In a world that is constantly changing, the path to professional success can seem like a labyrinth. Networking is therefore more important than ever, especially for young people. Creating a network that provides access to valuable contacts and events - that is the objective of Alumni THWS.
Published on 13 September 2024
A balmy summer evening in Würzburg. Wine glasses clink on the bridge Alte Mainbrücke. Current and former students engage in lively conversation. That is how Tina Müller and Aileen Heid, the project coordinators of Alumni THWS, imagine the upcoming event "Wein & Sein". The event was created as part of the new alumni programme, also called alumni management, at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS).
Alumni programme - what is that?
The alumni programme or alumni management aims to maintain contact between the higher education institution and former students, the alumni. "Studying was a very special time in our lives which will never be forgotten. At best, the bond with the university will last a lifetime," Tina Müller says. The programme wants to emphasise the inestimable value alumni hold for THWS.
Alumni are of significant importance for THWS
"The world is characterised by change and networking - that is why our alumni hold a huge potential for our University," Aileen Heid explains. After all, they are the best brand ambassadors for THWS - and are very important for several reasons:
As THWS alumna, Tatjana Gebhardt has been part of Alumni THWS from the start. She prioritises networking - in her work and her private life. "The alumni programme is great because it is a win-win situation for everyone," she explains. Gebhardt enjoyed studying at THWS and is grateful for everything she learnt. THWS was a great higher education institution in a magnificent city - and it was worth sharing this more and more.
The new Alumni THWS programme
Alumni THWS has existed for a few months now. The digital platform of the new umbrella management for alumni provides "a large mutual umbrella for everyone," Tina Müller says. Centralised offers and services for the faculties are being created here. Previously, the faculties had looked after their alumni themselves. They will remain the main point of contact for alumni. What is new is an overarching network that facilitates and expands contacts beyond the faculty and degree programme.
The digital alumni platform alumni.thws.de is the centre piece of Tina Müller and Aileen Heid's work. Facilitating the networking of different groups. These relate to individual degree programmes or faculties. Regional chapters are another individual characteristic. These allow alumni to network and interact with each other across the borders of Würzburg and around the world. "Our community keeps growing," Tina Müller smiles. There are currently about 3,000 registered users. The programme and the offers on the website are free of charge.
But of course the offers do not all take place online. After all, the entire purpose are personal contacts. "This is what the programme lives off," Aileen Heid says. Thus, in early August the event "Wein & Sein" took place. THWS students, alumni, and staff were invited. Different lecture series on topics like society, science, or career are planned for the future.
Alumni THWS is part of the subordinate project "ProPere THWS". ProPere is short for "Professorial Personnel recruitment and development at THWS". Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), THWS wants to increase its visibility as employer and recruit professorial staff. The programme is supposed to raise awareness for the different career paths offered by the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt. That way, THWS itself also benefits from Alumni THWS. For example, alumna Tatjana Gebhardt has returned to THWS as a lecturer.
Further projects within the context of the new alumni programme
In addition to launching an app, another plan of the alumni project is setting up a mentoring programme. The aim: so-called reverse-monitoring. Alumni are supposed to pass on their knowledge to students - and vice versa. To support each other in the best possible way, students and alumni form tandems. The mentoring programme is directed either towards technical career questions or questions on how to start a career. At the same time, topics like personal development are also on the agenda. As many alumni just graduated recently, they can put themselves in the students’ shoes all too well.
Gebhardt, who wants to contribute to this as well, has a tip for students: "Top athletes are not top athletes because they were successful once but because they show stamina and discipline in the long run. Thus: Stay on it and train yourselves without neglecting breaks and fun." And, in studies and professional life, you should always be open to feedback. Honest and open feedback was a nice way of showing appreciation.
Why you should register with Alumni THWS
Everyone benefits from a large network that holds expertise from different fields. "People want to give back to their University, they want to play an active role and commit because they themselves gained a lot there," Aileen Heid says about her experiences with the alumni. Long-standing contacts are established that can be truly important during studies but especially afterwards. The special characteristic of Alumni THWS was that you kept meeting new people which made live so exciting, Tatjana Gebhardt describes her enthusiasm for the alumni programme.
