CASE Presents: Maximising Impact with Limited Resources - AI, Alumni Awards and Adaptable Advancement-CASE Presents

CASE Presents - Cardiff University

Pdf Summary

Cardiff University launched the 30(ish) Awards in 2022 to celebrate younger alumni and has now run the scheme for five years, with more than 1,000 nominations and 140 winners from 22 countries and 21 nationalities. The awards recognize alumni impact across categories such as Social Impact, Health and Wellbeing, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Activist, Equity Advocate, Innovation, Wales to the World, and Journalism and Media.<br /><br />Applications open in late March and close in mid-June. Alumni can self-nominate or nominate others, with a 150-word statement and supporting links. The alumni engagement team creates a longlist, with shortlisting and judging processes evolving over time; this year, a panel will only shortlist the Vice-Chancellor’s award, and donor/prospect involvement is being trialed. Winners are notified in July, announced publicly in October, and celebrated at an event in November.<br /><br />Promotion is a key part of the scheme, using the university website, social media, email to 130,000 alumni, and internal communications. The branding was refreshed after the university’s 2024 rebrand.<br /><br />The awards ceremony is a networking-focused evening event held in a new flagship university building, with drinks, canapés, and a short formal awards segment. The awards benefit the university through marketing content, networking opportunities, internship leads, mentors, fundraising, chapter leads, and possible CASE coverage. Winners gain recognition, a physical award, a flagship event invitation, and a chance to reconnect with the university community.<br /><br />The annual budget is about £5,000, covering catering, venue support, host expenses, awards, photography, and display materials.

Keywords

Cardiff University

30(ish) Awards

alumni awards

younger alumni

social impact

entrepreneurship

networking event

alumni engagement

university branding

award ceremony