International Higher Education Forum

Harnessing alumni networks to support and promote international strategies

Phil Steel, Head of Alumni RelationsDr Judith Lamie, International Director

April 2013

Outline 1. Introduction to the University of Leeds2. Alumni Relations at Leeds3. Internationalisation and Alumni Relations4. Lessons Learned

High quality graduates are essential to the way we create impact and influence. The quality and diversity of our alumni is central to maximising our institutional reach and influence

(Internationalisation Strategy: para 15)

• Established in 1904

• 2nd largest university in UK

• Research income over

£120m

• Contribute over £1.2bn to

the local economy

• 9 Faculties: Arts, Biological Sciences, Business, ESSL, Engineering, MAPS, Environment, Medicine, PVAC

• 5 overseas offices

33,000 students

8,000 postgraduates

5500 students from outside UK

Over 140 nationalities

8,000 staff

University of Leeds

Main Alumni Populations

Alumni Relations

Active engagement to support

•Employability •Recruitment•Reputational enhancement•Enhancing the student experience / research power through philanthropy

•Partnership building

International Alumni Networks

Where are your alumni located?

What are your key aims for alumni relations? Do you have formal alumni networks?

How are they managed?

What do they do?

How do you measure success?

Internationalisation at Leeds • Internationalisation core element of

strategic plan▫ Focus on quality positioning in key markets▫ Strategic approach to international activity▫ Maximise the profile and reach of the

institution• Alumni key stakeholders

▫ Historically limited interactions▫ Deeper engagement with alumni▫ Action Plan: mapping activity, engagement

plans, region/country focus

International engagementEvents Communications

• Formal receptions• Academic talks• Recruitment events• Socials• Informal receptions

• Magazine • Email• Social networks

maximise existing intelligence

map activity

develop strategic approach

align future activity

Partnership

Engagement

Profile

Focus

Benefits Mapping key links Increase in collaborative research activity Securing external research grants – unable to alone Enhanced student mobility and staff exchange - early stage career researchers New teaching programmes Improved alumni relations Links into business and industry Identification of opportunities Joint missions Increase impact and profile

What would be your top 5 tips for successfully developing international alumni relations?

1.2.3.4.5.

Lessons Learned 1. There's no point asking people to do

something if you don't know what you're asking them to do

2. Beware the big splash and silence (things take time)

3. Current/graduating students are your best asset

4. Enthusiasm does not always translate into activity

5. A sense of place is invaluable.... but without local relevance it's just nostalgia

Additional slides

Providing a culture and feel of the University

as a genuine international community

Questions

What is an international university?How are we already international?Where are the challenges that lie ahead and where

are the gaps?What is the scale of the challenge and have we got

enough ambition in our current plans?What does success look like for us and how will we

measure it?

Internationalisation Strategy

Objectives:To focus on quality positioning in key markets –

prioritising quality and academic impact over volume and income

To adopt a focused and strategic approach to further international development activity

To embed internationalisation into the Learning and Teaching and Research Strategies

To maximise the profile and reach of the University

Internationalisation at home Internationalisation overseas

Internationalisation Strategy and Alumni

Deeper engagement with international alumni (para 5)

Raise profile and reach of university by working closely with influential international alumni base (10)

Historically limited interactions (11)

Action plan• Country specific engagement plans• International internship pilot• Map demographic data in tier 1 regions• Identify key influencers• Develop scheme for engagement with academic/education-

based alumni

Key project – International Engagement Platforms