Alumni ambassadors can be a powerful addition to your student recruitment toolkit. They bring credibility, lived experience, and career perspectives that resonate with prospective students in a way marketing materials never can.
But unlike current students, alumni are often balancing full-time jobs, family commitments, or postgraduate study. To build a sustainable programme, you'll need to think carefully about how to attract, retain, and motivate them - giving them everything they need to succeed, but also ensuring they are adding value for your prospects.
Attracting Alumni Ambassadors
The first step is finding the right people, and making the opportunity appealing to someone with lots of spinning plates!
Highlight the impact
Emphasise that alumni will play a meaningful role in shaping the next generation of students. Knowing their story could inspire someone else to take the leap can be highly motivating.Targeted outreach
Go beyond generic calls for volunteers. Reach out through alumni associations, LinkedIn groups, career services, or departmental networks. Personal invitations often carry more weight than mass emails.Offer flexibility
Frame the ambassador role as something that can be adapted to different levels of commitment: from answering a few online questions, to joining a virtual Community AMA, to writing career-related blog posts.Appeal to career benefits
Volunteering as an Ambassador strengthens communication skills, builds networks, and enhances a CV or LinkedIn profile - all of which are very valuable for alumni at any stage of their career.
Retaining Alumni Ambassadors
Once your alumni sign up to be a Unibuddy Ambassador, the key is to keep them engaged without overwhelming them.
Set clear, realistic expectations
From the start, outline the time commitment and type of activities. This prevents burnout and makes it easier for busy alumni to say “yes.”Communicate regularly but respectfully
A short, friendly monthly update can keep Alumni Ambassadors connected without flooding their inbox. Share success stories and impact metrics so they see the difference they’re making.Make it easy
The fewer barriers, the more likely alumni will stay active. The Unibuddy Ambassador app is intuitive and user-friendly, and means they can answer prospect questions or check in during the commute, if a meeting finishes early, or on their lunch break.Create a sense of belonging
Encourage your Alumni Ambassadors to connect with each other, not just prospective students. Create a Community exclusively for them, or organise informal get-togethers. Peer recognition within the alumni group strengthens commitment.
Motivating Alumni Ambassadors
Motivation is about recognition, appreciation, and making their contribution feel worthwhile.
Celebrate contributions
Highlight ambassador stories in newsletters, social media, or alumni magazines. Even small shout-outs reinforce value.Provide exclusive opportunities
Give Ambassadors early access to events, networking opportunities, or professional development workshops. This creates a sense of privilege and reward.Say thank you, and often!
A personal note from staff, a certificate of appreciation, or a LinkedIn endorsement can go a long way. Gratitude is one of the simplest but most effective motivators.Show the impact
Share tangible results: the number of students reached, feedback from prospects, or enrolment figures influenced by Alumni Ambassadors. Seeing outcomes reinforces the real-world effect of their efforts.
Alumni are busy people, but with the right approach they can be a long-term asset to your institution. Attract them with meaningful opportunities, retain them with clarity and support, and motivate them with recognition and impact. Done well, an alumni ambassador programme not only boosts recruitment, it also strengthens lifelong ties between graduates and the university!