Jun 18 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
ALUMNI: THE EX IS NOT FORGOTTEN
STAYING IN TOUCH, LONG AFTER YOU HAVE PARTED WAYS, IS DIFFICULT.
THEREFORE, WHAT MOTIVATES THE ALUMNI TO STILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTITUTE APART FROM NOSTALGIA? ANURAG JHANWAR SHARES SOME INSIGHTS
THEREFORE, WHAT MOTIVATES THE ALUMNI TO STILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTITUTE APART FROM NOSTALGIA? ANURAG JHANWAR SHARES SOME INSIGHTS
Education has always been an industry more impacted by word-of-mouth than advertising.
One of the important stakeholders in any institution's reputation is its alumni; they are considered brand ambassadors, and their successes in their respective fields add immensely to their alma mater's brand.This is especially relevant to Indian business schools, with their uber-competitive environment.It has observed it is only the highergraded business schools (graded A** and above) that derive tangible benefits from their alumni engagement programmes.The benefits range from strong recruitment relationships, to alumni sponsorship for student ventures as well as research chairs.
Globally, the alumni networks of schools such as Harvard or Stanford are available to students and faculty members alike across countries. Of course, the vintage and highlyestablished nature of their programmes helps.
HOW,THEN, CAN THE NEWER PROGRAMMES START BUILDING THIS MUCH-REQUIRED PEDIGREE?
HERE ARE SOME WAYS FOR SCHOOLS TO BETTER HARNESS THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR ALUMNI NETWORKS: CREATE A STRONG COMMUNITY,WHICH CONTINUES TO BENEFIT GRADUATES Some of the world's most reputed Bschools offer online career forums, continuing education classroom programmes or webinars, alumni clubs and opportunities to interface with faculty members for guidance or knowledge-sharing.Their websites also offer directory services where one can reach any registered alumni in a given city or organisation. Similar best practices followed by some IIMs and other top institutes include a job forum for alumni, functional clubs and life-long learning avenues for alumni.
KEEP A TRACK OF ALUMNI CAREER GRAPHS Harvard, for example, gives out alumni achievement awards. Other global business schools frequently celebrate achievers' performance during annual meets or in annual publications. By building relationships with companies where their alumni are doing well, institutes can get better industry projects and faculty interaction opportunities for present students. Most top institutes thrive on deep relationships with recruiters. While older business schools have alumni in senior (and therefore influential) positions, newer programmes need to actively track ex-students who are outperforming their peers. Such alumni, even if not senior, can help build a stronger relationship with the company.
INVOLVE ALUMNI IN STUDENT ADMISSIONS ADMISSIONS Many global business schools get their alumni in India to speak with Indian students eligible for admissions to influence their choice of institute. One Southern institute has a link on its alumni page where students can be referred.This practice can also work well for newer programmes or institutes in non-metro locations in India, which would want the best students to choose them over other programmes. Also, for institutes attempting to improve their pan-India diversity, having alumni members vouch for their programme is of immense help.
Most of our top-graded institutes have alumni members in their interview panels as experts.This makes sense for institutes, which have a large pool of applicants to select from.While newer programmes may not have as much choice in terms of applications, alumni members checking the potential industry-readiness of candidates is a healthy practice.
MAKE STUDENTS STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING Students need to hold themselves responsible for institutiondevelopment right from the time they are on campus. Many global business schools actively encourage alumni to sponsor campus events, entrepreneurial ventures and research cells. One Mumbai-based institute has a unique culture of a governmentaffiliated programme run entirely by students, in which the latter even has a say in the choice of visiting faculty.
Student accountability is therefore an area of improvement if they are to become responsible alumni.
The author is director, CRISIL Education Gradings Education Gradings Agree with the author? Tell us at www.ItsMyAscent.com/CareerAdvice
One of the important stakeholders in any institution's reputation is its alumni; they are considered brand ambassadors, and their successes in their respective fields add immensely to their alma mater's brand.This is especially relevant to Indian business schools, with their uber-competitive environment.It has observed it is only the highergraded business schools (graded A** and above) that derive tangible benefits from their alumni engagement programmes.The benefits range from strong recruitment relationships, to alumni sponsorship for student ventures as well as research chairs.
Globally, the alumni networks of schools such as Harvard or Stanford are available to students and faculty members alike across countries. Of course, the vintage and highlyestablished nature of their programmes helps.
HOW,THEN, CAN THE NEWER PROGRAMMES START BUILDING THIS MUCH-REQUIRED PEDIGREE?
HERE ARE SOME WAYS FOR SCHOOLS TO BETTER HARNESS THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR ALUMNI NETWORKS: CREATE A STRONG COMMUNITY,WHICH CONTINUES TO BENEFIT GRADUATES Some of the world's most reputed Bschools offer online career forums, continuing education classroom programmes or webinars, alumni clubs and opportunities to interface with faculty members for guidance or knowledge-sharing.Their websites also offer directory services where one can reach any registered alumni in a given city or organisation. Similar best practices followed by some IIMs and other top institutes include a job forum for alumni, functional clubs and life-long learning avenues for alumni.
KEEP A TRACK OF ALUMNI CAREER GRAPHS Harvard, for example, gives out alumni achievement awards. Other global business schools frequently celebrate achievers' performance during annual meets or in annual publications. By building relationships with companies where their alumni are doing well, institutes can get better industry projects and faculty interaction opportunities for present students. Most top institutes thrive on deep relationships with recruiters. While older business schools have alumni in senior (and therefore influential) positions, newer programmes need to actively track ex-students who are outperforming their peers. Such alumni, even if not senior, can help build a stronger relationship with the company.
INVOLVE ALUMNI IN STUDENT ADMISSIONS ADMISSIONS Many global business schools get their alumni in India to speak with Indian students eligible for admissions to influence their choice of institute. One Southern institute has a link on its alumni page where students can be referred.This practice can also work well for newer programmes or institutes in non-metro locations in India, which would want the best students to choose them over other programmes. Also, for institutes attempting to improve their pan-India diversity, having alumni members vouch for their programme is of immense help.
Most of our top-graded institutes have alumni members in their interview panels as experts.This makes sense for institutes, which have a large pool of applicants to select from.While newer programmes may not have as much choice in terms of applications, alumni members checking the potential industry-readiness of candidates is a healthy practice.
MAKE STUDENTS STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING Students need to hold themselves responsible for institutiondevelopment right from the time they are on campus. Many global business schools actively encourage alumni to sponsor campus events, entrepreneurial ventures and research cells. One Mumbai-based institute has a unique culture of a governmentaffiliated programme run entirely by students, in which the latter even has a say in the choice of visiting faculty.
Student accountability is therefore an area of improvement if they are to become responsible alumni.
The author is director, CRISIL Education Gradings Education Gradings Agree with the author? Tell us at www.ItsMyAscent.com/CareerAdvice
