CASE Insights on alumni engagement and philanthropy are the only resources serving institutions on recent trends around the world. So the question is, “I’ve got my AEM survey information. What next?”.

In this session Cara Giacomini will discuss how to analyse and use the data to develop strategy and allocate resource accordingly.

Experience Level: Level 3 - Practicing/Maturing Mid-Career

Topics: Alumni Relations

We live and work in a dynamic environment, with the need for alumni programming to be strategic, agile, and global by nature to add value to our stakeholders and support institutional reach, reputation, and recruitment. The University of Newcastle’s new five-year alumni engagement plan features four key pillars and will deliver mutually beneficial programming at scale for their alumni communities locally and globally, leveraging partnership, and curation opportunities. In this session, the speakers will offer case studies on campaigns and programmes within two of their pillars that enhance the global reputation of the university. Their recent CASE Gold Circle of Excellence award-winning digital animated short film supports the pillar of STORY and their Global Alumni Ambassador Programme harnesses alumni advocacy and volunteerism on a global level, in support of the LEADERSHIP pillar.

Experience Level: Level 3 - Practicing/Maturing Mid-Career

Topics: Alumni Relations

The 75th anniversary of the Australian National University (ANU) provided a key opportunity for the ANU Alumni team to reconnect with its global base of 130,000 alumni—and even more so following the global pandemic and the general pause in engagement.

In honour of this milestone, the ANU Alumni team embarked on an ambitious plan to reconnect alumni across 75 cities and to share the personal stories of 75 alumni, with two core projects in 2022:

• 75 Cities: a series of global alumni reunion events

•  75 Features: a story-telling project of alumni connections

With thanks to almost 250 alumni volunteers, a strong case for investment, social media intel, University leadership and strong diplomatic support – all backed up by strong teamwork – the ANU alumni team successfully delivered on both projects.

Join this CASE-APAC session to hear directly from the ANU Alumni team on their learnings, troubleshooting and strategic vision in delivering these global alumni engagement projects. 

Experience Level: Level 3 - Practicing/Maturing Mid-Career

Topics: Alumni Relations

Universities are places of constant change. Whether it’s changes to our research and its impact on society, our branding, our structures, our policies, or our staff, change is the only constant in our sector.

As alumni professionals, we have to be comfortable with change as it relates to our communities. How we react to and communicate change – the planned and the unplanned – can have enormous positive or negative implications for the reputation of our institutions. Hear from three practitioners from across the region as they provide real life examples of change that went well, and some that didn’t – and what we can learn from both. 

Topics: Alumni Relations

As alumni programmes increasingly delve into the world of career education and development, what are the most effective ways of using such programming to attract and involve target audiences? Find out from two alumni engagement professionals with career education portfolios. Nicole Yeasting and Jenn Parsons will reveal the various ways that they have utilised career education. They will discuss what they have learned from broad-based programmes like monthly webinars; in-person events, partnered with career centres; and launching a career and advising service, by alumni for alumni. Attend this session to discover how career education theory and practice can be integrated with alumni engagement strategies—and why careers and alumni engagement professionals value this evolution.

Experience Level: Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional

Topics: Alumni Relations

Join a panel from Deakin University’s Libraries and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) teams as they present a case study of what Deakin has done to foster a more inclusive approach to language in alumni communications, why they did it, why it matters, and where to next.

Experience Level: Level 3 - Practicing/Maturing Mid-Career

Topics: Alumni Relations

Globally, our universities are rising to the challenge of the climate crisis. At the THE Climate Impact Forum in 2021, 1,050 universities from 68 countries committed to reach net-zero emissions and “transform their impact on nature”.

 But how can the relational and very global nature of alumni relations play its part? How can we continue to support thriving alumni communities in a climate-conscious world? How can we catalyse a broader movement of activists to tackle climate change?

 We will share best practices in climate impact minimisation efforts and discuss how we can unleash the power of our alumni and institutional leadership -- to drive awareness and rapid action on climate change and sustainable growth at large.

 From practical tools on events, mitigation, non-profit partnerships and green merchandise to strategic initiatives including co-creation of solutions and sustainability awards - be ready for a myriad of ideas.

Experience Level: Level 4 - Senior/Experienced Mid-Career

Topics: Alumni Relations

Most of us agree that alumni and other community champions possess knowledge and perspectives ranging from insightful to world class. But, how often do we "do for" rather than "design with" our valued stakeholders? Expediency, fear, tradition can all be used to rationalise current practices. There are other methods.

Design thinking and co-design are now well-established practices in many environments, however, they have been more slowly adopted in advancement. This session will explore working with alumni and other supporters at the front end—creating programmes and engagement opportunities in concert with those who know best—the intended audience. It will share real-life examples, examine guiding principles, explore our concerns, and invite dialogue on what we can do better. Whether you run a team, a project, or a programme, this session will be of value to you.

Experience Level: Level 4 - Senior/Experienced Mid-Career

Topics: Alumni Relations