How Alumni Are Transforming Student Recruitment: An Interview with Bangor University’s Louise Morgan

Alumni engagement is evolving beyond reunions and networking events. At Bangor University, alumni are now at the heart of international student recruitment, bridging the gap between prospective students and real-life success stories.

We sat down with Louise Morgan, Deputy Director of International Recruitment and Mobility at Bangor University, to discuss how Alumnify has revolutionised their approach to student engagement.

Q: What initially attracted Bangor University to work with Alumnify?

Louise Morgan: "Alumnify presented an innovative approach to enhancing the applicant journey, strengthening brand loyalty, and ultimately improving student recruitment outcomes. Their model - engaging alumni not just as representatives but as real-life success stories -aligned perfectly with our vision of creating a full-circle impact.

"They also solved a significant challenge for us. Like many universities, maintaining alumni connections can be difficult due to outdated databases. Alumnify offered a managed service to locate and recruit alumni, helping us bridge that gap while providing structured support.

Their deep understanding of international higher education recruitment, coupled with their commitment to amplifying alumni voices in key markets, made them an invaluable partner."

Q: What impact has working with Alumnify had on Bangor University’s international recruitment efforts?

Louise Morgan: "The results have been remarkable. Alumnify has significantly enhanced our global outreach, allowing us to connect with prospective students in new and innovative ways. Their alumni network provides in-language support, application advice, and first-hand career insights - all crucial elements in the decision-making process for students and their families.

"One of the biggest benefits has been their structured training programme for Alumnifiers. These alumni are not just speaking about their experiences - they are trained in recruitment, mentorship, and student support. Regular refresher sessions and performance reviews ensure that their engagement remains high quality.

"From a strategic perspective, Alumnify has helped us identify and recruit alumni with specific academic and professional backgrounds that align with our target markets. This personalisation means prospective students get advice tailored to their field of interest, which has significantly improved conversion rates."

Q: Can you share some tangible outcomes from this collaboration?

Louise Morgan: "Absolutely. The impact has been far-reaching. Our recruitment event reach has expanded fivefold, allowing us to attend multiple events simultaneously across key strategic and emerging markets.

"Student conversion rates have also improved significantly. Our nurture tracking and calling campaigns have achieved a 58% success rate, which is 30% higher than similar efforts led by our UK-based team.

"Alumnify has also helped us diversify our reach, particularly into Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, where we previously had little or no presence. This expansion has enabled us to engage with students in regions that were once difficult to access.

"Beyond recruitment, Alumnify has also supported upskilling our in-country teams, providing leadership opportunities that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Their ability to execute a range of activities - from university fairs to pre-departure briefings - has made our student engagement much more seamless and personalised."

Q: Many universities struggle with balancing cost and effectiveness in recruitment. Has Alumnify addressed this challenge for Bangor University?

Louise Morgan: "Absolutely. Alumnify has been a cost-effective solution in markets where maintaining full-time staff wouldn’t be justified. Their Alumnifiers are dedicated to promoting Bangor University exclusively, and their ability to scale resources based on market demand has been a game-changer.

"They also take full responsibility for compliance with local employment laws and tax regulations, which has significantly reduced our administrative burden. The flexibility of this model allows us to maintain a strong global presence without unnecessary overheads."

Q: What’s been the biggest surprise about working with Alumnify?

Louise Morgan: "When Alumnify first approached me, I was immediately impressed by their student-first mindset. They don’t just focus on recruitment; they create a meaningful employment pathway for alumni, ensuring that they remain engaged with their university while actively contributing to student success.

"James and his team have gone above and beyond - not just in training Alumnifiers but also in supporting our internal team. They quickly understood our strategic goals, helped us reconnect with alumni we had lost from our database, and brought best practices that have benefited our entire department.

"The results have been so compelling that we expanded our Alumnify engagement from two to five Alumnifiers within just four months. The impact on student conversion has been exceptional, and the additional market insights they provide have proven invaluable."

Q: Any final thoughts for universities considering working with Alumnify?

Louise Morgan: "I would highly recommend Alumnify to any international recruitment team looking for an effective, professional, and passionate extension of their operations. Their level of support, responsiveness, and commitment to increasing student accessibility worldwide has exceeded expectations.

"Thank you, James and the team, for your dedication and the success you have brought to Bangor University - I look forward to seeing this partnership continue to grow."

Final Thoughts

Louise’s experience highlights the transformative potential of alumni-driven recruitment. By leveraging alumni as authentic, relatable voices, universities can create stronger connections, higher engagement, and better recruitment outcomes - all while providing meaningful opportunities for graduates.

At Alumnify, we’re proud to support Bangor University in this journey, and we look forward to helping more institutions unlock the power of their alumni.

A special thanks to Louise Morgan for taking the time to share her experiences with us.