On October 27, the KDI School of Public Policy and Management hosted the 2025 KDIS Alumni Capacity Building Workshop. This event united students, faculty, and alumni worldwide to celebrate collaboration and leadership in public policy and international development.

Alumni Working Partnership Program

The event began with presentations from the Top 3 Winning Teams of the Alumni Working Partner Program.

Team 59 — Ivonne (Ecuador), Sheyda (Iran), Mohammad (Azerbaijan), Xenia (Cameroon), Zulfi (Pakistan), and Janna (Colombia) — presented “Ideas for Sustainability (I4S): Decoding ODA – Unlocking Global Cooperation for Impact.” Founded in 2022, the project built a network across 75 countries and 350 organizations, advancing SDG capacity building and knowledge sharing. Their initiatives included SDG workshops (2022), newsletters and training series (2023), smart cities research (2024), and an online ODA knowledge platform (2025). The team urged KDIS to continue supporting the program and extend preparation time for global participants.

Team 48, led by Glenny Jr. Alawag with Jisu Kim, introduced “The First Longitudinal Time Use Survey in the Philippines.” It examined daily activities and emotional well-being among college students. And their survey reveals that negative emotions dominated weekdays, while positive moods prevailed on weekends. Commutes had the lowest satisfaction levels. Interestingly, focused routines improved well-being more than balanced schedules. The team recommended better public transportation, structured daily routines, and emotional monitoring systems in universities.

Team 20 — Alexandra Eras, Andrés Betancur, María Belén Guerrero, Milagros Trujillano, and Ranci Danis — presented “Anti-Immigrant Sentiments in Host Countries.” Their discourse analysis of media from 2018–2025 explored perceptions of Venezuelan and Haitian migration in Latin America, and Latin American migration to the U.S. and Spain. The study found persistent negative framing, emphasizing the need for inclusive media narratives and integration policies.

Global Alumni Forum

The Global Alumni Forum followed, featuring alumni leaders from Botswana, Honduras, Malaysia, and Pakistan who shared experiences of organizing and sustaining alumni networks.

From Botswana, the association’s Vice President described rebuilding their chapter since 2022, now with 19 active members. Despite challenges of distance and limited resources, they sustain engagement through regular gatherings and online communities.

From Honduras, Erica Perez reflected on nine years as alumni representative. Her initiatives include mentorship programs, digital networking, and collaboration with the Korean Embassy to foster cultural and policy exchange.

From Malaysia, Siti Mariam Sulaiman of the Ministry of Education highlighted that “leadership begins with service.” Since 2018, her team has led orientation programs, alumni information campaigns, and outreach to strengthen connections between Malaysian and global KDIS graduates.

From Pakistan, Hafiz Nadar Sarfaraz, President of the Pakistan KDIS Alumni Association, shared how the group formally launched in 2022 after two decades. Representing all four provinces, they now run orientation sessions, digital communication channels, and an Online CEO Lecture Series linking senior and junior alumni. Their next goal is nationwide expansion and joint alumni-led projects in governance and development.

A Spirit of Global Connection

A networking reception with halal catering concluded the event, encouraging informal exchanges among participants. During the reception, Tendani Moseki-Lowani, Vice President of the Botswana Alumni Association, discussed the joys and difficulties of maintaining engagement across vast distances and limited funding.

“Distance and financial constraints are major challenges,” she said, noting that KDI reimbursements and members’ commitment make continued activity possible. Despite busy lives, alumni remain motivated by a shared desire to “stay connected and grow as a family.”

The Botswana Association maintains an active online presence through Facebook and Instagram, using small gestures like photos and messages to strengthen community ties. Tendani emphasized the value of consistency and connection, even simple greetings or meetups during travel help sustain long-term relationships.

Her words captured the spirit of the KDI alumni network: enduring collaboration, mutual support, and shared purpose that transcend geography.

Continuing the Legacy

The 2025 Alumni Working Partnership Program and Global Alumni Forum reaffirmed KDI School’s mission to nurture global cooperation, lifelong learning, and inclusive development. By uniting alumni, students, and faculty across borders, the event demonstrated how shared knowledge and solidarity can create lasting impact in public policy and beyond.