The transformative capacity of transnational and transdisciplinary networks and the potential of alumni work

Vogel, Johanna Wo king Pape The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Discussion Pape , No. 24/2021 P o ided in Coope a ion wi h: Ge man Ins i u e o De elopmen and Sus ainabili y (IDOS), Bonn Sugges ed Ci a ion: Vogel, Johanna (2021) : The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k, Discussion Pape , No. 24/2021, ISBN 978-3-96021-168-6, Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE), Bonn, h ps://doi.o g/10.23661/dp24.2021 This Ve sion is a ailable a : h ps://hdl.handle.ne /10419/243154 S anda d-Nu zungsbedingungen: Die Dokumen e au EconS o dü en zu eigenen wissenscha lichen Zwecken und zum P i a geb auch gespeiche und kopie we den. Sie dü en die Dokumen e nich ü ö en liche ode komme zielle Zwecke e iel äl igen, ö en lich auss ellen, ö en lich zugänglich machen, e eiben ode ande wei ig nu zen. So e n die Ve asse die Dokumen e un e Open-Con en -Lizenzen (insbesonde e CC-Lizenzen) zu Ve ügung ges ell haben soll en, gel en abweichend on diesen Nu zungsbedingungen die in de do genann en Lizenz gewäh en Nu zungs ech e. Te ms o use: Documen s in EconS o may be sa ed and copied o you pe sonal and schola ly pu poses. You a e no o copy documen s o public o comme cial pu poses, o exhibi he documen s publicly, o make hem publicly a ailable on he in e ne , o o dis ibu e o o he wise use he documen s in public. I he documen s ha e been made a ailable unde an Open Con en Licence (especially C ea i e Commons Licences), you may exe cise u he usage igh s as speci ied in he indica ed licence. h ps://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/4.0/ Discussion Pape 24/2021 The T ans o ma i e Capaci y o T ansna ional and T ansdisciplina y Ne wo ks and he Po en ial o Alumni Wo k Johanna Vogel The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Johanna Vogel Bonn 2021 Discussion Pape / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik ISSN (P in ) 1860-0441 ISSN (Online) 2512-8698 Excep as o he wise no ed, his Open Access publica ion is ee o ead, sha e and adap unde he e ms o he CC BY 4.0 license. Die Deu sche Na ionalbiblio hek e zeichne diese Publika ion in de Deu schen Na ionalbibliog a ie; de aillie e bibliog a ische Da en sind im In e ne übe h p://dnb.d-nb.de ab u ba . The Deu sche Na ionalbiblio hek lis s his publica ion in he Deu sche Na ionalbibliog a ie; de ailed bibliog aphic da a is a ailable on he In e ne a h p://dnb.d-nb.de. ISBN 978-3-96021-168-6 (p in ed edi ion) DOI:10.23661/dp24.2021 P in ed on eco- iendly, ce i ied pape D Johanna Vogel is a esea che wi h he esea ch p og amme “In e - and T ansna ional Coope a ion” a he Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE). Email: johanna. [email protected] Published wi h inancial suppo om he Fede al Minis y o Economic Coope a ion and De elopmen (BMZ). © Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik gGmbH Tulpen eld 6, 53113 Bonn  +49 (0)228 94927-0  +49 (0)228 94927-130 Email: [email protected] h p://www.die-gdi.de Abs ac The Co ona pandemic has shown us mo e han any o he ecen e en ha when i comes o a global c isis, we a e all in he same boa . In a complex wo ld, we need coope a ion o mee global challenges. Ne wo ks can p o ide a s uc u e ha enables coope a ion and o e s p omises o being lexible and adap able. This pape will ocus on ansna ional and ansdisciplina y knowledge ne wo ks o med by alumni – people who ha e expe ienced collec i e aining a he s a o hei ne wo k jou neys. Th ough his sha ed expe ience, I see a special po en ial o hese ypes o ne wo ks o engage in collabo a i e wo k and c ea e a wide impac in socie y. The o e all ques ion o his pape is: How can knowledge ne wo ks ully de elop hei ans o ma i e po en ial h ough s a egic alumni managemen ? This ques ion is o in e es o ne wo k acili a o s, especially o alumni ne wo ks. In o de o add ess he challenge, he pape i s p esen s indings om he alumni managemen li e a u e ocusing on he de ini ion o alumni managemen , i s ele ance and he li e s ages o ideal alumni. This is complemen ed by insigh s om he social mo emen a ea ha highligh he de elopmen pa hs o ne wo ks as well as he success ac o s o social impac ne wo ks. Empi ical examples om exis ing alumni ne wo ks elabo a e he success ac o s wi hin hei wo k. F om hese h ee a eas, i e ecommenda ions a e deduced. In o de o os e ans o ma ion and c ea e social impac beyond hei ne wo ks, alumni ne wo ks should: (1) align hei ac i i ies o he li e s ages o hei alumni, (2) es ablish and nu u e us ul ela ions among hei ne wo k membe s – encompassing all elemen s o us (bene olence and con idence, eliabili y and p edic abili y, compe ence, hones y, openness as well as amilia i y and in imacy), (3) ini ia e and con inually wo k on a collabo a i e we-iden i y p ocess, (4) p o ide suppo ing s uc u es ha allow o making easy connec ions as well as (5) enable sel -o ganisa ion. When hese i e ecommenda ions a e aken in o conside a ion, knowledge ne wo ks ha e a g ea po en ial o suppo socie al change. Acknowledgemen s This pape eme