SHRINKING government financial assistance for Australian universities is forcing institutions to bolster alumni services to cash in on old-boy loyalties, an industry body says.
Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers said the need to seek new streams of funding, along with improved communication technology and marketing, was driving the shift towards alumni-centric programs at tertiary institutions.
Mr Withers said government funding had sunk to about 40 per cent, forcing education providers to explore untapped resources.
''A long period of restriction on university funding by governments in Australia has ... meant that universities were obliged to seek out new sources of revenue and support, including from or through alumni,'' Mr Withers said.
Mr Withers said the methods of attracting alumni support differed between institutions.
The University of Canberra and Australian National University both offer a range of benefits for alumni, including networking, access to lectures and workshops, awards and discounts on further education.
Donations are also welcomed.
All methods used aimed to re-engage former students by providing access to facilities and expertise, and the chance to sculpt the universities' directions and mission.
''Alumni who appreciate the benefits they themselves gained from their period at university can also give something back in a whole range of ways, including services to the university and through philanthropic support,'' Mr Withers said.
''Good alumni relations help keep graduates up to date with advances in education and innovation. They also facilitate the networking and linkages that constitute a cohesive and productive society, especially as we move more and more into the knowledge economy and society of the 21st century.''
The new direction is a shift towards the system of alumni allegiance employed by tertiary institutions in the United States.
But Philanthropy Australia chief Deborah Seifert says it should not be seen as a negative change.
''It's needs to be seen as a partnership between the institution and the donor,'' Dr Seifert said.
''The university may be approaching former students, but alumni that donate have a great joy in giving.
''A lot of people are extremely grateful for the education they received and they want to give back.''
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