Collaborating with 30 UK universities through the CASE Universities Marketing Forum (UMF) we conducted a programme of research with teachers and advisors to understand their perspective on the approach young people are making to choosing universities or choosing to go to university, how they're being kept informed and who is influencing them. Join us for an illuminating session to explore the emerging trends in applicant choice and behaviour, and how universities and schools/colleges can support each other to empower students to make informed choices that will positively impact their futures.

During this session, we will explore how to make career advice and support available to alumni by creating a platform where the expertise and experience of the alumni community are put on display. We did this by organizing a number of events (online and in person) on career topics, offering coaching sessions, and highlighting our mentoring programme under the umbrella of the Alumni Career Days. The session will offer insights how the programme was designed and coordinated between the different stakeholders.

One thing we all have in common is how easy it is to make a mistake. So, rather than shy away from it (and in homage to the popular 'How to Fail' podcast series) we'll be celebrating and confessing our failures and reflecting on how much you can learn from them. Continuing from our new webinar series, we'll be having a live and honest discussion with some senior professionals in the Advancement sector. They'll reflect how they've navigated a mistake, a change of plan, or something that simply didn't work out as they expected, in their professional (and sometimes personal) lives. Hosted by CASE regulars Hannah Fox, Director of Alumni Community, Careers and Network Development at Regent’s University London and Marie-Rose Delauzun, Head of Alumni Engagement at The Sutton Trust. Expect informal and candid discussion on decisions they regret or unavoidable errors - and plenty of reassurance that you're not alone! Attendees joining will be encouraged to ask a question to the panel or the hosts and keep things interactive and communal.

The average tenure of a fundraiser is less than 2 years. The session will seek to some of the following questions: • What is good retention • How do implement retention strategies • An approach with a strong DEI+B strategy • Evaluation and continued relevance The session will explore current research, lived experiences, and insights into how people are tackling, the great resignation, reassessing their priorities, post pandemic reflection, greater need of career development, remote work and location flexibility; burnout and stress and cultural and generational influences. It will share a new model that can be applied within your organisation.

More Partnership was commissioned by the University of Oxford in late 2023 to research alumni relations practices around the world. This included interviews with thirty leading practitioners, collating inspiring case studies from across five continents, and the analysis of over two million datapoints. In this dynamic and interactive session, we will share the headlines from the global review, including practical recommendations to increase the impact of your programme. We will have space to discuss the review’s findings together, and to explore the experiences and ideas of colleagues around the world.

UIC Barcelona launched its giving campaign for the first time in history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative sparked an annual campaign that has now become the heart of a dynamic scholarship program. Please join us for an inside look at the backstage of our campaign. From changing the mindsets of our top leaders, overcoming tech issues, and driving a new culture of generosity, to engaging people, companies, foundations, and volunteers within our community to take an interest in our university and its mission, we are excited to share the magic that made it possible. This session isn't all about success; it's also an unfiltered journey through the setbacks and difficulties we had to overcome to make it happen. Sit back as we tell you the story of it all and how we keep striving to do a better job each year. This is the real story of how a young university initiated its biggest effort to engage its community.

Over the past decade, philanthropy at Manchester Met, led by an ambitious leadership team and dedicated staff, has transformed from a £20,000 annual effort to an impressive £2million+. Collaborative efforts with external stakeholders have amplified the impact of our initiatives and the University's commitment to academic excellence. This achievement highlights the profound influence of philanthropy in shaping brighter futures for students like Shuab, a First Generation Scholar, now Oxford University Scholar. Our commitment extends beyond individual impact. We are steadfast in advancing global philanthropy to fuel innovation, research, and provide opportunities for ground-breaking solutions and advancements.

Lifelong learning is increasingly on the radar of universities. Learners want to re-skill throughout their life, and universities seek to increase revenue streams and reach new audiences. While governments consider how lifelong learning funding may look in the future, now is an opportune moment for universities to consider their short course portfolio. Drawing on the University of Edinburgh’s experience of devising marketing strategies that have resulted in five million short course learners and 10,000 online students, the case studies and tactics covered in this session will be just as relevant to institutions offering on-campus short courses and degrees.

Choosing the right CRM and community management tool is essential for engaging alumni and other key stakeholders, and for managing and analysing data to inform your work. What are the key elements to consider when choosing a new system and how can you implement it successfully, so that it supports your team's goals? Receive recommendations on do's and don'ts from professionals who have gone through this process and leave equipped with practical ideas that will help you procure and set up the system your institution needs.