ged in he con ex o he Managing Global Go e nance (MGG) Ne wo k. I am pa o he acili a ion eam. As ne wo k acili a o , he Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) is especially in e es ed in u he de eloping he ne wo k’s po en ial o c ea e ans o ma ion owa ds sus ainabili y. The MGG Ne wo k’s o e a ching mission is o add ess he challenges o global go e nance and, mo e speci ically, o suppo he implemen a ion o he Uni ed Na ions 2030 Agenda o Sus ainable De elopmen . Ne wo k ac i i ies consis o h ee in e connec ed elemen s: aining, policy dialogue and knowledge coope a ion. The aining p og amme – he MGG Academy – has aken place e e y yea since 2007 and las s ou mon hs.1 The co e idea o he MGG Academy is o de elop pa icipan s’ capaci y as change make s. We conside change make s o be indi iduals who ake leading oles in he global ans o ma ion owa ds mo e sus ainable and jus socie ies. Change make s combine ambi ion, knowledge, compe ence and a i ude o he global common good. The p og amme is ansdisciplina y and a ge ed a young p o essionals om academia, poli ics, he p i a e and business sec o s as well as ci il socie y. Addi ionally, he p og amme is ansna ional. Pa icipan s come om he eme ging economies in he Global Sou h (China, B azil, India, Mexico, Indonesia and Sou h A ica) and he Global No h ( he Eu opean Union). A e pa icipa ing in he MGG Academy, pa icipan s become pa o he MGG Ne wo k and engage in policy dialogues and knowledge coope a ion o ma s. Beyond he indi iduals, he MGG Ne wo k comp ises pa ne ins i u ions ac oss di e en sec o s. Cu en ly (2020), he ne wo k consis s o almos 400 alumni and a ound 100 pa ne ins i u ions. The MGG Ne wo k aims a ini ia ing and implemen ing ans o ma ion wi hin ins i u ions and socie y as a whole. The p og amme is inanced by he Ge man Fede al Minis y o Economic Coope a ion and De elopmen (BMZ) and implemen ed by he DIE.2 He e I wan o exp ess my deep g a i ude o e iewe s D Ta jana Reibe , D Wul Reine s, D S en G imm and Vic o ia Gonsio o hei u mos aluable eedbacks. Addi ionally, I wan o hank my in e iewees, Gesa Gising, D Heidi Wedel, D Klaus Mande la, D Regine Mehl, D Ta jana Reibe and E a Lynde s, o hei p o ound and open insigh s in o hei wo k. Bonn, Sep embe 2021 Johanna Vogel 1 See h ps://www.die- gdi.de/ ileadmin/use _upload/pd s/Ausbildung/GGS/20181024_DIE_MGG_AcademyFlye _2018.pd . 2 Fo mo e in o ma ion on he MGG Ne wo k, see hei websi e: h ps://www.die-gdi.de/en/managing- global-go e nance/. Con en s Abs ac Acknowledgemen s 1 In oduc ion 1 2 Alumni managemen li e a u e 2 2.1 De ining alumni managemen and i s ele ance 2 2.2 Alumni de elopmen o e ime 3 3 Social mo emen li e a u e 4 3.1 Ne wo k de elopmen and success ac o s 4 3.2 Implica ions o alumni ne wo ks 8 4 Examples o alumni ne wo ks: Success ac o s om he p ac ice 10 5 Becoming a ans o ma i e alumni ne wo k 13 6 Conclusions 16 Re e ences 18 Figu es Figu e 1: Li e s ages o alumni 3 Figu e 2: Ne wo k e olu ion 10 Tables Table 1: Compa ing AA, DAAD, he Humbold Founda ion and he iac Be lin 12 Table 2: Cha ac e is ics and condi ions o de elop ne wo ks’ ans o ma i e capaci ies 13 Abb e ia ions AA Ge man Fede al Fo eign O ice / Auswä iges Am DAAD Ge man Academic Exchange Se ice / Deu sche Akademische Aus auschdiens DIE Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik iac Be lin In e na ional Alumni Cen e (Robe Bosch Founda ion) MGG Managing Global Go e nance The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) 1 1 In oduc ion The Co ona pandemic has shown us mo e han any ecen e en ha when i comes o a global c isis, we a e all in he same boa . In a complex wo ld, we need coope a ion o mee global challenges. Ne wo ks can p o ide a s uc u e ha enables coope a ion and o e s p omises o being lexible and adap able – compe encies e y much needed in an inc easingly changing socie y. Ne wo ks can also o e a cul u e o la hie a chies, which allow o pa icipa ion and in eg a ion – u he essen ial ing edien s o collec i ely de ine solu ions o global challenges. These a e jus a ew easons why ne wo ks a e a sui able space o discuss global challenges and can be used as ins umen s o p omo e socie al change. He e I will ocus on ansna ional and ansdisciplina y knowledge ne wo ks o med by alumni. These ypes o ne wo ks consis o people who ha e expe ienced collec i e aining a he s a o hei ne wo k jou neys. Th ough his sha ed expe ience, I see a special po en ial o hese ypes o ne wo ks o engage in collabo a i e wo k and c ea e a wide impac in socie y. How can his capaci y be p omo ed? The e o e, he o e all ques ion o his pape is: How can knowledge ne wo ks ully de elop hei ans o ma i e po en ial h ough s a egic alumni managemen ?3 Knowledge ne wo ks c ea e spaces ha can enable ans o ma i e capaci y. In o de o do so, hey should be ansna ional, ansdisciplina y and ac sys emically – which means looking a he indi idual sphe es o he wo ld as a whole. T ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks b ing oge he ac o s om di e en coun ies and di e se disciplines wi h a common aim. In his di e si y o pe spec i es and bundle o capaci ies