How are graduates and alumni featured in university strategic plans? Lessons from Ireland

This paper presents research from a small-scale study analysing how graduates and alumni feature in the strategic plans of all Irish universities (n = 7). The data suggest that the word ‘graduate’ is used to describe the work of the university as an enabler for the graduate, to prepare for the employment to acquire key skills, towards a foundation of ‘graduateness’ such as reflective thinking, moral reasoning and lifelong learning aligning with the institution’s key performance indicators. In contrast, ‘alumni’ are featured related to alumnus/alumna success. Irish Higher Education Institutions view alumni as a key enabler to contribute to the university’s mission and vision: through giving, both of their time and philanthropic donations. Based on the strategic plan discourse, the role of alumni in Irish universities suggests a similar trend, relying on alumni as an internal stakeholder with an external ability to offer value to the institution.