Author: Zorica Trajkova Strezovska

On 26th March, 2022, about 30 alumni took part in the second Strategic Planning Event of MAAA which was held at the Seavus Educational Center. At the beginning, the president of MAAA Ms. Verica Jordanova greeted the participants and then an agreement was reached on the areas found most important to discuss. The participants were split into groups and were asked to brainstorm and suggest ideas concerning four main areas: MAAA project activities, networking and community outreach, international cooperation and members’ engagement. In the end, each group reported their conclusions and recommended future steps MAAA could take in the specific areas.

Projects

The first group discussed present and possible future projects of MAAA. They expressed their satisfaction with the currently active projects like the Small grants, the Alumni Rapid Response Fund and Public Diplomacy Grant. It was mentioned that with the help of the latter, for instance, some members of MAAA founded Blink 42-21, a non-governmental organization that connects people dedicated to the idea that social innovation could lead to economic, educational and social transformation through smarter use of people, data and technology. In addition, some possible future initiatives were suggested like: signing memorandums of cooperation with specific institutions, or urging the Ministry of Education and Science and the Embassy to grant special funds and projects solely for the alumni, like, one-month-long visits for higher education professors to American universities, to help improve the digital transformation of the universities for instance – a suggestion for joint educational programs with American universities. In addition, the group also recommended that MAAA should urge the Ministry of Education to create a basis for substitute teachers for Primary and Secondary schools, based on geographical vicinity and expertise (which may include retired, senior students, university professors) so that students will not waste classes in specific cases like the pandemic or absence of professors for different reasons.

Networking and  community outreach

The second group were brainstorming possibilities for increasing the networking and  community outreach. They suggested several new ideas, such as: organization of round tables, or meetings, in which, academics who have not been to the US and are not members of MAAA can hear about MAAA members’ experience in participating in US exchange programs; publishing pamphlets ‘Get to know MAAA better’ with short information about all MAAA activities;  info sessions for MAAA members on which they can hear about new opportunities for applying to certain programs and projects; celebration of different events, for instance MAAA’s birthday (each year on 21st March); publishing a weekly program with all the events and happenings for the month once a month; motivating MAAA members to be more active by granting acknowledgements, certificates and awards; publishing a bulletin for all open active grants; organizing humanitarian activities.

Cooperation with international  organizations

The third group was brainstorming ideas on how MAAA can improve the cooperation with international  organizations, mainly other alumni associations. The group suggested that MAAA should be first institutionalized, and there should be a special sector for  international cooperation and for new technologies. In addition, it should map other alumni associations in the region, for instance from Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania, Bulgaria and should establish cooperation on different projects, supported by the American Embassy like the Alumni Engagement Innovation funds.

Members’ engagement

Finally, the fourth group discussed different ways to engage and activate more MAAA members and made some concrete suggestions, like creating a data basis with members’ background information (the exchange program they took part in, information about their employment, activities they are involved in, etc.) so that it would be much easier to involve the most eligible ones in the right activities.

In the end, there was a group discussion and the participants expressed their satisfaction for having the opportunity to give ideas and contribute to the work of MAAA. We can gladly say that since the end of the strategic planning event until now, the Executive Board has taken the groups’ suggestions into consideration and has already made some concrete steps towards their realization. For instance, in order to create a more detailed database of all MAAA members, a form was sent out and members were asked to fill it in with information about their personal and professional background.  Another activity which has been initiated in the meantime was a Round table event which was open for the public and during which, some MAAA members shared how their participation in exchange programs impacted their values and professional path. In addition, the Executive Board applied to some open calls for project proposals, which are aimed towards involvement of as many MAAA members as possible in activities beneficial for the whole community.