How Can Universities Value-Add Their Alumni?
In retrospect, much of my worldview today — as a founder, a learner, a builder — was shaped during my university years. I wrote my first lines of code there. I learned how to learn. I began to explore what it meant to build a career.
That time has passed. I’m now navigating the wild terrain of the business world, and sometimes, I find myself wondering: could there be a space I can return to — not for nostalgia, but for re-alignment?
Too often, alumni engagement starts with an ask — a donation, a favor, a referral. But what if universities flipped the equation and asked: how can we give more to our alumni before asking for more from them?
Today, I write as an alumnus. Here’s what I believe matters:
1. See Alumni as Ongoing Citizens, Not Past Students
Alumni aren’t just defined by their job titles — they are innovators, builders, mentors, and connectors. And more than that, they are problem solvers — in education, in robotics, in policy, in every sector.
“Know me not just as a founder, but as a problem solver — with the guts to fail and the curiosity of a child.”
Universities should invite alumni into the institution’s future, not just celebrate their past. Let them shape conversations, mentor students, contribute to curriculum design, and collaborate on innovation. That’s how you turn passive alumni into co-creators of the institution’s next chapter.
2. Guide Alumni Where It Matters
Newsletters and event invites are fine — but what alumni really need are better conversations, better insights, and a space to reflect.
Most of us are building careers, managing transitions, and trying to find meaning in what we do. Sometimes, we just want a space that reminds us who we once aspired to be — a space that feels safe for introspection, renewal, and purpose.
Could universities offer that again? Not through transactional programming, but by designing intellectually nourishing, emotionally honest, and community-driven experiences?
Alumni don’t need to be “kept engaged.” They want to stay inspired.
3. Invite to be a part of, not apart from.
As alumni, we want to feel connected to something bigger — a cause and a community that continues to grow and shape the future. While I have received much from the university, I also seek to give back — to pay it forward in a meaningful way.
One of the most powerful ways to do this is through mentoring.
Mentoring offers more than an activity; it offers a new identity. It transforms me from a former student into a guide, a giver, and someone who can make a real difference.
This role reconnects me with the purpose and passion that first brought me to campus — the chance to solve problems and contribute to something greater than myself.
Among the many ways to engage alumni, mentoring stands out as deeply rewarding and creates a strong sense of belonging effectively.
Thoughts
Mentoring programs and ecosystems aren’t easy to build or sustain. They require high-touch, ongoing effort and genuine relationship-building — they’re labor-intensive by nature.
But as a technologist, I firmly believe technology can help unlock this value at scale.
The right platforms and tools can connect mentors and mentees, facilitate meaningful interactions, and reduce administrative overhead — all while preserving the human element that makes mentorship so powerful.
So yes, mentorship is challenging — but with thoughtful technology and the right partner, it’s absolutely achievable and worth investing in.
References
Building an instructional Design Alumni Support Community