Alumni
Alumni refers to individuals who were ELSA members and/or officers but no longer want to be active within the Association. Becoming an Alumna or Alumnus of ELSA is a natural step after participating in opportunities or in board activities when ELSA is no longer beneficial to the professional development of those individuals. ELSA's activities are specifically tailored to students to prepare them for their professional lives yet once qualified or employed, ELSA's impact on professional development is limited. This is where Alumni groups step in to ensure that individuals can still network with like-minded professionals and develop themselves. Alumni are also valuable resources for the ELSA Network - they are emotionally connected with the Association and are often happy to help out in various ways such as acting as speakers or judges during events or competitions, providing legal support to the Network or sometimes even financial support.
International Alumni Network - ELSA Alumni
On the international level, past ELSA members and officers may join ELSA Alumni. 'ELSA Alumni is a unique global network that brings together a diverse group of people from all walks of life, from different generations and different career levels. Our members include CEOs, government officials, business leaders, bankers, NGO leaders, officials working for international institutions, diplomats, lawyers, judges, academics, entrepreneurs, executives and business angels.'
National and Local Alumni Networks
Some groups also have National or Local Alumni networks. These groups consist of members or officers from specific National or Local Groups. They serve the same or similar purposes as the International Alumni Network while focusing mainly on the National or Local ELSA Network rather than on the international aspect of ELSA. Having a National or Local Alumni Group is incredibly valuable.
How can I establish an Alumni Network?
There are various ways in which an Alumni Network can be established and maintained in National and Local Groups. It is recommended to discuss these options with your National Network as they all have their advantages and disadvantages. Currently, there are two Alumni structures established within the ELSA Network.
Independent from National / Local Groups (e.g. ELSA Alumni Germany, ELSA Alumni Finland, ELSA Alumni Belgium)
Integrated into the National / Local Groups (e.g. ELSA Poland, ELSA United Kingdom, ELSA Ireland, etc).
In Germany and Finland, the Alumni Network is independent of the National and Local Groups while in most other National Groups the Alumni Network is managed by the National Board or Local Boards.