Swansea University Alumni Research...For younger alumni social media and contact with fellow...
Transcript of Swansea University Alumni Research...For younger alumni social media and contact with fellow...
Swansea University Alumni Research
Research debrief prepared by Gerard Kennedy, Development &Alumni Relations Manager. March 2019
Research Objectives
To understand to what extent and the ways in which alumni want to be engaged with Swansea University.
Specifically:
• To gauge how connected and engaged alumni are with the University and how engaged they would like to be.• To understand the range of careers alumni go into after Swansea.• To analyse ways in which alumni viewed the University while they were here and how that perception has
changed since they have left.• To determine what alumni think of our communications and how they wish to be communicated with.• To gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which alumni would be willing to support the University.
Methodology & RespondentsOnline Survey – promoted by email and social media
3,426 responses from the online survey3,400 responses in English26 responses in Welsh
45%55%
Survey Respondents by Gender
Female Male
5 respondents identified as “Other”. 8 respondents identified as “Prefer not to Say”.
Respondent Profile
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
1940 - 1949 1950 - 1959 1960 - 1969 1970 -1979 1980 - 1989 1990 - 1999 2000 - 2009 2010 - 2019
Decade of Graduation (n = 3,426)
Respondent Profile
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%
Undergraduate Degree
Master's Degree
PhD
Other
Diploma
MPhil
Highest qualification received at Swansea
Over 65% of respondents
completed their first degree at
Swansea.
Almost 30% of respondents
hold post-graduate
qualifications.
8%
21%
71%
WHERE OUR ALUMNI LIVE
Europe Rest of the World UK
Where our Alumni live
83
255233
70 78
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Africa Americas Asia Middle East Oceania
International Respondents by Geographic Area
71% of our alumni respondents live in the UK. 8% are based in Europe with Germany, France
and Greece showing the highest populations of alumni. 21% are spread throughout the rest of
the world.
College of Arts & Humanities
35%
College of Engineering14%College of Human &
Health Sciences8%
HRC School of Law6%
College of Medicine2%
College of Science25%
School of Management
10%
WHICH OF OUR ACADEMIC COLLEGES DID YOU GRADUATE FROM?
College of Graduation
The responses to the
survey reflect the size
and age of our
Colleges.
The largest number of
responses came from
COAH alumni.
Alumni Employment
73.4%
1.1%
4.6%
17.7%
3.2%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0%
Employed
Full-time Parent/Carer
Full-time student
Retired
Unemployed
Current Employment situation
The unemployment rate for
Swansea graduates in the
survey is below the UK
national average of 4%.
Nearly 18% of respondents
have retired from work.
Alumni Employment
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Employed by a Company
Employed by an NGO
Employed by Government or Publicly Funded Organisation
Self employed/running a business
How our alumni are currently employed
Nearly 15% of
respondent are self-
employed or running a
business.
Alumni Employment
The top areas in which our alumni work.
Key Findings:
Almost all alumni (93.8%) feel that Swansea had a positive impact on their lives.
78% of alumni felt that Swansea was a positive Social experience.
73% of alumni feel that Swansea has had a positive impact on their Career.
The most important aspect of people’s time at Swansea is their Academic Achievement and Friendships made.
15% of alumni feel connected to the University. 44% of alumni would like to be more connected to the University.
Key Findings:Alumni connections to the University are reinforced through University emails and via connections with fellow
graduates.
46% of alumni would be highly likely to recommend Swansea as a destination for prospective students.
76% of alumni have stayed in touch with fellow graduates in the past 2 years.
47% have visited the University website in the last 2 years.
For younger alumni social media and contact with fellow graduates is the main way to retain a connection to Swansea. For older alumni the University magazine and emails are more important
Connections to Swansea
Connections to Swansea
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Contatct with Currentstudents
Contatct with fellowgraduates
Contact with University staff
Alumni Magazine
University emails
Social media
How connections with the University are being reinforced
Email and contact with fellow graduates are the main ways that alumni retain their connection with the University.
(Error bars represent the variation between College responses)
Connections to Swansea
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
2016 - 2019 2011 - 2015 2001 - 2010 1991 - 2000 1981 - 1990 1971 - 1980 1961 - 1970 1900 - 1960
Ways in which connections are reinforced / date of graduation
Social media University emails University events Contact with fellow graduates
Contact with current students University magazine Contact with University staff Linear (Social media)
Linear (University emails) Linear (Contact with fellow graduates) Linear (University magazine)
Connections to Swansea
20.3% of respondents feel that their connection to the University has increased in the last 5 years.
34.7% of respondents feel their connection has decreased in the same time.
Connections to Swansea
43.9% of respondents feel that they would like to be more connected to the University
Connections to Swansea
Create/Improve alumni networks
Strengthening the connection to Swansea University
Alumni as helpers as well
as donors
Alumni Events
Ability to connect with people from my course
Reunions would be amazing!
Ask for my support – not financial – for current students
Become a mentor
Send me a copy of SAIL
I run a 150 person business in the US, advising on over $100B of M&A transactions a year. I am sure I could be helpful on recruiting or even to current students on post Swansea life.
