Alumni Preferences Survey 2008- The results so far...
THE Alumni Relations team is aiming to develop an Alumni Program that you, our alumni, will find useful and interesting. But rather than trying to guess which services, benefits and communications would most interest you, we decided to simply ask. The Alumni Preferences Survey was launched on 9 June to help us find out more about you and what you would like out of your Alumni Program. |
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What did you tell us about...?
Your personal interests
Your preferred benefits
How you'd like to get involved
How you'd like us to communicate
How are we responding?
By delivering a range of new Alumni Benefits
By delivering communications and events to suit Alumni Interests
Helping alumni who wish to Get Involved
Developing custom-made communications to suit your interests
What next?
What you told us about...
Alumni interests
Topics of interest
YOU indicated a broad range of interests, led by arts (36%), education (27%) and climate change (27%). Also of interest were health and wellbeing (24%), medical and health sciences research (26%), management and leadership (22%), sustainability and the environment (21%) and international affairs (21%). It is clear that, for many, your interests extend well beyond the faculty you graduated from and that you are keen to access information and programs around a wide variety of topics.
Places of interest
ABOUT a quarter of you have shown interest in connecting with alumni groups and associations (26%). And 72% would like to stay informed of alumni activities and events, not only in your home city but in other places around the globe. 83% of survey respondents wished to be kept informed of activities in Victoria. However, 15% are interested in London, 11% in the USA, 10% in Singapore and in New South Wales and 8% in China and Hong Kong.
Interest in further study and professional development
REFLECTING the keen focus among alumni on education, 58.7% of respondents indicated an interest in further study. Of these, 9% are interested in undergraduate study, 52% in post graduate study and 41% in short courses. More than 3700 people indicated an interest in professional development activities, including careers seminars and short courses. Nearly half of this number (48%) are also interested in receiving information about grants and scholarships that can support further study.
Alumni Benefits
AN OVERWHELMING majority of you (75.9%) are interested in taking advantage of alumni benefits. The most popular benefit listed in the survey was access to the library, including online journals (89%). Professional development and career seminars (76.4%), accessing an email forwarding address for life (57%) and accessing online networks (46%) followed in order of popularity. Results showed only 30% of alumni were aware of the information they could access through the Careers and Employment unit. Of these, only 30% indicated they had made use of this. These results highlight the need for us to better market this service, particularly to young alumni for whom this information is most relevant. The majority of those who used Careers and Employment were very happy with the level of service and the outcomes achieved.
Alumni Involvement
A DEDICATED group of alumni are already active members of the University community, volunteering time to mentoring or speaking with students, participating on boards and committees, employing graduates, coordinating reunions and helping to establish student prizes or awards on more than 4000 occasions. The survey has provided new insight into how many of you are currently engaged with the University and how you would like to be involved.
Alumni Communications
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE for alumni is currently received by 67% of survey participants. Only 24% of you receive a faculty postal publication. It was great to hear that 68% of respondents read all or most of Melbourne University Magazine, while 30% read all or most of faculty postal publications received. For e-communications, 64% indicated you receive GradNet, the monthly alumni e-news bulletin, and 13% receive a faculty-based e-newsletter. Readership of these email bulletins was 63% and 18% respectively.
What do you most want to receive? You told us that you most want to hear about alumni events and activities (72%), followed by information about your faculty (69%) and updates on university research and successes (56%).
How would you prefer to communicate with us? 75% of alumni told us they would prefer to be contacted about general alumni matters via email, 17% would prefer to be contacted via post and 8% via social networking sites.
How are we responding?
THE feedback you gave in this survey is much appreciated, and is already being used to shape our priorities and our alumni communications and programming.
We have already ensured that as an alumnus you are given easy access to benefits currently available, by:
- Providing 2300 alumni survey respondents with an email for life;
- Advising 1800 alumni of future study opportunities;
- Coordinating communications to 2100 alumni from alumni associations and groups;
- Tailoring invitations to alumni events in accordance to your area/s of interest; and
- Subscribing alumni for whom we have email addresses to “GradNet’, which delivers a range of benefits and special offers each issue.
We are also proud to announce the following New Benefits for alumni
VISIT our New Benefits page to find out more about the following special offers for alumni:
- Online journal access for Alumni;
- Special discount for Melbourne University Sports Centre memberships;
- Your chance to buy award-winning boutique wines at discounted prices and support the University's research and education into sustainable food production; and
- Discounted membership to the Robin Boyd Foundation, entitling members to attend and host special events at iconic architectural premises.
To view the existing range of alumni benefits, services and information, please visit www.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/benefits.
A range of additional alumni benefits will be released in the months ahead. If you would like to offer a benefit to alumni through your own connections, please contact us at alumni-office@unimelb.edu.au.
What are we doing to cater to your interests?
WE have trialled some communications to alumni based on indicated interests:
- Those passionate about climate change were invited to a lecture by Nobel Prize winner Professor David Karoly
- Business/investment alumni were invited to a lecture by alumna and Australian Business Council Executive Director, Katie Lahey
- Arts enthusiasts were invited to alumni tours of the University’s Potter Gallery.
- Alumni with interests in Sydney, London, China, USA, Brisbane and India were invited to events in these locations.
The response to these has been highly favourable, as evidenced by one of the many comments we have already received:"This is just the type of info I have been wanting" (response from an alumnus invited to Professor Karoly's climate change lecture). We see these targeted invitations and programs as the way forward. University programming for 2009 – at central, faculty and alumni group levels - will take into account your key interests and will reflect these.
The business and social networking value of worldwide alumni networks is also recognised by your interest in alumni groups. This year we've responded to this interest by working with alumni to establish groups in Brisbane, Perth and Toronto.
How can we help you get involved?
MANY alumni have indicated a desire to become involved with the University in various ways. As a result of understanding your needs we are:
- Coordinating a program to train alumni as tour leaders and deliver tours of the University campus.
To become a tour guide and/or participate in a tour of campus contact Alumni Relations on +61 3 8344 1751.
- Expanding the number of mentoring opportunities for alumni
- Working with Careers and Employment, faculties and other units to coordinate speaking opportunities for alumni to current and potential students and fellow alumni.
In 2009 we will focus on involving alumni in reunion activity, and look forward to expanding this program with the assistance of the many people who are interested in doing so.
We will also be holding a special event in the coming months to acknowledge the input of all alumni who have volunteered their time and expertise to date.
Communications made to suit your interests
WE are changing the way we communicate with you.
- You will now receive invitations to events in all the locations you selected, and not just where your home address is listed.
- We’ve also updated your personal details so that when we communicate it goes to the correct address with correct personal information.
- In 2009 we will be revamping monthly e-news bulletin GradNet and delivering to you a new tailored e-newsletter that delivers content based on your key area/s of interest.
- We will also work to deliver information wherever possible in the format that you prefer.
What next?
THE SURVEY will remain open until the end of 2008. We encourage you to forward the link to this report and recommend the survey to fellow alumni, so that they too can access the increasing range of benefits and services being provided. We will also be mailing a copy of the survey to some alumni to reach those who have yet to respond directly.
We will continue our program development in 2009, and will also establish an online preferences portal, where alumni will be able register or change their personal preferences. We also look forward to providing you with a final report upon the completion of the survey, with further statistical updates and announcements regarding the University’s responses to your valued feedback.
We are, as always, happy to receive your feedback in relation to the survey and subsequent actions and activities. You can email alumni-office@unimelb.edu.au or call us on +61 3 8344 1751.
