Samenvatting

This thesis explores the subject of alumni relations with the aim of
demonstrating how alumni relations can be of benefit to universities. It also goes into the difficulties that could present themselves with alumni relations both in the shorter and the longer term. This is supported by the testimony of practitioners in this field.
Maintaining contact with alumni of the university can be achieved by making use of a number of resources at the disposal of the university, including the connections which the University has with its alumni. Alumni can assist the University in, for example, the areas of advertising, quality control, mentoring, providing internships and guest lecturing. This thesis goes on to determine how alumni relations fits into the plans, goals and mission statement of The Hague University, being situated in The Hague, the " International City of Peace and Justice". It is made clear how an investment in alumni relations would match with the goals, plans and
mission statement of The Hague University. It also points out why the
necessary attention has not been forthcoming. Rather surprisingly alumni relations has been omitted from these plans.
Interviews with the staff of The Hague University with alumni relations credentials give insight into why alumni relations has not had high priority in the past, and what difficulties might lie ahead as a result of this. This thesis provides an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats concerning alumni relations for The Hague University. This leads to suggesting a number of communication tools which could be used to build on the strengths and exploit the opportunities. These tools build upon the importance of information and communication with alumni. However, to carry
out alumni activities through, for instance, workshops and meetings, staff need to be properly trained. The communication tools also help to give more certainty that the alumni activities undertaken by The Hague University will be effective, in so far that they are both desirable and useful for alumni.This thesis concludes by suggesting that in order for alumni relations to be fully exploited, more emphasis needs to be placed on alumni relations centrally within The Hague University. This is in order to coordinate the activities within the departments with which the alumni has the principal
bond. This will cement the belief that The Hague University can still
achieve as much, and perhaps more, with alumni relations as has been
demonstrated by universities in other parts of the world.