DTP alumni call for more support for alumni networking

In August 2023, the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) surveyed its alumni, seeking information and views on DTP alumni networking. DTP was keen to learn more about whether DTP alumni currently network with each other, whether and how they would like to network in future and the support that DTP could give to DTP alumni networking.

DTP contacted 1572 alumni, receiving responses from 255. From the survey responses it is clear networking already happens, especially between those that participated in the same DTP program. There was also strong support for more networking and for DTP to be more engaged in facilitating and supporting networking among DTP alumni.

Through the survey, DTP Alumni called on DTP to do the following:

• Expand DTP’s online network by organising consistent, monthly or bi-annually alumni meetings through webinars, and establish a social media and communications team to organise and promote these events,
• Establish an official email group for alumni to converse or an official DTP email domain exclusive to DTP alumni,
• Organise annual national in-person workshops and programs to give alumni consistent access to updated human rights defenders training,
• Establish official online forums that connect alumni together from specific countries, regions, and for those addressing similar human rights issues and advocacy goals,
• Create a DTP database/directories of alumni project on the DTP’s website,
• Use DTP’s social media and website to promote and advertise campaigns of alumni.

DTP recognises the need to invest more in its alumni network. The DTP alumni survey complements the two DTP alumni workshops held in Fiji and Thailand in June 2023. DTP will consider the survey outcomes and the outcomes of the alumni workshops in its strategic planning process.