lies he key o collec i ely de ining p oblems and c ea ing inno a i e solu ions. T ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks can be a labo a o y o expe imen wi h e ec i e and e icien ways o coope a ion ha os e ans o ma ion. The empi ical wo k o his s udy on alumni managemen s uc u es s a ed in 2017, when he Managing Global Go e nance (MGG) Ne wo k aimed a p o essionalising and s uc u alising i s alumni wo k. The ne wo k hen had i s 10 h anni e sa y and s a ed g owing. I was ime o de elop a s a egic alumni concep o u he p omo e he impac o he ne wo k. On he basis o a li e a u e e iew ega ding alumni managemen s uc u es and in e iews wi h di e se coo dina o s o alumni ne wo ks, he MGG Ne wo k de eloped an alumni s a egy. Exis ing alumni managemen li e a u e did no p o ide su icien answe s o u he p omo e ans o ma ion owa ds sus ainabili y. P ac ical handbooks on ne wo k de elopmen in he social mo emen a ea illed his gap. All h ee s ands – in e iews wi h p ac i ione s coo dina ing alumni wo k as well as heo e ical inpu s om he alumni managemen li e a u e and he social mo emen ne wo k de elopmen li e a u e –we e combined o answe he ques ion: Wha does i ake o de elop a ne wo k’s ans o ma i e capaci y h ough alumni wo k? Alumni wo k o ne wo k managemen is unde s ood he e as he p o ision o s uc u es ha suppo a g oup o o me pa icipan s o a aining o ma o s eng hen hei ne wo k among each o he and be ween hem and he hos ing ins i u ion. Alumni ne wo ks can be conside ed as special ypes o ansna ional knowledge ne wo ks. This pape aims a esea ch and educa ion o ganisa ions ha seek o gain insigh s on how o bene i om alumni wo k in o de o main ain and inc ease hei ansna ional ne wo ks and boos hei 3 Alumni managemen and alumni wo k a e used as synonyms. Johanna Vogel 8 Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) some hing happen” (Holley, 2012, p. 20). The mo e ha sel -o ganisa ion is suppo ed by ne wo k s uc u es o acili a o s, he mo e collabo a i e he p ojec s ha eme ge. “Ac ion in ne wo ks is ocused on oppo uni ies and le e age poin s ha ha e he g ea es chance o making a di e ence” (Holley, 2012, p. 21). Fo ne wo k acili a o s, suppo ing ac ions include: encou aging people o ake ini ia i e, clus e ing people in e es ed in he same p ojec s and os e ing collabo a ion. Making ac ions mo e likely is s ongly in e linked wi h se ing up suppo ing s uc u es o he ne wo k (Holley, 2012, p. 23). Sel -o ganisa ion is a c ucial p inciple o c ea ing ac ions wi hin a ne wo k. I makes ne wo ks mo e inno a i e and adap able, because i in insically mo i a es people o wo k and ollow hei passions. Sel -o ganising also encou ages expe imen a ion, which is c ucial o c ea e b eak h oughs ha make a di e ence. Being mo e lexible h ough sel -o ganised p ojec s allows people o ake ad an age o he mos p omising oppo uni ies (Holley, 2012, p. 170). Sel -o ganisa ion is “ he aspec o ne wo ks ha is mos likely o b ing ans o ma ion” (Holley, 2012, p. 170). 3.2 Implica ions o alumni ne wo ks The de elopmen pa hways o social impac ne wo ks by Plas ik e al. (2014) and Holley’s (2012) success ac o s o ne wo k de elopmen complemen each o he . Thei li e a u e is bene icial in allowing us o be e unde s and how o enable alumni ne wo ks o a ain ans o ma ion owa ds sus ainabili y. Since his pape is ocusing on knowledge ne wo ks consis ing o alumni – in con as o social impac ne wo ks consis ing o ac i is s – he ollowing ca ego isa ions o knowledge ne wo ks aiming o achie e social impac is sugges ed he e: Ne wo k o belonging, ansac ional ne wo k and ans o ma i e ne wo k.5 These ca ego isa ions a e simila o he ca ego isa ions o ne wo ks o connec i i y, alignmen ne wo ks and p oduc ion ne wo ks. In o de o highligh whe e he connec i i y wi hin alumni ne wo ks comes om, he i s ype is named ne wo k o belonging, he second ype o ne wo k is domina ed by suppo and ansac ions ac oss he ne wo k, while he las ype o ne wo k has ans o ma i e po en ial in p oducing join ac ion. Alumni ne wo ks a e especially s ong in ini ia ing and cul i a ing us . The collec i e expe ience a he s a o he ne wo k’s de elopmen se s he ounda ion o his cul i a ion o us . The e o e, alumni ne wo ks de elop in a sligh ly di e en manne han social impac ne wo ks. Fi s , he eeling o belonging oge he (ne wo k o belonging) is s ong; o e ime, mu ual suppo and join ac ion eme ges ( ansac ional ne wo k), and inally, join p ojec s wi h social impac can de elop ( ans o ma i e ne wo k). Ca ego ising alumni ne wo ks his way helps ne wo k coo dina o s o be e ailo hei ne wo k s a egies, unde s and he de elopmen o hei ne wo ks and iden i y unused po en ial. One o he main asse s alumni ne wo ks ha e is he collec i e expe ience ha alumni sha e. The le el o us is especially high among he ne wo k membe s, which can make hem mo e e icien in c ea ing sha ed impac . On he o he side, ca ego ising alumni ne wo ks acco ding o social impac ne wo k de elopmen pa hways helps o boos e ec i eness wi hin alumni 5 The In e na ional Alumni Cen e (iac) o he Bosch Alumni Founda ion used hese e ms a a con e ence (Rich e & Menz, 2020). He e