No one could have predicted the fallout from COVID. The experience of lockdown and the explosion of digital experiences that ensued have both had a huge effect on the way alumni relations professionals work and how our audiences react. But there are other ‘disruptors’ we need to contend with and perhaps more to come: the changing demographics of our alumni communities, the expectations of recent graduates for a more personalised relationship with their institutions, the increased reliance on technology and systems to deliver a seamless experience. All these ‘disruptors’ and more will require us to be ever more adaptive and agile and might even influence the sorts of people we hire into our teams. Please join us for this track opening thought leadership session where we’ll polish our crystal ball and tap into key insights from highly experienced colleagues based in the US, Canada, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

A dynamic and interactive session unpacking the powerful concept of 'glocal' - a hybrid approach to education brand building which maximises both global and local engagement and reputation to create a coherent brand narrative to enhance an institution's standing and impact.

We will explore good practice from within the education sector and in health and retail sectors to exemplify the approach and outline to tools delegates need to enrich their own institutions' brands.

Do you tune out when people are talking? Do you listen without judging? Do you create the space for people to feel heard? The reality is we hear less than 50% of what is being said in any conversation. When we listen and truly hear what is being said we build trust and a safe space for conversations to flourish.

Are these skills inherent or are they developed? How can you develop and enhance your listening skills to engage more effectively with your donors and others? Good listening practices can be learned and are the key to developing fresh insights and ideas that have impact and fuel success.

This session will touch on the theory and practice of effective listening, bust some myths and share some realities, warts and all, and will be interactive with stories and audience participation that will demonstrate how we can create a greater awareness of our own listening skills, through tried and tested coaching techniques.

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis leveled the field and alumni engagement went virtual and inclusive. For years, engaging international alumni included some form of virtual engagement: online meetings with volunteers, knowledge exchanges and career development. Alumni relations depended mostly on international chapter leaders to organise and maintain the relationship between alumni abroad and their alma mater. New approaches are evolving due to switching most alumni activities online during the crisis. What are some of the new approaches? Why should higher education continue to invest in virtual engagement? How do international alumni and their alma mater benefit from online community building? This interactive session explores answers to these questions by using results of academic research and successful practices in the field.

If a beautiful story is what you seek, dance this way and take a peek.
Together in tango, we will move, to discover what makes your content groove.
Grab my hand, I’ll lead the way, and show you how your brand can slay.
I want to make your mind shift, a twist of perspective will be my gift.
You know it’s no longer what you share, but that you convey it with care.
It’s time to step in a new direction and change your concept of perfection.
For it is always a story with soul, that will end up stealing the show.

Supporting your academics to build a social media profile not only enhances their research and international network but is also an important aspect for recruitment and rankings. In this co-presentation Dr Hilary Young (448 Studio) and Dr Sean Morrissey (University of Strathclyde) will discuss successful techniques and strategies that they have implemented to support and encourage academic social media communities that thrive.

From time to time all of us face conversations which we anticipate will be challenging. Whether it is a critical negotiation, or a meeting to give difficult feedback to a team member, they can feel uncomfortable and unpredictable.

So how do we prepare when we don’t know how it will go? The key is to focus less on what we will say, and more on our mindset, approach, intentions and objectives.

In this interactive workshop led by Sarah Langslow, a leadership development specialist and executive coach, we will explore how to prepare yourself effectively and show up powerfully.

During the session you will be introduced to a framework to set you up for success in challenging conversations, then have space to practise putting it into action through live role play. Attendees will leave with insights into their own blind spots as well as practical tools to take back into their leadership roles.

Mid-week plenary supported by Richmond Associates 

Events have changed forever. Habits have been broken and new ways of delivery have been established. In this new chapter of experimentation, institutions need to test and learn new approaches to enhance their event strategies, to meet evolving expectations and needs of their audiences (and event stakeholders).

Ask the experts in this audience session where we will tackle the burning questions every event professional faces - event strategy & design, virtual vs hybrid vs face-to-face, the use of technology, measuring success, gaining academic support and the role of the events manager. Using slido the audience will be able to vote and control the agenda of the session.

CASE and CEAC attendee institutions exist in a range of contexts in 2022 related to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Leaders and communities place EDI – both organically and by choices and decisions made – along a continuum of organisational priorities and are on unique journeys, pacing, and levels of action. Current and prospective members of our communities, as a result, experience varied levels of belonging and engagement.

As leaders, we both reflect our contexts and can shape our contexts forward. Where are our organisations, where are we, and how will we choose to lead? This interactive session will work through some key phases and arenas of EDI dynamics, consider paths for focus and action, and help us frame our EDI approach as leaders.

We will first use a structured framework to assess and understand our organisational environments, market pressures and demographic shifts, and leadership directions and signals. Second, what might the various operating, financial, community and/or values imperatives be for EDI action in our realm? And third, what does this mean for each of us in the year ahead, as leaders or emerging leaders in our institutions?

In this interactive working session led by Deb Taft, a leading organizational and talent executive and CEO of Lindauer Global, we will dive into EDI dynamics and contexts and map our leadership paths forward.