The COVID-19 pandemic brought club activities to a standstill in many places—including the Hof University Alumni Association. The cancellation of in-person events and the lack of face-to-face interaction posed major challenges for networking efforts. But in the meantime, the association has reinvented itself, adopted a more international focus, and been revitalized with fresh ideas. In this interview, Alumni Manager Ms. Glück explains how the relaunch was successful, what goals are being pursued, and why staying in touch with former graduates is more important today than ever.
Ms. Glück, the work of the alumni association suffered a major setback due to the pandemic a few years ago—why was that?
“At that time, the alumni association’s program focused primarily on in-person events for domestic graduates. Due to the situation at the time, with lockdowns and changing political restrictions, established events such as Homecoming could no longer be planned or held. Although the association tried to stay in touch with members through online lectures on interesting topics, this was not as successful as before the pandemic due to the lack of personal contact.”
That was the case for many associations. What did the relaunch look like, and since when has the alumni association been operating with a new focus?
“Work on the reorientation began in 2023. The goal was set to more strongly involve the international alumni—who at the time made up 30% of the membership—in the association’s offerings and to develop a platform that reflects the previously regionally organized association and expands it with new members. At the end of 2024, a significant personnel change also took place on the association’s board: Prof. Dr. Ronald Hechtfischer stepped down after 20 years as chairman and handed the baton to Prof. Dr. Oliver Schuster, who is himself an alumnus of the university. The board was completed by Michael Bitzinger (Vice Chair) and Aniane Vocke (Treasurer). The previous Executive Director, Katrin Blug, stepped down from her position and moved to the “Go2Hof” project. In January 2025, I took on the role of Central Alumni Manager.”
Why exactly does a university like Hof engage in such intensive work with its alumni?
“Hof University of Applied Sciences is a small university with regional ties and a family-like atmosphere. What we consistently hear is that students feel comfortable here within the manageable structures and at home on campus. We want to preserve these positive memories of the place where they studied and build a network of everyone who has studied, worked, and conducted research here. Our goal is to promote the university’s good reputation in society, maintain contact with our alumni, and integrate them into our structures.”
What does that mean in concrete terms?
“This can be done, for example, through Career Talks—where alumni tell students about their career paths after graduation and offer concrete tips for starting a career. The benefits of alumni engagement are of great value to everyone involved. For alumni, it offers the chance to stay connected to our university, expand their network, and maintain professional contacts. Furthermore, there is tangible added value in the fact that alumni can also recruit new employees through the network. At the same time, it opens up the opportunity to pass on their own experiences to students and actively contribute to the development of future generations. In this way, students can find jobs or internships through early contact with our alumni and benefit from the exchange of their experiences. Fundamentally, all parties involved benefit mutually.
For us as a university, alumni relations serve in particular to gain practical insights, recruit faculty, and at the same time secure long-term support through donations or partnerships.”
How many alumni—both German and international—are now part of your network, and how does it function?
“Our alumni network offers a platform to register for current events, find job openings, or make new connections, among other things. It currently has just under 900 users, including approximately 400 association members. Since the launch of our network in November 2025 and the modern access to information it provides, we have been able to recruit numerous new association members. Your membership fee helps fund events (e.g., regular get-togethers, homecomings, or the Alumni Award ceremony) and thus the core elements of our networking efforts. Even as a free basic member, you can use the network and participate in many events. In the future, we also plan to develop exclusive offers for association members to make membership even more attractive.”
Where is the former graduate living who is the farthest away?
“Our alumni are scattered across the globe. For example, we have some graduates who have returned to their home countries. In 2025, we were able to organize an alumni get-together in Bangalore, India, in collaboration with the university administration. But our graduates are also represented in North America, Iceland, and other European countries.”
What does the Hof University alumni network offer?
“We support graduates throughout all stages of their lives and careers and continuously provide them with relevant opportunities and contacts. Our events are a key part of this. Whether through small, in-person gatherings (like the alumni get-together), online seminars for personal development, or large-scale events, our goal is to create formats that foster personal connections and strengthen ties to the university.”
What projects are currently in the works?
“We are currently working on a mentoring program designed to intensify direct and long-term exchange between an experienced alumnus and a student and to support their personal and professional advancement. To ensure the network remains vibrant and relevant, the active involvement of faculty members is also crucial. Through their participation in events, interaction with alumni, and integration of current professional developments, they contribute significantly to the quality and appeal of the network. We cordially invite all alumni and faculty members to register with the alumni network.
What events are planned for 2026?
“This year, we have planned various formats aimed at all graduates from every graduating class, regardless of their field of study, graduation year, or career stage. Highlights include Homecoming on June 27, 2026, and a trip to Bangalore in the fall.
For Homecoming, we’ve planned a diverse program to rekindle memories of the university and Hof as a place of study. In addition to a keynote address in the Audimax, there will be a brewery and city tour, followed by a joint celebration with food and music at the Einstein 1 Startup Center. Registration is available through the network.
We are also planning a trip to Bangalore in September. Under the patronage of the President, we would like to give alumni the opportunity to get to know Bangalore in all its diversity, accompanied by our team. In addition to visiting a startup and participating in a tech summit, the program also includes a visit to a Hindu temple, among other activities. Anyone interested in exploring India together with their university is welcome to express their interest via the alumni network. We will then send further information.
Finally, we’re continuing our tried-and-true formats, such as regular get-togethers in various locations across Germany and online seminars for professional development.”
That sounds promising. And are there any other plans in the works?
“Yes! Another highlight awaits us in 2027: We plan to award the Silver Diploma for the first time. This award is intended for graduates who received their degrees at least 25 years ago (i.e., the graduating classes of 1998 through 2002). This event will be part of the Night of Sciences to introduce alumni to the university and all its current initiatives. So if you studied during this period, you are cordially invited to submit your contact information to the alumni network now. We also warmly encourage you to spread the word about this event among your friends and acquaintances, as it is difficult to locate graduates from that time due to a lack of contact information.”
Thank you very much!
