Peru

Eric Franco (MSc Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, 2008) is a resident and native of Peru’s capital, Lima. As the international alumni leader for his country, Eric has instigated successful initiatives to support King’s offer holders, students and alumni from Peru. Alongside this work, he has also contributed significantly to the professional life of the university through his work with the Dickson Poon School of Law.

After studying for his undergraduate degree in Law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Eric Franco knew he was looking to find a master’s degree that could offer him something new: ‘I wanted to study a master’s programme in Law that was not purely legal. King’s College London has the most renowned Construction Law programme, London is a fantastic city, and my wife was also interested in studying her MSc at the London School of Economics, so the stars were aligned for us,’ explains Eric. ‘My MSc opened many professional opportunities for me because the specialisation is very international, the excellent alumni network, and London is a hub for construction worldwide. On a personal level, I met people who changed my way of life and were excellent friends.’

After completing his master’s degree in Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, Eric worked at firms in London and Switzerland before returning to his native Peru. Despite this geographical distance from his alma mater, he continued to be involved in work at the Dickson Poon School of Law. Eric led the team that created the Spanish translation and adaptation of the Framework Alliance Contract (FAC-1), an important standard contract developed by the King’s College Centre of Construction Law & Dispute Resolution and written by King’s academic, Professor David Mosey. Eric’s version of the contract has been approved for use not only in Peru, but also in Chile and Colombia.

Left to right: Professor David Mosey holding a copy of the FAC-1 contract, alongside Eric Franco, Professor Gillian Douglas, and Darya Bahram

Having achieved so much in his career, Eric wanted to give back to the King’s community and ensure fellow Latin Americans could receive support before, during and after their studies: ‘When I was an offer holder, I benefited from the advice of alumni. On the other hand, when I graduated, I benefited from knowing students because they kept me updated on new books, events, and life in London. Both groups have a lot to benefit from each other,’ recounts Eric.

When I was an offer holder, I benefited from the advice of alumni. On the other hand, when I graduated, I benefited from knowing students because they kept me updated on new books, events, and life in London. Both groups have a lot to benefit from each other.

To facilitate the mutually beneficial relationship between students and alumni, Eric, along with King’s alumni leaders in Argentina and Uruguay, organised a virtual mentoring event in March 2022 that allowed alumni to connect (and in some cases, reconnect) with one another. Eilidh Schatz, International Alumni Coordinator at King’s, says: ‘Events that bring together every generation of King’s – alumni, students and offer holders – are so valuable for building lasting connections within the King’s community. Connecting with King’s communities in this way allows alumni to broaden their professional networks, to maintain their lifelong connection to the university, and to mentor the next generation of King’s graduates.’

Eilidh’s words echo the experiences of Dewi Zamora Mendoza (MSc Emerging Economies & International Development, 2021) who attended the online event in March 2022. Speaking about the event, Dewi remarked that she ‘was able to meet an amazing Peruvian community… which was great as we have been at King’s at different times but also, we lived the experience in different faculties and circumstances due to the pandemic’.

The success of the event in March led Eric, alongside his alumni colleagues, to organise a subsequent event in September 2022. This time, offer holders were also able to attend, ensuring those getting ready to begin their journey at King’s could benefit from the experiences of the university’s students and alumni. As Peruvian alumni ambassador Katherine Waidhofer (MSc Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, 2018) explained: ‘Alumni events help graduates keep in contact with King’s and also to preserve and establish good friendships. We share activities that reaffirm our connection with the university – for example, Global Day of Service.’

Katherine is enthusiastic about the opportunities a life-long relationship with King’s can offer: ‘The alumni community is a space where we can meet people of the most varied backgrounds… so the King’s experience continues beyond the end of the postgraduate programme.’