Abstract

The Virtual Alumni Network for Empowerment & Growth (VANG) project seeks to transform alumni engagement through innovative digital tools. By leveraging virtual exchanges, online training programs, and professional mentorship, VANG provides alumni with accessible, high-quality opportunities for career development, entrepreneurship, and networking.

Aligned with the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges (ERASMUS-EDU-2025-VIRT-EXCH-SMC) call, VANG fosters cross-border collaboration, particularly between EU-based institutions and South Mediterranean universities & youth organizations. The project targets underrepresented alumni groups, ensuring that geographical, economic, and social barriers do not hinder lifelong learning and employability.

VANG will develop a centralized digital platform where alumni can:
* Engage in virtual exchanges facilitated by trained moderators.
* Access online courses and professional development programs.
* Join mentorship networks connecting industry professionals with young graduates.
* Participate in entrepreneurship bootcamps and hackathons.
Through these initiatives, the project contributes to:
* Digital transformation & lifelong learning, enhancing alumni soft & digital skills.
* Intercultural dialogue & inclusion, by promoting diverse, collaborative alumni networks.
* Civic engagement, fostering participation in democratic & economic life.

By ensuring sustainability, VANG will establish a long-term alumni empowerment model that participating institutions can replicate and scale beyond the project’s duration.