In this session, LUT University (Finland) and Vilnius University (Lithuania) will share their experiences hosting two major alumni events: the LUT Homecoming Day and the VU Alumni Festival'24.

The LUT Homecoming Day occurred on April 13, 2024, at the Lappeenranta campus and attracted over 2,000 alumni. This major alumni event was about showing our appreciation and fostering cooperation—to strengthen our alumni's role as active members of LUT University. This breakout session presents the story of our first Homecoming Day.

The VU Alumni Festival'24 brings together over 2,000 Vilnius University alumni. It marked the first large-scale alumni gathering in years, with the primary goal of welcoming alumni back to the University, rekindling connections, and highlighting the importance of the alumni community to Vilnius University.

During this session, we will delve into:
• The goals and starting points set for each event
• Practical strategies for marketing to alumni
• Key elements of the on-campus experiences
• Lessons learned and key takeaways from organizing large-scale events

We will also share practical insights, including the do's and don'ts of planning major alumni events, best practices, and the challenges we faced along the way. Our aim is to provide valuable lessons from our successes and mistakes so that attendees can avoid common pitfalls and build even more successful alumni engagement initiatives.

Join us to gain actionable insights and inspiration for creating impactful and memorable alumni experiences!