From 11 to 15 May 2026, the University of Alicante (Spain) hosted the ALMEX Project Study Visit #2, bringing together representatives of the project consortium for an intensive week of knowledge exchange, strategic discussions, and exploration of European practices in alumni engagement and university development. Organised within Work Package 3 (WP3) – Strategic Development for Alumni Relations: Insights, Metrics, and Action Plans – the study visit formed part of Task T3.1 dedicated to study visits to European partner institutions.
The study visit at the University of Alicante united representatives of ALMEX partner institutions – the Ukrainian Catholic University, Sumy State University, Zaporizhzhia National University, the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, and the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance. Bringing together both European and Ukrainian experiences, the consortium created a dynamic environment for discussing alumni engagement not simply as a communication activity, but as a strategic dimension of modern university development.
Held at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Alicante, the programme offered participants a multidimensional perspective on how alumni relations can become a strategic instrument for institutional sustainability, graduate employability, fundraising, and long-term university development.
The visit opened with institutional welcomes from Antonio Fuster, Vice-Dean for Internationalization of the Faculty of Economics, Carolina Madeleine, Director of OGPI, and Esther Gallego, Director of the Employability and Social Inclusion Unit. Their addresses set the tone for a week focused not merely on networking, but on critically examining how universities can create meaningful, lasting relationships with graduates.
Throughout the week, participants explored the University of Alicante’s alumni ecosystem through a series of thematic sessions dedicated to alumni governance, employability, inclusion, digital alumni management, fundraising, and lifelong learning. Particular attention was given to the structure and strategic vision of the Alumni UA programme, presented by Sara Vicens, including the organisation of the university’s Alumni Gala as a tool for community-building and alumni visibility.
One of the central dimensions of the study visit focused on employability and career acceleration. Sessions led by representatives of the Labour Market Observatory and the Employability Orientation team demonstrated how the University of Alicante integrates career services, labour market intelligence, and entrepreneurship support into its broader alumni strategy. Case studies involving NTT Data and Caja Rural Central illustrated how partnerships with employers can contribute to graduate career development and strengthen university-industry cooperation.
The programme also highlighted the importance of inclusion and international engagement in alumni work. Discussions on the W-RISE project and the round table dedicated to engaging Ukrainian graduates abroad created space for reflection on how universities can maintain connections with displaced students and alumni communities during periods of geopolitical uncertainty and social transformation. Contributions from FUNDEUN, Amigos de Ucrania, and participants involved in the W-RISE piloting phase enriched the dialogue with practical perspectives rooted in international solidarity and civic engagement.
Another significant thematic strand addressed lifelong learning and alumni engagement as interconnected processes rather than separate institutional functions. Participants examined how continuous education initiatives can strengthen alumni loyalty while simultaneously supporting professional reskilling and societal adaptability. The session led by Teresa Torregrosa from CFPUA demonstrated how alumni relations increasingly extend beyond graduation and become part of a university’s lifelong educational mission.
The study visit further explored fundraising models and digital transformation in alumni management. Sessions dedicated to Mecenazgo UA and partner fundraising practices encouraged participants to reflect on philanthropy culture, alumni giving, and sustainable engagement mechanisms within European higher education institutions. A specialised workshop on digital alumni management ecosystems covered CRM architecture, data segmentation, communication funnels, and GDPR compliance, underscoring the growing importance of data-informed, ethically managed alumni relations.
Importantly, the ALMEX study visits are not intended solely as observational activities. According to the project guidelines, participants are expected to actively document practices, analyse transferability to Ukrainian higher education institutions, and contribute evidence-based insights to the forthcoming Best Practices in Alumni Engagement Report. The Alicante programme therefore functioned simultaneously as a professional development opportunity, a collaborative research environment, and a strategic planning platform for the consortium.
The final working sessions in Alicante focused on translating the acquired insights into concrete implementation pathways for future ALMEX work packages. Discussions centered on how observed practices could realistically support institutional development within Ukrainian universities, particularly in alumni governance, digital engagement, mentorship structures, employability support, and fundraising strategies.
Beyond the formal sessions, the study visit also fostered intercultural dialogue and consortium cohesion. Campus tours, networking activities, the Alumni Gala 2026, and the cultural programme in Alicante created opportunities for deeper institutional exchange and informal collaboration among partners.
As ALMEX continues to build university capacity for sustainable graduate engagement, the study visit to the University of Alicante demonstrated how alumni relations can evolve from a primarily communicative function into a strategic institutional ecosystem connecting graduates, students, employers, communities, and universities themselves. The experience offered consortium members not only practical examples of European good practice but also a shared vision of alumni engagement as a driver of resilience, internationalisation, and long-term institutional sustainability within higher education.