From 6 to 10 July 2026, Anna NENIA Head of the Department of Information Technologies at Sumy State University, took part in the third study visit within the framework of the international ALMEX – Alumni Management Excellence: Building University Capacity for Sustainable Graduate Engagement project (Erasmus+ CBHE), hosted by SGH Warsaw School of Economics (Poland).
The study visit brought together representatives of the Ukrainian partner institutions participating in the ALMEX project, including Ukrainian Catholic University, Zaporizhzhia National University, National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Sumy State University, as well as the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance.
Sumy State University was represented by Anna NENIA, Head of the Department of Information Technologies; Alla KRASULIA, Head of the International Cooperation Office; Alona YEVDOKIMOVA, Head of the Practice and Employer Relations Office; and Iryna SLABKO, Head of the General Administration and International Protocol Group of the International Cooperation Office.
The five-day programme focused on modern European approaches to building systematic alumni engagement and integrating graduates into the long-term strategic development of universities. Participants explored SGH’s experience in developing a comprehensive alumni strategy, strengthening alumni communities, and embedding alumni relations into institutional governance.
The study visit provided an opportunity to examine approaches to the organisation and operation of career and alumni centres, the development of mentoring programmes, and the support of professional communities. Particular attention was given to the use of digital platforms and CRM systems for effective communication and engagement with alumni, as well as to the application of artificial intelligence tools to facilitate personalised interaction.
An important aspect of the visit was the issue of personal data protection in compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Considerable attention was also devoted to Poland’s national system for monitoring the career trajectories of graduates, ELA. The system provides universities with valuable data for assessing the effectiveness of educational programmes and aligning them with the evolving needs of the labour market.
Additional sessions focused on the role of alumni in quality assurance, international accreditation processes, university-business cooperation, and international alumni engagement. Participants also visited Europa Experience, the European Parliament’s educational centre in Warsaw, where FAA they explored innovative approaches to communicating the work of European Union institutions and engaging with citizens.
As part of the project activities, Anna Victorivna held a meeting with Andrii SEDIN, a graduate of the Department of Information Technologies. The meeting focused on potential areas for further cooperation between the Department and its alumni, including alumni engagement in students’ professional development, mentoring activities, and the implementation of joint educational and practical initiatives.
The discussion also addressed the importance of strengthening mutual support and sustainable engagement between the Department and its alumni. In this context, alumni engagement extends beyond participation in university activities and encompasses opportunities for professional networking, knowledge and experience sharing, and the development and implementation of joint projects.
An important component of the study visit was a meeting of representatives of Ukrainian higher education institutions with Vasyl Bodnar, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland, in Warsaw. The participants discussed prospects for Ukrainian-Polish cooperation in the fields of education and research, the engagement of Ukrainian graduates living and working in Poland in the development of university communities, as well as the strengthening of professional and academic ties. The meeting provided an additional opportunity for an open dialogue on advancing international partnerships and developing new formats of cooperation between Ukrainian universities, their alumni, and international partners.
The ALMEX project continues to support the transformation of alumni engagement in Ukrainian higher education institutions by promoting sustainable partnerships, strengthening institutional capacity, and fostering a university culture in which graduates remain active members of the academic community long after graduation. For Sumy State University and its Department of Information Technologies, the study visit to SGH Warsaw School of Economics became an important step toward implementing these approaches and further integrating European best practices into the University’s strategic development.
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Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
