Having recently celebrated their first anniversary leading CASE Europe, the Co-Executive Directors, Pamela Agar and Caroline Davis, take a moment to reflect on their highlights from their first year and look ahead.
1. We’ve listened and learnt
Meeting so many CASE members from across the Europe region, we’ve gained insights into our community and the impact you make. We’re so grateful to everyone who has met us in person and online, and to all of you who have contributed ideas and feedback through surveys. From Edinburgh to Exeter and Bergen to Barcelona, we’ve been overwhelmed by your warmth, your enthusiasm and your openness.
2. We’ve been wowed by how our volunteers go above and beyond
CASE relies on volunteers who are willing to step out of their busy day jobs to support the development of others and to strengthen our profession. Whether delivering our programmes, guiding our strategy, building networks or analysing data, we have seen how our volunteers strive for excellence and are hugely grateful for their time and commitment. We loved hearing how our volunteers have gained from the experience.
Simon Fairbanks from the University of Nottingham described his contributions to the CASE Europe Annual Conference Newcomers’ Track as “A highlight of my career. A privilege and a pleasure.”
If you're interested in volunteering with CASE, please look out for new opportunities to step forward in 2024.
3. We’ve seen the opportunities in Europe
At a recent event in Bologna, alumni relations professionals from across continental Europe gathered to discuss the development of their profession, with no knowledge that CASE could support them. There are so many opportunities to extend CASE’s reach and impact within Europe, and we are considering our strategy carefully. In the near future, we can look forward to bringing CASE to the Baltic region for the first time in 2024 at our Nordic Summit and to sharing plans for our first Institute in continental Europe.
4. We know the value of connecting
We’d love our members to see CASE as their professional home, a place where they belong and feel supported. At regional gatherings we held in the spring in London and Edinburgh, and at our International Schools forum in Geneva in the autumn, we could see how much colleagues valued the chance to connect and learn from each other. We look forward to creating more opportunities for members to come together with peers, working with volunteers in our Continental Europe, Northern Europe and UK/Ireland Cabinets, who help us to build the community of CASE members in their respective geographical location.
5. We’ve sensed the power of convening
In November, the new Volunteer Executive Committee of our Universities’ Marketing Forum met for the first time. As committee members shared their ambitions for the network and ideas flowed, it was exciting to hear of the impact this group seeks to make in supporting marketing, student recruitment and communications leaders, and raising the profile of their achievements within and outside the sector. If you hold such a role, but have yet to hear about the Universities’ Marketing Forum, please get in touch with Christina Powis.
6. We’ve seen the benefits of benchmarking
One of our many highlights of this year’s CASE Europe Annual Conference was launching the CASE-More UK Philanthropy Report. This 10-year longitudinal study paints a vivid picture of success in the sector despite challenging contexts, and strongly evidences the need for sustained investment, leadership commitment and careful consideration of what makes your own institution unique.
Benchmarking really does build better insights for all of us and we’re so grateful to those of you who are currently finalising your submissions for the 2022-23 CASE Insights on Philanthropy (United Kingdom and Ireland) and the CASE Insights on Alumni Engagement surveys. As we look to 2024, we will be working to enable our colleagues across continental and northern Europe, as well as our schools members, to benefit from global benchmarking insights.
7. We’ve understood the challenges of recruiting talent
We’ve heard consistently about the challenges colleagues face bringing talented individuals into their teams and are committed to supporting you to build the pipeline. In January, we will be joining leaders from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and the IDPE to host a webinar, aimed at achieving greater recognition of careers in fundraising. Recruitment of our next cohort of CASE Graduate Trainees is underway and, if you could offer an opportunity to someone keen to develop their career in advancement, there’s still time to apply to be a host institution. Or, for those team members looking for an inspiring programme that provides practical tips about how to progress in an advancement role, our Institutes in early 2024 could offer just the motivating and rewarding experience needed.
8. We are committed to diversifying the profession
It’s clear when looking around the room at CASE events or meetings that the advancement profession does not reflect the diverse communities in the institutions we serve.
The CASE Insights on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (United Kingdom) survey revealed that, across all measures, the institutional perceptions and experiences of those from minority ethnic groups were less positive than white respondents and fewer individuals from minority ethnic groups saw a future for themselves in the advancement profession.
These are concerning findings and we are keen to understand more about the issues highlighted, seeking guidance from our Multi-Cultural Network. Our first Inclusion and Talent Management Conference will also offer opportunities to gain insights, shifting to an online format in May, which we hope will open up discussions to a wider audience.
9. We need your help recognising people who are exceptional
We’ve seen firsthand how many advancement professionals go the extra mile: people with incredible drive, who make things happen; people who innovate to achieve more for their institution; people who give time to mentor, coach and support others, and to build our profession. Through our CASE Europe Awards, we will put a spotlight on members of our community who have made an exceptional impact, whether early in their career or through significant service. Please take a moment over the festive season to reflect on individuals who deserve to be recognised and submit your nomination by 9 February 2024.
10. We've made time for our wellbeing
There is always more that can be done in this role and so many opportunities to pursue. It can feel overwhelming to have a to-do list that never ends, an experience which we imagine is familiar to many of you. We are fortunate that in our job share we can put gentle pressure on each other to maintain perspective and carve out time for our own wellbeing. Part of that approach is our shared challenge to fit in a run in every city where we stay with CASE. The photos of us in action are far from our best, but we share them in the spirit of openness and to possibly encourage you to follow suit, or join us in 2024.