hey a e en iched wi h indings om alumni and ne wo k de elopmen li e a u e. The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) 9 ne wo ks. The di e en ypes o ansna ional knowledge ne wo ks consis ing o alumni a e desc ibed he e in mo e de ail. O e all, he ecip oci y o ela ions wi hin he ne wo k o belonging is cha ac e ised as a sense o belonging. Membe s migh eel as pa o a amily due o he collec i e expe ience hey ha e sha ed. The ne wo k membe s eel g a i ude owa ds he hos ins i u ion o his sha ed and o en con inually changing expe ience. T us , which ideally has been buil up du ing he sha ed expe ience, is u he nu u ed and inc eased. The ole o he ne wo k acili a o s in his ne wo k ype is o nu u e and main ain his connec i i y. In a ansac ional ne wo k, he goal hen is o sha e con ac s and imp o e p o essional ne wo ks. Ne wo k membe s aim o imp o e hei pe sonal ca ee s h ough ne wo k con ac s. In his s ep o ne wo k de elopmen , ne wo k membe s migh also de elop he desi e o o mula e sha ed goals o he ne wo k. Ne wo k acili a o s should p o ide s uc u es ha allow o easy in o ma ion-sha ing and connec ing wi h hei ne wo k membe s, as well as acili a e g oup p ocesses. One possible ool o suppo he de elopmen om a ne wo k o belonging o a ansac ional ne wo k is he es ablishmen o wo king g oups, which a e se up a ound di e en opics. As a ne wo k acili a o , you ha e he op ion o suppo his p ocess o u he inc ease you ne wo k’s de elopmen (Plas ik e al., 2014, p. 107). Se ing up wo king g oups can also be a s uc u e o u he p omo e he ne wo k’s e olu ion owa ds a ans o ma i e ne wo k. In ans o ma i e ne wo ks, he goal is o c ea e join p ojec s wi h impac beyond he ne wo k o o ini ia e ans o ma ion in a wide social o ins i u ional se ing. This ype o ne wo k is o ien ed owa ds a sha ed goal. Membe s can be ega ded as inno a o s o change make s (see Holley, 2012). Ne wo k membe s become change make s i hey ake esponsibili y o shape change wi hin socie y, hei ins i u ional con ex o hei p i a e en i onmen . In his s ep, collec i e ac ion is os e ed o p oduce inno a i e p ac ices, public-policy p oposals o o he p ojec s ha migh ha e social impac (Plas ik e al., 2014, p. 35). Ne wo k acili a o s should suppo o ganising and implemen ing collec i e wo k p ocesses and pe o mances (Plas ik e al., 2014, p. 105). This p ocess demands much clea e ag eemen s abou esponsibili ies and ime schedules as well as mechanisms ha hold people accoun able o deli e y (Plas ik e al., 2014). A each s age, he le el o connec i i y be ween ne wo k membe s inc eases and builds on he p e ious achie emen s. On he le el o ansac ion, p o iding easy access o con ac de ails and managing g oup p ocesses is essen ial. Shi ing owa ds c ea ing join p ojec s and becoming a ans o ma i e ne wo k equi e e en mo e commi men om he membe s. The le el o in e dependence is much deepe han in he p e ious ne wo k de elopmen s eps (Plas ik e al., 2014, pp. 106-111). The ollowing g aph illus a es he h ee s eps o ne wo k de elopmen , combining insigh s o he alumni and social mo emen li e a u e. Johanna Vogel 10 Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) Figu e 2: Ne wo k e olu ion Sou ce: Au ho , based on Plas ik e al. (2014) 4 Examples o alumni ne wo ks: Success ac o s om he p ac ice Alumni coo dina o s we e in e iewed in o de o see how alumni ne wo ks cha ac e ise hemsel es and wha hey iden i y as success ac o s in hei applied ne wo k managemen . Empi ical examples om he alumni coo dina o s helped in de ec ing clea e ecommenda ions o de eloping ans o ma i e alumni ne wo ks. Success ac o s o alumni managemen om p ac ice we e ela ed o heo e ical insigh s om he alumni managemen li e a u e as well as om he social mo emen li e a u e. These included he Fede al Fo eign O ice (Auswä iges Am , AA), he Ge man Academic Exchange Se ice (Deu sche Akademische Aus auschdiens , DAAD) and he Alexande - on-Humbold Founda ion as well as he iac Be lin (In e na ional Alumni Cen e o he Robe Bosch Founda ion). Apa om being impo an ac o s shaping ansna ional knowledge coope a ion, he ins i u ions’ expe ience wi h alumni managemen and he employmen o a pe son dedica ed o alumni wo k we e c i e ia o selec ing hese examples. (1) The AA ep esen s a public na ional body whose alumni numbe app oxima ely 3,500 diploma s (Gising, 2017). As an in e na ional alumni ne wo k and coope a ion pa ne o he MGG Ne wo k, he AA was chosen as an example. (2) The DAAD, o i s pa , is a unding o ganisa ion o s uden s and esea che s – a se ice ha goes back o 1925. In 2018 i coun ed 160 associa ions in 98 coun ies; in 2017 nea ly 140,000 people we e unded by he DAAD (Deu sche Akademische Aus auschdiens , s.a.). Because o i s long yea s o expe ience in alumni wo k, insigh s om he DAAD alumni managemen we e conside ed ele an . The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) 11 (3) The Humbold Founda ion p omo es academic coope a ion be ween schola s and esea che s. Suppo ing, main aining and inc easing he Humbold Ne wo k, which consis ed o abou 29,000 scien is in 2018, a e some o he co e aims o he Humbold Founda ion (s.a.