Romanian universities need stronger structures, practices, and competencies to build sustainable relationships with their alumni. The Alumni Center Capacity Building Program and the Alumni Relations Institute support universities in developing their institutional capacity to engage alumni strategically—as relevant partners in the academic, professional, and philanthropic development of the institution.
CONTEXT
In many Romanian universities, alumni relations are still at an early stage, often limited to isolated initiatives, without dedicated structures, clear strategies, or sufficient resources. At the same time, international university experience shows that alumni can play a crucial role in strengthening institutional reputation, developing partnerships, supporting students, and mobilizing resources.
To address this need, the Romanian-American Foundation launched a learning and development pathway dedicated to partner universities. The Alumni Capacity Building Program, organized together with CIEE and two universities in North Carolina, offers exposure to international models, best-practice examples, and opportunities for strategic reflection. The Alumni Relations Institute, organized in partnership with CASE, deepens these efforts through an applied professional development and peer-learning program at the European level.
STRATEGY
The program is designed as a complementary two-step process:
- Alumni Center Capacity Building Program supports university teams in understanding the strategic role of alumni relations and exploring effective institutional models through training sessions, study visits, and experience exchange.
- Alumni Relations Institute provides participants with practical tools for developing alumni relations, with a focus on strategy, communication, engagement, volunteering, fundraising, and institutional partnerships.
Together, the two components aim to strengthen universities’ capacity to build sustainable alumni functions that are integrated into institutional development priorities and connected to international communities of practice.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- University teams better prepared to develop and coordinate alumni relations
- Clearer institutional strategies and plans for alumni engagement
- Increased capacity of universities to create dedicated alumni structures and initiatives
- A network of practitioners from Romanian universities connected to European and international best practices
- Stronger relationships between universities and their alumni, benefiting students and institutional development