Work in progress: International Alumni Monitoring Tool

Subproject IAMT 

Fontys University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands) is coordinator of the development of an International Alumni Monitoring Tool (IAMT) within the INTERLOCALITY consortium. This tool will track and collect objective data on the mobility and career progression of international students in the fields of engineering or business administration, and subjective data on their perceptions of their participation in the labour market, their intentions to stay and the factors affecting their international career (hindering or promoting their personal and professional development). The IAMT provides the educational institutions and partners in the region with valuable information in order to shape and adapt their support to students and employers. 

Literature review and interviews 

An extensive literature review was conducted in the first half of 2022 as input for the development of the IAMT. The previous studies into the career development of international students and knowledge workers have been mapped out, and relevant information about existing monitoring tools for alumni at a national and international level has been studied. The conclusions of this literature review will be ready in the first months of 2023. 

Now, in the second half of 2022, interviews are being held in the four participating countries with international students, regional employers, policy officers from the relevant universities of applied sciences and other groups involved in the internationalization of the labour market. The aim of these interviews is to analyse the needs and experiences of the various parties and map out the information that is required for the proper functioning of the IAMT. Information is also collected for the two other sub-projects within INTERLOCALITY. The results of these interviews will also be ready in the first half of 2023. 

Development of IAMT 

After analysing the results, the development of the International Alumni Monitoring Tool will start, based on the results of the preliminary studies. The aim of the IAMT is to promote career guidance for international students. A prototype will be developed, which will be extensively tested. A manual will also be created for other European universities of applied sciences, so they can develop their own monitoring tool in the future.