-a). I p ides i sel on es ablishing a special spi i and p ide o hose who a e pa o he Humbold Ne wo k, which made he Humbold alumni’s wo k pa icula ly en icing o analyse. (4) The Robe Bosch Founda ion’s alumni ac i i ies a e coo dina ed by he In e na ional Alumni Cen e (iac Be lin) – a compe ence cen e o impac -o ien ed alumni wo k. The iac Be lin was ounded in 2017 and de elops and coo dina es he Bosch Alumni ac i i ies. As o 2020, he ne wo k coun ed 6,600 membe s ac oss coun ies and sec o s. I also unc ions as an ad iso o o he ne wo ks in he a ea o philan h opy and ad ises o he ne wo ks and ounda ions in his a ea. The main aim o his ne wo k is o c ea e ans o ma ion in socie y beyond he ne wo k. This is e y simila o he MGG Ne wo k, which is why he iac Be lin was chosen as an example (Rich e & Menz, 2020). In he ollowing, he alumni ac i i ies o he ou ins i u ions a e p esen ed in an o e iew (see Table 1 below) in o de o explo e how hey suppo long- e m ansna ional knowledge coope a ion. The alumni s a egies ha e been s uc u ed along he ca ego ies: aims, ocus, ac i i ies, ype o alumni managemen s uc u es and success ac o s acco ding o he ne wo k manage s. These ca ego ies we e de i ed om he semi-s uc u ed quali a i e in e iews, which we e conduc ed wi h he abo e-men ioned alumni coo dina o s. The alumni se ices p o ided by he AA include issue-d i en egional mee ings, mee ings in he Ge man language, inancial suppo o s eng hen owne ship and issue-d i en summe schools (Gising, 2017). Pa o he DAAD’s alumni wo k is o p o ide unding o egional alumni clubs and alumni mee ings (big ones o ganised by he DAAD, small ones o ganised by he alumni clubs) and indi idual unding o alumni, such as unding o ma e ials, e- in i a ion schola ships and special p ojec s (Wedel, 2017). The Humbold Founda ion p o ides a g ea a ie y o unding o alumni om Ge many and o he coun ies. This includes, o example, sponso ship o publica ions and scien i ic coope a ion be ween membe s o he Humbold Ne wo k as well as suppo o being a hos o academics (Humbold Founda ion, s.a.-b). The iac Be lin aims a c oss-sec o al exchanges be ween i s membe s and os e ing in e na ional collabo a ions (Bosch Alumni Ne wo k, s.a.). The ne wo k suppo s alumni in becoming change agen s. Special se ices ha he iac Be lin o e s include: Lea ning Exchange g an s, p ac i ione s lab, webina s o suppo o egional g oups and inno a i e change ideas (Rich e & Menz, 2020). The able shows ha all ou alumni ne wo ks inco po a e cha ac e is ics o a ne wo k o belonging. The DAAD speci ically poin s ou in i s aims ha i p omo es he long- e m connec ion i has wi h Ge many. All alumni ne wo ks o ganise egula mee ings and main ain da abanks o keep in ouch. The AA, he DAAD and he Humbold Founda ion named bo h elemen s as success ac o s. Especially he AA and he iac Be lin ocus on opics ha can be in e p e ed as elemen s o ansac ional ne wo ks, aligning he ne wo k membe s’ capaci ies so hey can wo k on sha ed opics. All ou alumni ne wo ks p o ide s uc u es o manage hei ne wo ks – employing pe sons who a e speci ically esponsible o ne wo k de elopmen . This s uc u al elemen is impo an o all h ee ypes o alumni ne wo ks. The iac Be lin and he AA suppo and y o enable sel -o ganisa ion – one o he success ac o s o ans o ma i e ne wo ks. Fu he mo e, he iac Be lin aims a Johanna Vogel 12 Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) suppo ing alumni in becoming change make s – ano he cha ac e is ic o ans o ma i e ne wo ks. In he las sec ion, he ac o s ha a e needed o u he de elop an alumni ne wo k’s ans o ma i e po en ial a e elabo a ed. Table 1: Compa ing AA, DAAD, he Humbold Founda ion and he iac Be lin AA DAAD Humbold Founda ion iac Be lin Ac i i ies Issue-d i en egional mee ings Mee ings in Ge man language Financial suppo o owne ship Issue-d i en summe school Funds o egional alumni clubs Big and small alumni mee ings Funds o indi iduals Sponso ship o a g ea a ie y o ac i i ies o Ge man and o eign alumni, such as: esea ch s ays, ma e ials, con e ences, colloquiums, publica ions Lea ning exchange g an s P ac i ione s lab Webina s Monday on he couch Regional g oups Call o ideas Aims P omo e he ideas and alues o he Fede al Fo eign O ice Ne wo king; AA is in e es ed in opics Long- e m connec ion wi h Ge many Con ibu e o peace ul communica ion, p e en ion o con lic s In e na ionalisa ion Mobilisa ion Linking economy and science Suppo in e cul u al and science dialogues Keep con ac wi h esea che s as con ac pe sons S eng hen Ge many as a esea ch loca ion Use know-how and expe ise Con ibu e o de elopmen coope a ion Suppo alumni o be change make s in socie y Use alumni as inpu gi e s o ounda ion Focus on Topics People People Topics Type o alumni- managemen s uc u e Cen alised Cus omised con ac managemen Cen alised Decen alised Cen alised h ough he iac Be lin Success ac o s acco ding o ne wo k manage s Cen alised communica ion and o ganisa ion Up- o-da e da abank ool Issue-d i en, in- pe son e en s Up- o-da e da abank; il e acco ding o keywo ds P o ides added- alue o he alumni Global alumni mee ings Up- o-da e da abank