Alumni networks: they’re vast, influential and ripe with possibilities.
In an effort to build a vibrant alumni community amongst thousands of graduates worldwide, The UWI developed UWI Connect in 2016, but the social media platform has recently been revitalised. Julian Henry, Programme Manager of the Entrepreneurship Unit describes it as “one of the main tools used by The UWISTA to foster meaningful engagement and collaboration between The UWISTA and its alumni”.
First implemented by The Office of Institutional Advancement and Internationalisation (OIAI), it very quickly became a key digital interactive platform for alumni.
Currently, it is overseen by a team led by Henry, and boasts 1,800 active users.
“The UWISTA has graduated well over 80,000 persons, and we plan to encourage as many of these graduates as possible to join.” Afiya Francis of Alumni & Study Tours at OIAI explains that the team accesses a legacy database created by the previous OIAI leadership. It’s composed of all UWI graduates, and they are kept in the loop through newsletters and emails. Third year students are also encouraged to join to pave the way for their involvement in the site when they graduate.
With an abundance of social media sites available, Henry highlights the benefits of a medium customised for them, one that features a type of versatility that is not found on other sites.
“We’ve tailored it in terms of the branding, design and look, feel and functionality, so that it is more specific to our needs,” he says.
Henry, Francis and their team also diligently monitor UWI Connect to support users, providing guidance, and encouraging engagement and connection.
Alumna Koscina Sookram-Quintal appreciates the information she can access: “I am able to celebrate the accomplishments of other UWI alumni and support the work of students and academics by participating in research surveys and attending informative webinars.”
Sookram-Quintal has good reason to value UWI Connect: it helped her find employment.“Through the use of the platform, I became aware of the job opportunity for business manager of a commercial initiative to establish an optical centre, which is a project of the Optometry Unit in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.”
Henry and Francis found that the site is proving to be a good job-hunting resource. After the team began promoting the benefits of UWI Connect, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) registered on the platform to post vacancies, and are actively recruiting potential hires.
“That has snowballed into other organisations expressing interest,” Francis said. Alumni with businesses can also promote their enterprises on the site.
The platform is also a showcase for The UWI’s key projects, events and opportunities. Alumnus Judha Marslier calls UWI Connect a hub where he can stay in the loop, saying it is “one place I can be updated, which is much more convenient and user-friendly”.
“It’s important to reacquaint with those key relationships,” says Henry. He also points out that it is a good medium for alumni to reconnect with old acquaintances, many of whom have become significant industry players. Marslier applauds the ability to see users with similar interests and career pursuits, and the site’s mentor matching feature. “Sometimes it’s difficult to find persons that can guide you in areas you’d like to develop, and it’s warming to have an avenue to access it.”
The platform is also a medium for alumni to give back.
“The UWI delivers significant value and service to the region through its educational excellence, innovative research and leadership training. These high standards however, require critical financial support, particularly for the restoration and repairs of its key infrastructural asset,” Henry explains.
“UWI Connect is one of the key platforms to communicate UWI’s achievements as well as its urgent needs to alumni, and to attract conscientious alumni to come forward to support.”
To make this easier, the site features an online payment system where users can make online contributions toward campus development.
In the end, the team is striving to make UWI Connect an animated, valuable and enduring online community.
Francis notes, “We don’t want to just say, ‘hey, you’ve graduated, and that’s the end of our relationship’. We want to continue their relationship after they’ve crossed this stage.”
You can find UWI Connect at https://uwiconnect.com
