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Building a strong, lifelong relationship with graduates is essential for vocational schools, yet maintaining that connection poses unique challenges. On May 29, 2025, school staff, trainers, social workers, and directors across the ASSET-H&C network gathered online for GetTogether #13—an inspiring knowledge exchange focused on the art of alumni engagement. 

The session drew heavily on the highly successful community-building model of KOTO Vietnam (Know One, Teach One). We welcomed Mr. Daniel Respall, Development & Impact Manager at KOTO, who shared invaluable mindsets and lessons learned from managing a thriving network of over 2,000 alumni. 

Practical Insights and Common Challenges 

During interactive Slido segments and breakout rooms, representatives from member schools, including PSE, Don Bosco, and ACDC, engaged in a candid discussion about the universal obstacles of alumni relations in the vocational and hospitality sectors: 

• The Shift-Work Barrier: Because the vast majority of hospitality graduates work irregular, demanding shift hours, schools find it incredibly difficult to capture their attention during standard working hours. 

• Geographic Dispersion: While training foundations are often rooted locally, graduates quickly scatter nationwide and globally. 

• The Record-Keeping Gap: Tracking early cohorts (dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s) remains an ongoing hurdle due to historical data loss and changing contact information. 

The Solution: Dedicated Resources & Creative Funding 

To tackle these hurdles, KOTO emphasizes moving away from ad-hoc volunteering. True community sustainability relies on an established, full-time business function: the KOTO Alumni Connect (KAC) team. To finance these extensive initiatives without draining core school resources, Mr. Respall explained that costs are managed creatively through strategic corporate partnerships, in-kind support, and targeted grant funding. 

The “Day One” Mindset & Creating a Family Culture 

“Treating alumni as partners and family members is the key success factor to a lasting community.” – Daniel Respall (KOTO) 

A core takeaway from the session was that successful alumni engagement does not begin at graduation; rather, it starts on a student’s very first day of enrollment. KOTO fosters a “family atmosphere” and a sense of gratitude from the outset, ensuring that when students graduate, they feel a deep-rooted desire to “pay it forward.” 

KOTO turns this mindset into a structured reality through several key practices: 

• Early Exposure: The KAC team connects with students while they are still in school, building generational bonds between senior and junior classes from orientation day. 

• Alumni-Led Mentorship: KOTO systematically reaches out to established alumni from 15–20 years ago—including international head chefs and business owners—to send tailored, inspirational messages and video recordings to motivate graduating classes before job placements. 

• Shifting the Mindset: Instead of just tracking graduates, KOTO positions returning alumni as valued partners, donors, and central stakeholders. 

Comprehensive Alumni Support & Signature Activities 

To bridge the gap between social connection and professional development, KOTO designs initiatives that provide continuous value to graduates: 

• Educational Opportunities: Offering prestigious growth paths, such as KOTO’s scholarship partnership with Monash University. 

• Vocational Skill-Sharing: Inviting successful alumni back to training centers during orientation weeks to lead hands-on workshops for new trainees in specialized fields like cookery, mixology, and barista skills. 

• Structured Signature Reunions: 

• Alumni Retreat: A 1- to 2-day off-site professional workshop hosted in Vietnam, focusing on industry updates, alignment with the school’s mission, and personal reconnection time with the founder. 

• Homecoming Dinner: An annual evening event featuring a catered family meal, peer-to-peer networking, and vocational workshops. 

Key Takeaways for Member Schools 

Participants discussed questions about the long-term funding mechanisms for alumni activities and the ongoing difficulties of maintaining contact with graduates over time. Engaged in a lively discussion, participants not only shared their own experiences but also learned from one another’s good practices to adapt these practices to different country and school contexts including: 

• Foster gratitude early 

• Treat alumni as partners 

• Create multi-channel touchpoints 

• Invest in dedicated resources 

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The GetTogether series is an initiative by ASSET-H&C to foster peer learning and exchange among its members. It creates spaces where school staff can share experiences, challenges, and innovative practices across borders. 

Join the Movement:  

If this recap sparks your interest, or if you seek to integrate similar practices in your institution, don’t hesitate to reach out or join our future Get Togethers. Together, we can achieve more and pave the way for a sustainable future.  

Contact for further details or resources: Ha Phan (ASSET H&C Project Manager): ha.phan@iecd.org  

Alone, we go faster. Together, we go further!”