EMA Delegates Participate in UNICA Alumni Relations Seminar: Strategic Insights for Network-Based Alumni Engagement

Bucharest, November 2025 – The Erasmus Mundus Students & Alumni Association (EMA AISBL) participated in the UNICA Alumni Relations Seminar, held on 11-12 November 2025 at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE). The event brought together alumni relations professionals from across Europe to explore how alumni communities can serve as strategic partners for institutional development, employability, and international engagement.

EMA representatives José Luis Rodríguez Hernández (PRNet Manager) and Maria Aliah Reyes (Prgramme Representative EMMBIOME and Administrative Assistant) attended the event contributed to the seminar's panel discussions, sharing insights on how international programme networks engage alumni across borders, disciplines, and career stages - offering a complementary perspective to traditional university-based alumni models.

From Ceremonial to Strategic: Rethinking Alumni Relations

The seminar emphasized that alumni relations represent a strategic pillar for universities and networks, connecting education quality, employability, reputation, and communication between institutions and society. Speakers from CERN, the University of Alcalá, the Marie Curie Alumni Association, and EMA explored how alumni function as mentors, industry connectors, policy advocates, and authentic ambassadors.

A recurring theme was the importance of asking "so what?" after every alumni activity-moving beyond event attendance metrics to measure tangible outcomes such as job placements, mentorship relationships, curriculum improvements, and institutional partnerships.

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Key Insights for Network-Based Alumni Engagement

Several themes emerged that resonate strongly with EMA's mission and structure:

1. Alumni as Quality Indicators: Active alumni engagement serves as one of the strongest indicators of programme quality, often more meaningful than traditional rankings. For EMA, this reinforces the value of maintaining strong connections with both alumni and Programme Representatives (PRs) as a measure of trust and programme health.

   
   

2. Digital-First Communities: All presenting institutions demonstrated that digital platforms enable continuity, scalability, and measurable engagement. CERN showcased a role-based digital community with engagement badges, job boards, and analytics- an approach that aligns with EMA's ongoing digital infrastructure improvements for PRNet and alumni services.

   
   

3. Mentorship and Employability: More than 70% of jobs are found through networks rather than job advertisements. The seminar highlighted mentorship as essential for career development, particularly in helping translate academic achievements into language employers understand. This is especially relevant for Erasmus Mundus graduates, whose joint degrees and mobility experiences require clear communication to potential employers.

   
   

4. Practical Skills and Industry Collaboration: Data from the host university revealed that while graduates demonstrate strong theoretical knowledge, employers consistently request more practical experience, internships, and industry collaboration. EMA can facilitate these connections by mobilizing alumni networks to offer workshops, real-world projects, and internship opportunities.

   
   

5. Recognition and Value Exchange: Successful alumni engagement requires clear value for both parties. Recognition systems, accessible volunteer roles, and tangible benefits encourage sustained participation. As one presenter emphasized through the "Tom Sawyer effect," engagement becomes attractive when roles are framed as meaningful, selective, and impactful rather than purely administrative.

   
   

Change Management: Challenging Beliefs, Not Just Behaviours

A workshop on organizational change management offered a powerful framework: sustainable change does not start with actions but with beliefs, as beliefs drive behaviours and behaviours drive results. When alumni engagement falls short, the solution isn't necessarily more events or communication- it's examining the underlying assumptions that shape how we work.

For network-based organizations like EMA, this means questioning beliefs such as "volunteers won't respond unless we call them," "we need more staff before we can improve," or "renewal reminders must always follow the same format." Digital transformation, automation, and clear role definition can achieve more with existing resources by redesigning processes rather than simply adding tasks.

Alumni as Bridges to Society

Alumni working in companies and institutions can explain complex concepts like joint degrees and Bologna reforms, helping employers understand the value of European mobility and credentials. This bridge function is particularly important for Erasmus Mundus alumni, who can advocate for the recognition and value of international master's programmes in diverse professional contexts.

Looking Ahead

The UNICA seminar reinforced several directions for EMA's continued development:

• Structured engagement systems: Clear roles, stable processes, and dedicated capacity are essential for sustainable alumni relations

  
  

• Early engagement: Treating students as future alumni from day one creates continuity and stronger long-term connections

  
  

• Impact measurement: Tracking concrete outcomes—mentorship matches, job placements, programme improvements—demonstrates value to stakeholders

  
  

• Data management: Building GDPR-compliant databases with proper consent mechanisms during studies is foundational

  
  

• Internal alignment: Alumni work succeeds when it's seen as a shared responsibility across governance structures rather than isolated activity

EMA extends its gratitude to UNICA and the Bucharest University of Economic Studies for the invitation to participate and for creating a valuable space for cross-institutional learning on alumni engagement strategies.

Find more information about the programme of the event, and biographies of speakers & chair

For more information about EMA's alumni and Programme Representative networks, visit [EMA Programme Representatives] or contact : Students.Alumni@em-a.eu