The Australian Alumni program unites and supports graduates of Australian universities by providing activities and opportunities for Australian alumni to leverage their Australian education for personal and professional success. Backed by the resources of the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce, and working with the full range of Australian-Alumni related organisations in Thailand, Australian Alumni is able to provide an enduring platform for enhancing the value and prestige of Australian university education, and for others to promote Australian educational opportunities.
The strategic objectives of the Australian Alumni program are to:
· be an umbrella alumni structure and a focal-point in Thailand for alumni of Australian universities;
· provide a structure for Australian alumni to come together as a group, with their Australian education being a point they share in common;
· promote recognition of the value and prestige of Australian (university) education and encourage Australian alumni to be proud of their association with Australia;
· build people-to-people links between Thailand and Australia, particularly in the areas of education and business; and
· encourage people to seek out an Australian education and take an interest in Australia more broadly.
The Australian Alumni program does not seek to compete with, duplicate, or replace any other alumni grouping. Rather, it provides an overlay for them to come together under a generic ‘alumni’ umbrella. It enjoys strong support from the Australian Embassy and has been granted funding from the Australian Government’s Australia-Thailand Institute. Media coverage of the Australian Alumni program is an early priority and AustCham will employ the expertise and contacts of its public affairs consultant to this end.
To meet the objectives set for the Australian Alumni program, AustCham and TAA will:
· provide opportunities for Australian alumni in Thailand to network with business and academic leaders from both Thailand and Australia;
· facilitate sharing of information between Australian alumni as to how their Australian education and experience has helped with their professional development;
· assist alumni of Australian universities (particularly those recently returning to Thailand from Australia) to make like-minded contacts and friends; and
· promote the Australian Alumni program to key stakeholders with a view to co-opting them to participate in the Australian Alumni program.
In 2011/12 Australian Alumni intends to:
· hold a major event to launch the Australian Alumni program and brand;
· build a comprehensive database of Australian alumni in Thailand;
· develop a suite of communications and promotional material;
· finalise an electronic card identifying holders as Australian Alumni;
· cooperate with the Australian Embassy in Bangkok on a seminar focussing on the bilateral commercial relationship and Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement;
· hold an event on “Alumni entrepreneurs in Thailand – Australian education that builds business success”;
· secure corporate sponsorship and funding to make the Australian Alumni program sustainable; and
· hold additional events as resources and opportunities permit.