Sponso ship Ma ke ing Thema ic clus e and impac ields Enable sel - o ganisa ion Sou ce: Au ho The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) 13 5 Becoming a ans o ma i e alumni ne wo k The main aim o his pape was o p o ide an answe o ne wo k acili a o s – especially hose in alumni ne wo ks – abou how o de elop hei ne wo k’s capaci y o c ea e ans o ma ion owa ds sus ainabili y. Fi s , he alumni managemen li e a u e was p esen ed o explo e he de ini ion and bene i s o alumni managemen in gene al. Alumni managemen is one o m o ne wo k de elopmen in which, ideally, he hos ing ins i u ion and he alumni bo h bene i om con inued in e ac ion. The analyses o he alumni managemen li e a u e demons a ed ha alumni ne wo ks’ g ea es po en ial lies in hei sha ed expe ience. Ne wo k pa icipan s ha e expe ienced an especially in ensi e and o en li e-changing ime oge he . Tha c ea es especially s ong connec ions and ela ions among his g oup o people. Ob iously, hese connec ions and le els o us we e p ima ily buil wi hin one g oup. The challenge o ne wo k acili a o s is o expand hese us ul ela ions beyond one g oup and sp ead hem ac oss all ne wo k membe s. Ne e heless, his is an ad an age ha alumni ne wo ks ha e, in con as o o he ne wo ks om, o example, he social mo emen a ea. Findings om he p e ious sec ions a e now combined and illus a ed in he ollowing Table 2, which summa ises and cha ac e ises he necessa y condi ions ha suppo ne wo ks in eaching hei espec i e aims. The i s column lis s he h ee di e en s eps o an ideal ne wo k e olu ion: 1. Ne wo k o Belonging, 2. T ansac ional Ne wo k and 3. T ans o ma i e Ne wo k (see Sec ion 3.1). The i s ow displays he necessa y elemen s o c ea e a success ul ne wo k (as explained in de ail in Sec ion 3.2): connec ions in he o m o ela ions and us , a ne wo k iden i y (including a pu pose, ision, mission, alues, compe encies, le e age poin s), suppo ing s uc u es and ac i i ies. Ideally, ans o ma i e ne wo ks include all condi ions o he o he wo ne wo k ypes. In eali y, he di e en s eps and condi ions mos ly do no de elop in a linea p ocess. Table 2: Cha ac e is ics and condi ions o de elop ne wo ks’ ans o ma i e capaci ies Condi ions o / ne wo k e olu ion (connec ed human desi e) Ac i i ies Connec ion/ ela ions/ us Ne wo k iden i y Suppo ing s uc u es Ne wo k o belonging (belonging and connec ing) Nos algic ge - oge he s Ac s o g a i ude (dona ions) Con idence Pe sonal amilia i y Compe ency Nos algic/sha ed expe iences in pas Main ain op o da e da abank T ansac ional ne wo ks (sha ing) Sha ing con ac s, b inging people oge he , men o ing Openness Hones y Au hen ici y Sha e con ac s P o essional ne wo k Es ablish sha ed iden i y (?) Accessibili y o con ac de ails, making easy connec ions T ans o ma i e ne wo ks (making a di e ence) C ea e sha ed opics wi h social impac Commi men Dedica ion Sha ed u u e na a i e Enabling owne ship/ Facili a e p ojec implemen a ion P o ide eedback s uc u es Sou ce: Au ho Johanna Vogel 14 Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) I now ecommend i e ac o s o suppo alumni ne wo ks in de eloping hei ans o ma i e po en ial. Recommenda ion #1: Align you ac i i ies o he li e s ages o you alumni Keeping alumni engaged is mos p omising when he hos ing ins i u ion add esses he alumni’s speci ic needs o e ime. Alumni ha e di e en expe iences ha change o e ime due o ca ee choices and di e en s ages o li e. Typically, a pa icipan de elops om a esh alumnus*a (wi h s ong sense o belonging bu expe iencing challenges o e u ning home) in o a junio alumnus*a wi h a s onge in e es in ne wo ks bu also g ea e amily and ca ee esponsibili ies, be o e becoming a midli e alumnus*a whose epu a ion has g own while he amoun o ee ime as well as need o ne wo ks ha e inc eased. A nos algic alumnus*a is ypically ull o g a i ude and willing o gi e back. These ypes o senio s use ne wo ks egula ly. Wi h ega d o ans o ma i e ne wo ks, esh alumni a e o en especially dedica ed o making a di e ence and a e s ill ull o spi i and mo i a ed o make change happen. O e he yea s, p i a e and p o essional esponsibili ies end o inc ease. Midli e- and nos algic alumni can la e become impo an “ne wo k wea e s” wi h a wide ange o connec ions ( ansac ional ne wo ks), de elop eelings o g a i ude (ne wo k o belonging), ha e expe iences in expe imen ing and inno a ing, as well as acqui ing know-how o c ea e change. Nos algic alumni migh ha e collec ed expe iences as change make s and ideally sha e hei knowledge wi h esh alumni ( ans o ma i e ne wo ks). To main ain his ne wo k o belonging, hos ins i u ions should nu u e he s ong connec ions, o example h ough egula ace- o- ace mee ings, in which nos algic memo ies a e cul i a ed. The DAAD, he Humbold Founda ion and he MGG Ne wo k do his h ough egula domes ic and in e na ional alumni mee ings. S ong memo ies come back especially when he mee ings ake place in he same loca ions as he p io expe iences had aken place, which nu u es a sense o belonging. An up- o-da e da abank is c ucial o enabling egula alumni mee ings. Alumni eel a deep g a i ude and a willingness