THE ROLE OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN SOCIAL &

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PROFESSOR OLANIKE K. ADEYEMO, FCVSN, FAAS, FAS

DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR (RESEARCH, INNOVATION & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS)

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

OUTLINE• UNIVERSITY RANKING/RATING: THE PRIDE

• WHO IS AN ALUMNUS?

• IMPORTANCE OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

• ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT:WHY AND HOW?

• ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: STUDENTS, STAFF, ALUMNI

• ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: STAFF

• STRATEGIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

• KEY AREAS OF GROWTH

• SOME SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PRIORITIES

• ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENT

• OUR COMMITMENT TO BETTER ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

• ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: FINAL WORDS

UNIVERSITY RANKING/RATING: THE PRIDE

• Determined by combinations of various factors; most ranking organizations consider combinations of measures of:

• Historical reputation• Funding and endowment • Research excellence and/or influence, • Specialization expertise • Admissions, student options, Lecturer: Student ratio• Award numbers• Internationalization• Industrial linkage

WHO IS AN ALUMNUS/ALUMNA?•Alumnus, alumna, alumnae, alumni -graduate (s) of a school, college, or university.

•Students are “alumni-in-training”

•Alumni association is an organization whose members have attended the same institution and whose shared educational experience is the foundation of the mission, vision and set of goals of the association.

• It is about giving back; School Pride/Spirit: because we “owe” our post-university success to the education we received….It is in perception.

•Alumni are not our past - they are our future

IMPORTANCE OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION• Diminishing funding and institutional resources necessitates emphasis on utilizing

alumni as an advancement opportunity

• Alumni have deep and strong connection to their alma mater, its success and future sustainability

• Alumni represent a window to the past, embody evolution of the institution over time, and provide inspiration for the vision of the future

• Alumni associations enhance brand recognition of the institution

• It is therefore in the interest of University of Ibadan to ensure higher engagement levels among existing and future alumni for increased philanthropic funding and support of institutional goals

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: WHY AND HOW?Why Engage?: Great Undergraduate Experience

Alumnus is not a former student: a student is a future alumnus in the same community: it is important for alumni associations to assist student to benefit from the same experience •Great classes•Beautiful buildings and efficient services•High technology•Exceptional associations such as a Jaycee, Sigma etc

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: STUDENTSCreating the Best Experience for future alumni

• Volunteering- Adjunct-ship

• Networking (offering internships, mentoring/role modeling, or permanent jobs)

• Career counseling

• Student Affairs & Alumni Relations Collaboration

• Creating scholarship, financial aid and Endowments

Helps students understand the value of the alumni network and develop school Pride/spirit.

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: STAFF• Research and Development Collaboration: for solutions

• EVONIK, Germany and Grand Cereals etc

• Consultancy: Training, Project

• Enlist UI Staff to serve on advisory boards and as trustees of businesses

• Propose Continuing Education Programmes for Alumni

• Collaborate with UI Advancement Centre

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: ALUMNI•Acquire accurate alumni contact information, including those living abroad

•Actively seek to nominate Alumni for Jobs, Business opportunities, awards, to Serve on Boards and as trustees

•Help to build each other’s professional/international networks.

•Share expertise through speaking engagements, serving on each other’s Advisory Councils, Foundation and Boards of Directors.

STRATEGIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

• The Vice-Chancellor’s vision and mission document (2015-2020) has its vision statement as • “To be a research-intensive institution for the transformation of Nigeria as 21st century

knowledge-driven, rapidly globalizing economy” and the following mission:

i. To create a high-performance University, with outstanding teaching and learning facilities, that is locally relevant, nationally pre-eminent and globally competitive.

ii. To produce graduates who are eminently employable, entrepreneurial and well-connected within a professionally and intellectually stimulating environment.

STRATEGIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

• Staff • Students • Financial Sustainability through

Internally generated revenue• Physical and infrastructural

facilities• Information technology (IT)

facilities • Research output• Open distance learning• Gender mainstreaming• Internationalization

• Reform agenda• Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes• UI Alumni Association• UI rebranding at 70 (2018)• Corporate Social Responsibility• External advocacy initiatives to reposition the

Nigerian University System• Constitution of a lobbying group consisting of high-

ranking individuals to ensure that the University gets its fair share of funds from the Federal Government and its agencies.

Premised on16 development, improvement and/or promotion priorities:

KEY AREAS OF GROWTH

• Improved Web Presence: The University of Ibadan’s website portal is vibrant and is being constantly updated (1st in Nigeria, 9th in Africa-Webometric)

• Science Communication and Research uptake: UIRESDEV, CEI, RMO- science communicators

• Internationalization: Reform agenda towards fostering internationalization including: OIP, UIRF, CETL

• Promotion of Academic Excellence: conference support grants, competitive training and research grants, Stringent promotion criteria

• Town Meetings and Retreats: Employed for communicating, monitoring, evaluating and re-evaluating shared vision as stakeholders in the institution

SOME SPECIFIC NEEDS, PRIORITIES AND AREAS

• RESEARCH• Funds to support Targeted Research, development and Innovation: Agricultural, Energy,

Water, e.g.1. Commercialization of a secured radio-frequency based infant monitoring and management system

2. Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Ofiki Basin

3. Role of genetics, diet & Environment on Mathematic performance

• ITEM’S CAPACITY• Support our Podcast/Livestreaming Event for inaugural lectures and other events• Premier Television- Investment to generate revenue• UI has Cisco certification Training Licence – Capacity to be an IT Academy• ICT networks

INNOVATION HUB AT UI• Entrepreneurship and Development:

To give every student an opportunity to thrive- developing entrepreneurial culture

• Move our Patents forward to usable products

• Upgrading Libraries; electronic resources

INFRASTRUCTURE

•Solution to Electricity problem

•Modern Lecture Theatres

•Renovation of University Facilities

•Hostels-New and renovation

•Cutting-edge Research Equipment

FORGING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

•Governmental -Getting research into policy- DAWN Commission, Pushing policy briefs/UI agenda

•UI-INDUSTRY- (Contract research from public organizations and private firms)

•Venture Capitalists-To take innovations forward

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENT

• Relationship building and Alumni network/database management• Donate Personal Funds/through your Foundations• Use your network for Fund-raising• Advocacy and lobbying: On behalf of your Alma Mater• Providing advice to academic programs and administrative offices:

Feedbacks• Serving on Boards and Committees• Organizing events to project the UI brand

Our Commitment To Better Alumni Engagement

• Relationship should be reciprocal and mutually beneficial• Supporting Reunions, • Through UI Advancement Center: Online Communities,

Directories, networking opportunities etc, to stay connected to former lecturers or programs of special interest;

• and a stream of information about UI (magazines, newsletters etc).

•Feedback from alumni- How can we serve you better?

Alumni Association: Final WordsAccording to Prof. Luterre:

• U.S. institutions all have a strong culture of alumni involvement• Some French institutions have an alumni culture• African universities have no alumni culture

Alumni-University community relationships strengthen the bonds of the institution, instill pride, and motivate further future involvementOUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO SEE OUR GENERATIONS ATTEND GREATEST UI

It starts with a fully engaged Alumni