Presentation on International Alumni Engagement. Presented at Alumni Relations Conference held at ISB, Mohali [India] on 29th March, 2014.
Visit: www.alumnirelationsconference.in
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- Setting the Context and Understanding the Value
Proposition
- Tactical Steps:
- Managing Expectations of Alumni settled abroad
- Paying Attention to Culture
- Managing Data and Communication
- Managing Volunteers and building relationships from a
distance
- Programs for a Global Alumni Body
- Exercise: Assessing Readiness and Understanding the
International Story at your Institution
Session Flow
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IN 2014, INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI
RELATIONS LOOKS AND FEELS…
• Underdeveloped (or, under-resourced)
• Fragmented within different units
• A virtual community (LinkedIn/Facebook)
• A last-minute necessity
Setting The Context
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VALUE FOR…
Strengthening
reputation and
raising brand
awareness
Enhancing
international student
recruitment channels
Connecting alumni
and all students for
professional
development
assistance
Involving
international alumni
donors in programs
that contribute to
pipeline of support
VALUE FOR…
VALUE FOR… VALUE FOR …
Relationships Abroad
Add Value
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LEADERSHIP
SUPPORT
• President/Provost
• Deans/Directors
• Trustees/Board
• Alumni leaders
• Central or shared?
• International planning
• In-kind support
• Current database
• Chief Advancement
Officer
• Designated Alumni
Officers
• Identify
• Inform
• Invite
• Invest
BUDGET AND
RESOURCES
STAFFING VOLUNTEERS – 4
“I’s”
How Do You Know You’re
Ready?
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LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
• Partners as volunteers
• Influencers
• “Chapter Founding
Members”
• Intl outreach requires
campus-wide
commitment
• 9 mo. Planning cycle
• Alumni Officers become
campus experts for int’l
outreach
• Cross-Training for
Admissions and
Development
The 5th I: IMPACT:
• Referrals
• Leadership roles
• In-Kind Support grows
BUDGET AND RESOURCES
STAFFING VOLUNTEERS
How Do You Know You’re
Making Progress (RoI)?
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TIME, TALENT, TREASURE AND TECHNOLOGY
– THE TRANSFER OF THESE DIFFERS BY
CULTURE
A. Understand the culture of international countries of
interest—philanthropy or a business deal
B. Know the agenda for your institution
C. Seek advice from international liaisons and
reciprocate in turn (host campus visits, appropriate
admissions advice, introductions)
D. Training trainers: international students, regional
international volunteers as ambassadors,
fundraising agents, advocates and allies
Pay Attention To Culture…
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5 Tips for Improving International Data
Management
http://www.academicimpressions.com/news/5-tips-improving-international-alumni-data
• Know the Depth of Current Data and Create Records for
―Non-Traditional‖ alumni, members, donors
• ―Internationalize‖ Current Systems
• Form an International Data Management Working Group
for your institution/organization
• Promote the Lifelong Relationship early and often with
international students and younger constituents
• Improve the level of engagement with international
alumni and members at-large
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DO
Establish routine
communication
Develop volunteer
training
Know benefits of
more structure than
less
Plan ahead (but
know optimal times
for programs)
Create community
Collaborate and
build scale
Treat one region like
the other
Forget some countries
honor seniority
Underestimate the
value of ―other‖
networks
Rely on social media to
do your job – build
relationships in person
Separate domestic and
international programs
– build global
community
DON’T
Managing Volunteers From A
Distance
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Social Media Engagement and
Outreach
Stats
9 Regional Facebook Pages
with 4750+
497 members of Chinese
RenRen
382 LinkedIn International
Alumni Members
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• Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
• http://www.case.org
• Association of International Education Administrators
• AIEA – http://www.aieaworld.org
• European Association for International Education
• EAIE – http://www.eaie.org
• Asia-Pacific Association for International Education
• http://www.apaie.org
Professional Associations
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LinkedIn Communities such as the International Advancement
Professionals – a subgroup of CASE
Academic Impressions – Higher Education Impact daily and weekly
blogs
Gretchen Dobson LLC – blogs, articles, interviews…
www.gretchendobson.com
Social Media & Online Tools
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Dobson, G. (2011). Being Global: Making the Case for
International Alumni Relations. www.case.org/store.
Feudo, J. (2009). Alumni Relations: A Newcomer’s Guide to
Success. www.case.org/store
Morrison and Conaway, (XXX) Kiss, Bow, or Shake
Hands, 2nd Edition (Adams Media).
A primer on international etiquette and business practices
Books
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• AI Higher Ed Impact: Weekly News & Takeaways – A new
monthly blog on international travel management
• Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic
Missions
• http://www.usembassy.gov/
• For expedited passports and visas
• http://www.travisa.com/
International Travel
Editor's Notes
Fragmented – Central vs. Schools --- even Academic Depts having their own relationshipsPerhaps just a social media communityOr, you find out your president will be receiving an honorary degree in London and you are asked to coordinate an alumni event!
Alumni abroad become knowledgeable recruiters and referral agents.Relevance is key : involving alumni in the life of all students during the most challenging environment for employability.