o gi e some hing back. Recommenda ion # 2: In es in us -building The social mo emen li e a u e and p ac ical ne wo k de elopmen handbooks p o ide impo an ecommenda ions on how o make ne wo ks success ul. June Holley (2012) ecommends wo king on he ollowing aspec s o c ea e success ul ne wo ks: ela ionships, in en ions, suppo s uc u es and ac ions. C ea ing ela ions, which bene i success ul ne wo ks, include: connec ing people, building us and b inging new people in o he ne wo k. This pape ega ds us as he undamen al basis on which ela ions a e g ounded, because he mo e ha us ul ela ions exis , he mo e he numbe o collabo a ion p ocesses wi hin he ne wo ks. T us allows ne wo k membe s o economise in o ma ion, inc eases e iciencies, ansac ion cos s a e lowe ed and decision-making p ocesses a e simpli ied. T us suppo s knowledge-sha ing while acili a ing coope a ion and sha ed p oblem- sol ing, which a e all co e unc ions o success ul ne wo ks. This pape sugges s wo king wi h Meghan Tschannen-Mo an and Wayne Hoy’s de ini ion o us , which desc ibes bene olence and con idence; eliabili y and p edic abili y; compe ence; hones y; openness as well as amilia i y as being essen ial elemen s o us . Wo king wi h hese di e en no ions o us allows ne wo k acili a o s and membe s o ope a ionalise us in e e yday p ac ices. The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) 15 In alumni ne wo ks o belonging especially, aspec s o us such as pe sonal amilia i y, con idence and compe ence play impo an oles. Du ing he sha ed aining expe ience, a undamen al us in he ne wo k – bu also in he o he pa icipan s – should ha e been de eloped. Ne wo k acili a o s should no miss he oppo uni y o seed he undamen al condi ions o a s ong sense o belonging and deep us in his i s collec i e expe ience. La e , ne wo k acili a o s no mally use alumni mee ings o e i e he ne wo k’s iden i y and main ain us ul ela ions. O e ime esh alumni become nos algic alumni, ideally look back ull o g a i ude, and a e willing o suppo hei hos ing ins i u ion and ellow ne wo k membe s. In ansac ional alumni ne wo ks, he aspec s o openness, hones y and au hen ici y become addi ionally impo an . Only when expe iencing mu ual openness and hones y wi hin he ne wo k will membe s sha e hei p o essional con ac s. Wi hin ansac ional alumni ne wo ks, he las aspec s o us – commi men and dedica ion – play a c ucial ole. The ini ia ing and implemen ing o join p ojec s demands much mo e commi men and dedica ion han only sha ing knowledge and in o ma ion ega ding p o essional con ac s. Recommenda ion # 3: De elop a we-iden i y The hi d elemen , which is c ucial o success ul ne wo ks acco ding o June Holley, is in en ions o a ne wo k’s “we-iden i y”. We-iden i ies a e a se o collec i e no ms and belie s ha suppo he building o mu ual us . Ideally, we-iden i ies a e c ea ed oge he wi hin he ne wo k and encompass dimensions such as he ne wo k’s pu pose, ision, mission, compe encies, alues and le e age poin s. Whe eas in alumni ne wo ks o belonging he ne wo k’s iden i y no mally ocuses only on a sha ed expe ience in he pas , in ansac ional ne wo ks, membe s o en s a o es ablish iden i ies ha goes beyond his. T ans o ma i e ne wo ks hen need o es ablish a sha ed u u e na a i e o c ea e p ojec s wi h social impac beyond hei ne wo k. Wha is he ne wo k’s ision and mission o he u u e? Wha is he ne wo k’s pu pose? Which le e age poin s do he ne wo k membe s see o c ea ing impac ? Addi ionally, he o he aspec s o a ne wo k’s iden i y should also be con inually wo ked on, such as he ne wo k’s alues and compe encies. This p ocess should be pa icipa o y and collec i e. The whole ne wo k should be able o con ibu e in o de o c ea e legi imacy. A collec i ely es ablished we-iden i y can unc ion as a guiding amewo k o he ne wo k’s ac ions. The Humbold Founda ion cul i a es a e y s ong we-iden i y and spi i o oge he ness, which is illus a ed in hei claim “once a Humbold ian, always a Humbold ian”. Recommenda ion # 4: P o ide suppo ing s uc u es o making easy connec ions To be success ul, ne wo ks should c ea e suppo ing s uc u es, which enable ac ion. Suppo i e s uc u es wi hin a ne wo k can include se ing up communica ion sys ems, digi al communi y pla o ms, helping people o use social media, enabling and suppo ing collabo a ion p ocesses as well as e alua ing and e lec ing on he ne wo k’s impac . In alumni ne wo ks o belonging, ne wo k acili a o s mos ly o ganise egula alumni mee ings o nu u e sha ed memo ies. T ansac ional ne wo ks addi ionally p o ide s uc u es ha enable making easy connec ions and he sha ing o con ac s among ne wo k membe s. Ac ions usually include connec ing like-minded people and enabling new business oppo uni ies. The alumni ne wo k o he AA bene i s om sha ing p o essional con ac s. Johanna Vogel 16 Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) Recommenda ion # 5: Enable sel -o ganisa ion One o he mos c ucial elemen s o ans o ma i e ne wo ks hough is c ea ing suppo ing s uc u es ha include se ing up and ini ia ing sel -o ganisa ion wi hin he ne wo k. Sel - o ganisa ion is he engine o