LSE ALUMNI
ALUMNI SURVEY Over the summer, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations undertook its first comprehensive alumni survey for seven years as part of Professor Craig Calhoun’s Strategic Review. What we wanted to find out We wanted to learn more about how you, our alumni, perceive the School, how you feel about your relationship with the School, and what you think about the alumni relations programme and how we communicate with you. We particularly sought to understand your feelings about your student experience, where your affinities with LSE stem from and how we can reflect this in our alumni relations programmes and our communications with you.
How we did it The survey was undertaken by Canadian research firm Engagement Analysis Inc. who has conducted similar surveys for many other UK universities. The survey asked you to respond to a series of statements covering your student experience, how you feel about LSE today, and which elements of the alumni relations programme you find of value.
What we discovered We contacted a total of 103,758 alumni by email and post between July and September to ask you to participate in the survey, generating 6,383 responses from alumni in 25 countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa – a six per cent response rate.
While we are still analysing the broader results of the survey, there were some elements that we can start to feed into our activities immediately, including: • 41 per cent of respondents would be likely to participate in alumni activities in their geographical area, making the activities of our alumni groups around the world and our support of them of great importance. • The most popular type of information of interest to respondents was academic and research updates (at 67 per cent), followed by alumni and university events (at 63 per cent) and stories about notable LSE figures (at 55 per cent). Expect to see more of these in our future communications. • Laptops and PCs are the most popular devices for accessing LSE communications, but with many of you using tablets and smartphones, we know that it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that our communications to you are accessible across all platforms. • 69 per cent of you told us that your preferred means of receiving information from the School was through LSE Connect, with 52 per cent also favouring Alumni Echo. 38 per cent of you would prefer to receive LSE Connect via email. Sign up to receive yours at www.alumni.lse.ac.uk/mypreferences Thank you to all of you who took part for your invaluable feedback.
Alumni Leadership Forum Over a rainy weekend in September, 56 alumni representing 34 alumni groups and networks and Alumni Association committees returned to campus to attend the 2013 LSE Alumni Association Leadership Forum. Starting with informal drinks on the evening of Thursday 12 September, newcomers and veterans met at the George IV pub to relive their student days and memories. The following morning, attendees convened in the New Academic Building and, hosted by outgoing chair Professor Jeffrey Golden, embarked upon two days of School updates, Alumni Association reports, networking and knowledge sharing. Highlights included an opening talk by LSE Director Professor Craig Calhoun on School strategy; presentations on LSE’s digital strategy, the campus development programme and customised Executive Education programmes; a Volunteers Thank You reception hosted by Provost and Deputy Director Professor Stuart Corbridge; and a Gala Dinner at the Waldorf Hotel. Find out more about what happened at the Forum, view photographs from the event and watch a video interview with new Alumni Association executive chair Patrick Mears (LLB 1979) at www.alumni.lse.ac.uk/ forum2013
Newly elected Alumni Association officers (2013-15) Executive committee Chair: Patrick Mears (LLB 1979), UK Vice chair: Greg Sullivan (LLM 2004), Canada Vice chair: Ingrid Tharasook (MSc Local Economic Development 2008), UK
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LSE Connect
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Winter 2013
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Lifelong contacts: George Wetz (BSc International Relations 2009), UK
Subcommittee chairs
Mentoring: Milan Makwana (MSc Industrial Relations and Personnel Management 1997), UK
Communications: Punitha Aranha (BSc International History 2002), UK
Regional ambassadors: Chris Bodell (MSc Accounting and Finance 1999), US
Group establishment, recognition and obligations: Noemi Blasutta (LLB 2008), US
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Group leaders’ support: Pia Wagner (MSc International Accounting and Finance 1998), Germany