UNISTAFF ALUMNI NETWORKS:

1

• UNISTAFF ALUMNI NETWORKS
• THE CHALLENGE OF SELF-ORGANIZATION

ISOS
2
UNISTAFF THE STATE OF THE ART (1)
WITZENHAUSEN
Staff

• Continuity until end of 2008

Training

• From centralized 2 ½
• months courses

• towards decentralized
• short term courses
• and consultancy

ISOS
3
UNISTAFF THE STATE OF THE ART (2)
DECENTRALIZATION UNISTAFF ALUMNI NETWORKS
2007
2006
2007
2005
ISOS
4
PROSPECTS
Continues its role as host and partner university
of the network in Germany
Takes over a co-ordinating and advisory function
in the network
Remains a core partner and funding agency in the
network
ISOS
5
REASONS FOR SELF-ORGANIZING

• Quality and relevance in Higher Education is not
  built from the top
• down or from the outside in

• Lack of capacities, funds and knowledge in
  relevant official
• agencies

• Building social capital developing a sense of
  belonging to
• something very important

ISOS
6
BENEFITS OF SELF-ORGANIZATION

• People most familiar with the problem invent the
  solutions

• Retaining ownership of the change process

• Non-reliance on outside interventions

• The potential to discover novel, innovative
  solutions is enhanced

• Building social capital and developing a feeling
  of pride

• Chances for joint research enhanced

ISOS
7
SETTING UP A SELF-ORGANIZATION

• Make a declaration of something you want to
  accomplish

• Look at what the situation is right now in
  relation to what is desired

• Identify what is missing that, if provided could
  produce a breakthrough

• Set shared and understood goals that add the
  missing links

• Bring extraordinary combinations of people
  together

• Check What are the needs of the members that
  make them join

• Check What are the rewards the members expect
  from participating

ISOS
8
MOTTO
Can a small group of people who see and
respond differently to the world make a
difference? Indeed, history shows it is the
only thing that ever has


Margaret Mead
ISOS