collabo a ion p ojec s in ne wo ks. I is also he aspec ha is mos likely o b ing ans o ma ion. Ne wo k acili a o s’ main goal should be o enable sel -o ganisa ion and acili a e he implemen a ion o collabo a ion p ojec s. Ne wo k acili a o s should also egula ly p omo e an ac i e eedback cul u e as well as e alua ion mechanisms o he ne wo k’s impac . The iac Be lin and he AA ne wo k bo h highligh ed how c ucial he enabling s uc u es a e o ini ia ing sel -o ganisa ion. The AA es ablished, o example, an inno a ion und o suppo inno a ion wi hin hei ne wo k. 6 Conclusions How knowledge ne wo ks can ully de elop hei ans o ma i e po en ial h ough s a egic alumni managemen is ele an o alumni coo dina o s, ne wo k acili a o s and decision- make s in ol ed in ne wo k ac i i ies. The pape de ined alumni managemen as being he hos ing ins i u ion’s aim o p o essionalise, ins i u ionalise and s uc u e hei ne wo k o o me pa icipan s who ha e comple ed a aining o educa ion p og amme. Fu he mo e, he mu ual bene i s o he hos ing ins i u ion as well as o he alumni we e highligh ed. F om his pe spec i e, alumni managemen is bene icial o a ange o aining o educa ion ins i u ions. Ne wo ks a e an inc emen al pa o con empo a y socie y. The e o e, imp o ing ne wo ks’ e iciency and impac is also ele an o sec o s beyond educa ion o esea ch. Ou indings a e based on a combina ion o he alumni managemen li e a u e, he social mo emen li e a u e and empi ical examples om alumni ne wo ks, including he MGG Ne wo k, which is hos ed by DIE. The i s ecommenda ion – align you ne wo k ac i i ies o he li e s ages o alumni – was acqui ed om he alumni managemen li e a u e. In o he sec o s, i could be applied o aligning you ne wo k’s ac i i ies o he needs o you a ge g oup. The second ecommenda ion – o in es in us – is based on bo h he social mo emen li e a u e and expe iences om he MGG Ne wo k. In es ing in us akes ime and is a con inuous ask; in ac , i is essen ial o all o ms o coope a ion. The hi d ecommenda ion – in es in de eloping a we-iden i y – is based on he social mo emen li e a u e, expe iences om a ious alumni ne wo ks as well as on own p ocesses wi hin he MGG Ne wo k. In es ing ime o de elop a sha ed ision helps o mo i a e collabo a ion pa ne s and es ablishes common poin s o e e ence. The o h ecommenda ion – o p o ide suppo ing s uc u es – is discussed in he alumni li e a u e, he social mo emen li e a u e as well as in own in e iews wi h alumni coo dina o s. Wha is mean he e is o c ea e s uc u es o o malise ini ially loose ne wo ks, which is an inc emen al s ep o achie e a sha ed goal. The ecommenda ion o enable sel -o ganisa ion – ou i h and las – is speci ically highligh ed wi hin he social mo emen ne wo k de elopmen li e a u e. I is linked o he aspi a ion o achie ing ans o ma ion: C ea ing spaces and s uc u es o sel -o ganisa ion is essen ial o c ea ing impac beyond he con ines o one’s own ne wo k. The ans o ma i e capaci y o ansna ional and ansdisciplina y ne wo ks and he po en ial o alumni wo k Ge man De elopmen Ins i u e / Deu sches Ins i u ü En wicklungspoli ik (DIE) 17 In sho , ans o ma i e alumni ne wo ks need o (1) align hei ac i i ies o he li e s ages o hei alumni, (2) es ablish and nu u e us ul ela ions among hei ne wo k membe s – encompassing all elemen s o us (bene olence and con idence, eliabili y and p edic abili y, compe ence, hones y, openness as well as amilia i y and in imacy), (3) ini ia e and con inually wo k on a collabo a i e we-iden i y p ocess, (4) p o ide suppo ing s uc u es ha allow o making easy connec ions as well as (5) enable sel -o ganisa ion. I a gue ha when an alumni coo dina o , ne wo k acili a o o decision-make in ol ed in ne wo ks akes hese i e ecommenda ions in o conside a ion, i enhances he po en ial o a knowledge ne wo k o suppo socie al change. Ne wo ks a e a ool o acili a e coope a ion, enable collabo a ion on eye-le el and c ea e space o mu ual dialogue. Wi h he inc easing complexi y o socie y’s challenges – he Co ona pandemic, clima e change, mig a ion, cybe c iminali y and many mo e, o name jus some examples – ne wo ks a e becoming mo e impo an . Global issues demand collabo a i e solu ions and canno be ackled by one na ion o one ac o alone; i s , ag eemen needs o be eached on he p io i ies o ackling he challenges on a global scale so ha impo an ac o s a e – o can be – b ough on boa d. Communi ies and socie ies need o coope a e in o de o collec i ely de ine he p oblems and ind he solu ions, he eby including a a ie y o pe spec i es and inc easing he legi imacy and local sui abili y o sugges ed solu ions. F om a ne wo k membe ’s pe spec i e, he ne wo k needs o be ele an o he cu en s age o his o he p o essional li e – while also con ibu ing o he g ea e common good ha he espec i e g oup is aiming o . Al hough his pape ocused on ans o ma i e alumni ne wo ks, ou ecommenda ions can also be conside ed o di e en ypes o ne wo ks o imp o e hei social and poli ical impac s. In es ing in us , a sha ed ision and s uc u es o sel -o ganisa ion a e especially e ec i e ins umen s o inc easing coope a ion o wo k on complex challenges.