Be a guest speakerThe ability/opportunity to reconnect with fellow graduates (we left before Facebook was invented); professional networking opportunities; career support
Alumni Experience
Alumni Experience
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
Education Social Career Financial
The impact Swansea has had on the lives of our alumni
Very Negative Negative Neutral Positive Very Positive
93.8%positive
78%positive
74%positive
51.2%positive
Alumni Experience
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Academic achievement
Lifestyle
Other
Relationships with friends
Relationships with staff (lecturers, supervisors, etc)
The most important aspect of our alumni's time at Swansea University
For those that selected “Other” comments include:
Alumni Experience
0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 35.00% 40.00%
More targeted Comms
Connection to Alumni
Connection to Students
Other
Sail magazine in the post
Reunions and Events
Visit Swansea Uni
How alumni want to be engaged When asked how they wish the University to strengthen the engagement with alumni nearly 35% of respondents indicated that they would like more reunions, networking events and events at Swansea they could get involved with.
25% of alumni said they would prefer more targeted communications that referred to their subject of study and era of graduation
Alumni Experience
0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 35.00% 40.00%
More targeted Comms
Connection to Alumni
Connection to Students
Other
Sail magazine in the post
Reunions and Events
Visit Swansea Uni
How alumni want to be engaged 13% of alumni said that they would like ways to find and network with other Swansea alumni
Of the “other” responses, many alumni commented that they would like more career support post graduation, incentives to study postgraduate qualifications at Swansea or to get involved with the research at the University
Alumni Experience
0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% 35.00% 40.00% 45.00% 50.00%
Kept in touch with other Swansea University graduates
Visited the Swansea University website
Made a financial contribution to Swansea University
Provided an alumni profile
Volunteered at Swansea University
Served as a mentor to a Swansea University student/recent graduate
Provided an internship for a Swansea University student/recent graduate
Attended a Swansea University event
Attended a Swansea University Alumni Chapter event
Provided a placement for a Swansea University student
Ways in which alumni have stayed connected to Swansea in the last 2 years
Connections to other Swansea Graduates and visits to the website are the main ways that alumni have stayed connected to the University
Alumni ExperienceWhat is the most significant aspect you took away or learned from your time at Swansea University?
The experience opened up the world for me as I came from a small rural community in Powys. Swansea university taught me
independence as well as confidence in my studies and in friendships/sports teams
I can achieve anything as long as I put in the work. Also, a strong sense of community and warmth.
Meeting people with different backgrounds, nationalities. Broadened my outlook.
Independence, ability to achieve
My growth as a person, I have matured so much and gained confidence to take into the work place
Relationships with friends from countries across the globe
Alumni Experience
0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00%
On it's way up - doing a lot of good things at the moment
Gradually improving
Holding its ground
Gradually declining
On its way down - not doing enough to keep up
Alumni's overall impression of the University
The overall impression from alumni is that the University is improving and is on it’s way up.
Propensity to Give
Propensity to Give5% of survey respondents report making a gift in the last 2 years.
Student Hardship is the area most alumni would be likely to support.
In the “other” category environmental research was the most commonly cited area.
0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0%
Academic Excellence
Medical Research
Other
Scholarships
Sports
Student Hardship
If you were going to make a donation to the University, which area would you support?
Willingness to Support
Willingness to Support
Total COAH Engineering HHS Law Medicine Science SoM
Offer Advice to students/recent graduates 1534 518 236 139 104 38 344 155
Volunteer at one of our Open Days 377 121 52 36 38 12 79 39
Help providing space to host an alumni networking event 143 44 22 11 17 2 25 22
Volunteer with our gardening teams on campus 87 32 12 7 7 1 22 6
Provide an alumni profile 1194 421 182 86 83 23 278 121
Be a mentor to student/recent graduate 904 306 131 89 68 25 189 96
Be a Guest Speaker 851 292 125 58 75 27 184 90
Volunteer at a recruitment event overseas 645 206 101 50 74 16 126 72
Would you be wiling to do any of the following?
Willingness to Support
416 alumni indicated that they would be willing
to offer internships to alumni
347 alumni said they would be interested in attending our careers fair
A further 226 said they would be interested in more bespoke careers events at Swansea.
Alumni Communications
Alumni Communications
49.9% 50.1%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
No Yes
Have you received the Alumni magazine - SAIL?
49.9% of alumni have not received the main communication piece in our alumni relations programme. There are also some big variations between Colleges.
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Engineering
College of Human and Health Sciences
Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law
School of Management
Swansea University Medical School
College of Science
Yes No
Alumni Communications
68.6% of alumni believe that SAIL is good or excellent quality.
Between Colleges the highest quality ratings were reported by College of Science alumni (78%) and the lowest levels were reported by Medical School & Law School alumni (46%)
15.8%
52.8%
25.7%
4.2%1.6%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Excellent Good OK Could be better Not great
What do you think about the quality of the Alumni magazine -SAIL?
Alumni Communications
We asked alumni how they feel about our emails
Our email are designed so you can skim read to get the headlines but dig deeper if you want to.
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
No - I would prefer to have more contentin the e-newsletter
None of these statements apply to me
Yes - it allows me to keep up to datewithout taking up too much time
Alumni Communications
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
About right
Not frequentenough
Too frequent
What do you think about the frequency of our email communication?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
No Sometimes Yes
Do you feel that the communications are tailored to your interests or connection to the University?
We seem to be getting the frequency about right but there is a lot we can do to tailor the content for our readers
Alumni Communications
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
The channels alumni prefer to receive communications via
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Other Swansea University social media
Don't use social media
Swansea Alumni social media channels alumni follow
Email is the preferred channel for communication with alumni. Whilst we’ve seen significant growth in our social media channels it’s also clear that a lot of alumni do not use social media. This places greater importance on our email and print magazine communications