Resources:Current database – our efforts are only as good as the information we have – or are getting today. How are we tracking intl alumni? Does this area need a thorough review before we start? Can we begin to track international students better??Volunteers --- identify, invite, inform, invest and IMPACTAnd…can you describe exactly what other offices are doing in terms of international engagement? Do you know which staff members are working abroad, what resources they have and the nature of their relationships? “An international barometer”
Example: Tufts in Turkey – Ali Sabanci agreed to be a founding member of chapter on my first visit in 2005 --- 2012 hosted University in Turkey --- 8 years later after much stewardship and involvementBudget and Resources --- a 9 month planning period……checking progressStaff proves they are more valuable abroad when cross training to represent admission, development, family program offices – use time effectively; learn and collaborate; break down SILOSVolunteers --- identify, invite, inform, invest and IMPACTWe are going to come back to the ROI of engaging your international communities later in our webcast
SUNY Buffalo’s main question……stress this example hereIf you put the Intl student hat on --- what are their perspectives once they graduate?? Influence them before they graduate…http://www.academicimpressions.com/news/transitioning-international-students-your-donor-pipelineIn discussing this slide, Gretchen will refer to recent Interview with Wei Loon from SUNY Buffalo on Jan 15:Leong brings with him expertise in international education marketing, project management and business development and has a global perspective that he says will help him deal with the many different experiences, cultures and values that prevail among UB’s 230,000 graduates from more than 130 countries.Leong says he was impressed as well that the UB strategic plan “Realizing UB 2020” recognizes that the challenges and opportunities faced by this university are determined in part by the larger forces taking shape on the national and global levels.“The fact that one of the UB 2020 goals is to enhance the visibility, value and reputation of UB at the international level means that the full force of the university will be behind our international alumni efforts,” he says.Leong: “I was a student here before so I have an advantage to see this from an intl alumni perspectiveUB’s intl office improved a lot for students….my main challenge was to answer “why do I need to give back and be engaged?”Typical quote from his alumni -- “I paid my dues which were higher than instate, so I don’t know why I would need to reinvest again “ This may be less challenging for domestic alums….AR has been around for 100+ years….Key challenge is WHY I NEED TO BE INVOLED?? WHY GIVE?Und and MBA – WL had an assistantship for his MBA so he does feel a sense that he wants to give back…..In Beijing I was still a volunteer ---Intl Education Office was shouldering IAR rather than AR --- but now here was an oppty to take this ahead and lead in this area….I felt a need to give back.As a majority, intl students are passive – some come here with culture and language challenges…once they pay twice as much to go, and they get the ASK, they ask WHY??Intl student engagement and philanthropy is a focus (just as domestic student philanthropy is a concern)..My work in IAR is a little harder than the domestic alumni team because of this awareness….Some of the challenges are due to a lapsed contact info….Deans and other offices asked how are you going to fix it???? What goes in, what comes out….databases need to be custom to record right dataFocus of his time – spent on intl student programs – how UB has serviced them outside the classroom? Is UB doing enough outside the class…. career services is one; internships Wei Loon has a good team that helps with AWA record management, prospect management…..updating info is a constant : a struggle and an improvement..WL is now asking those who travel to share the contact info of those they meet --- anyone --- friends are key as well…20% of his time is travel….next trip to Japan and China – 75% of intl alumni are in China, Korea, India and Japan ..** UB 2020 Presidential Tour – 20 Cities in 20 Months….Beijing, HK and Tokyo…heading to Tokyo in April..The 2020 Tour Is President’s priority: ”We must follow up before the fire dies down” – He has leadership support, he is key staff member and he has a budget – now he needs volunteersUsed to manage the Intl School in Beijing --- parent school in SingI used IAR will be a new thing; UB has been doing it on a vol basis but now we are making it a priority --- formalizing efforts with the new post.
Structure of chapters/groups -- by-laws or governing rules may be best to establish if chapter will register with American Embassy as a formally recognized group -- more structure may be better with some more formal cultures – Korea, Japan-- less structure for other groups that will have a steering committee structure – many interested in leading or piloting a program – Australia, UK
BUILD SCALE AND STEWARD RESOURCES EFFECTIVELYWhen I was at Tufts, we joined with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; our peers at Columbia, Johns Hopkins and Georgetown joined us 7 years straight. Change is necessary and healthy, though, and the program was retired but relationships were maintained. Big benefits to build scale and provide your alumni added value – more networking with others, intellectual topics, tackling current events….being relevant in a busy place like London
Can you identify the four pillars of engagement in your most active international hubs? Is your strategy to develop and support admissions efforts, alumni communities, academic programs and partnerships, all in an effort to build a strong case for support? Can the “three A’s” – admissions, alumni, and academics – provide enough anecdotal evidence to institutional leadership, prospective students and prospective donors that they should support a strengthened presence in that region of the world?
Relationships take time!!Measure efforts at each stage – The 5 “I’s”: Identify, Invite, Inform, Invest and IMPACT
BUILD SCALE AND STEWARD RESOURCES EFFECTIVELYWhen I was at Tufts, we joined with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; our peers at Columbia, Johns Hopkins and Georgetown joined us 7 years straight. Change is necessary and healthy, though, and the program was retired but relationships were maintained. Big benefits to build scale and provide your alumni added value – more networking with others, intellectual topics, tackling current events….being relevant in a busy place like London
Christine/Gwen – let’s share this link during the webinar: -- Slide 11 and Slide 31http://www.academicimpressions.com/news/transitioning-international-students-your-donor-pipeline