The Role of Alumni in Institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya

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The Role of Alumni in Institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya

By: Dr. John Mwibanda Wesonga - The Director, Alumni and International Students’ Office, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) P.O Box 62000 Nairobi 00200 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

INTRODUCTION

Alumni (Singular forms are alumnus for male and alumna for female) generally refer to former students of an educational institution. However, sometimes it includes other persons such as former employees of an institution. The alumni are vital stakeholders in the institutions and when harnessed can play a vital role in the execution of the mandate of the institutions. In the recent past there have been numerous attempts by institutions of higher learning in Kenya to revamp their Alumni Associations to make them more effective in performing their functions. Several lessons can be drawn from the experiences that some of these institutions have gone through. This discussion therefore seeks to highlight the current trends in alumni relations in Kenya in general and specifically would address the following questions:

What are the current trends in Alumni relations in Kenya
What is responsible for the trends being observed?
What are the benefits of good alumni relations?
Who are the beneficiaries and how?
What organizational arrangements and factors can support effective alumni relations?

THE STATUS OF ALUMNI RELATIONS IN KENYA

Alumni relations entail all forms of interactions between the alumni and the institutions of learning. Many highly reputed universities in the US maintain very close links with their alumni. This trend has now spread to other regions of the world. For instance, in Europe, alumni associations are getting more and more popular as universities receive less money from governments and depend more on civil society for funding. The situation is similar in Africa including Kenya. This was clear from a workshop held between 21st – 23rd October 2008 in Uganda where many universities sent representatives to familiarize themselves with alumni relations and fund raising for universities. From Kenya, Strathmore University, Kiriri Women University of Science and Technology, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, African Nazarene University, Dayster University, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and the United States International University (USIU) sent representatives to the workshop.

In her strategic plan, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology identifies the alumni as one of the strengths of the university and sees a growing alumni support base as an opportunity. The University views alumni as a critical factor in overcoming several weaknesses and dealing with the threats and external factors identified in the strategic plan. The university has set out to establish and develop programmes to stimulate intellectual participation of students and alumni in matters of personal and national development. Other universities have made similar commitments. For example, Kenyatta University has an Alumni Policy that highlights how the university intends to harness the potential of her alumni.There is increasing trends of starting offices in charge of Alumni relations in most universities. In addition most university websites now have sections on alumni. It is therefore clear that universities are taking alumni relations more seriously that they have done in the past.

WHY THE SUDDEN INTEREST IN ALUMNI RELATIONS

Institutions are seeking stronger relations with the alumni because the alumni are seen as resources to assist institutions deal with various challenges facing them. Among these challenges are:

The dwindling financial support by governments causing institutions to seek alternative sources of funding.
Liberalization of education leading to more institutions of higher learning and therefore greater competition for students
Globalization that has led to opening of campuses of foreign universities in Kenya creating competition to the local universities
Increased need for involvement of stakeholders in the development of programmes and review of existing ones to align them with market demand
Limited employment opportunities for graduates making it difficult to attract students in some programmes hence the need to undertake greater promotional work by institutions.
Increased requirements for transparency and accountability to stakeholders
Greater pressure for performance with minimal resources e.g. the performance contracting concept.

Alumni of institutions can be very vital in addressing some of the above challenges. For instance, in the US alumni financial support may contribute to as much 15% of some organization’s operating budget. The alumni also play many other roles such us returning to teach, counseling graduating students and serving on advisory boards.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GOOD ALUMNI RELATIONS

Good alumni relations will benefit: the alumni, the institutions and the society at large.

Alumni

On graduation, former students have a number of options including:

Seeking employment: This is by far the most popular option taken by most graduates. Most people study so that they get into good jobs where they earn an income for the upkeep of themselves and their dependants. Unfortunately, job opportunities have been declining and most graduates do not get jobs easily. As a result of the scarcity of employment opportunities, graduates may take up odd jobs or jobs for which they did not train. Either situation makes such individuals dissatisfied and may discourage others from education.
Starting business: Some individuals start business of their own. This is not often the first priority for most graduates. Most individuals go into business after some years of employment. However, due to scarcity of employment, some individuals are going direct into business. For example, some graduates of BSc Ornamental and Landscaping programmes at JKUAT have moved to start their own landscaping companies straight after graduation.
Further studies: Most graduates who graduate with high grades such as First class or Second classes Upper Division tend to continue with studies. Often they are absorbed in educational or research institutions in training positions that require further studies. However, with time most other graduates end up seeking further studies as well.

Regardless of the path taken by the graduate, there is always opportunity to interact with the institution where they learnt.

For job seekers, their institutions provide a source of employment contacts. Many companies seeking employees often make requests to the institutions for graduates to employ.
The graduates also seek recommendations from lecturers at the institution when going for job interviews. In the course of their employment sometimes graduates consult institutions when they are faced with technical difficulties.
For those entering business, they may need additional human resources and this may be provided by the institutions. They may also seek technical advice from the institutions while others may seek contracts from the institutions.
Further studies is where there is often most interactions. The graduates may go to the same institutions where they went through for further studies, seek advice on opportunities, recommendations to enable them enter programmes of studies in other institutions or endorsement of their documents.

It is therefore in the interest of the graduates to ensure that the institution where they studied develops and maintains good reputation. The good reputation of the institution will go a long way in helping the graduates pursue whichever option that they choose to take.

The Institutions

The alumni often have first-hand knowledge of the institutions from their study experiences. They can therefore:

Act as University’s special ambassadors in spreading word about the exciting opportunities in the institutions
Make presentations to prospective students in Kenya and abroad thereby help in marketing of the institution and their programmes
Provide feedback to the institutions on their programmes and therefore help in the improvement of such programmes
Serve on advisory committees at the various faculties, departments, or research centres.
Assist as resource or contact persons.
Serve as assessors, judges, or examiners in various JKUAT activities.
Assist in enhancement of professional or personal enrichment of fellow alumni or current students.
Share knowledge and experience with students, and inspire them.
Serve as guests of honour, and speakers at various student functions.
Contribute as advisors and mentors to various student bodies,
Assist with industrial attachment of students
Assist with job seeking of fresh graduates
Make financial contributions and donations in kind for development of institutions

Through the above activities, the alumni can help the institution overcome several challenges. In particular:

The institutions would generate additional financial resources for running their programmes from Alumni contributions
The institutions have access to a mass of human resources that can be utilized to support their various needs
The institutions can improve their physical facilities for more effective training
The institutions can get greater student enrolments through promotional activities undertaken by their alumni
The institutions would have capacity to undertake better research using additional funds generated and better physical facilities
The institutions can be able to develop more relevant programmes through the involvement of the alumni in the curriculum development and review

The Society at large

Students spend only a few years studying at institutions, but they will spend the rest of their life contributing to the society.

Good alumni relations can act as social control through peer pressure and role modelling.
They can contribute to more effective human resource base to support societal development by provision of good facilities for training.
Improvement in facilities at local institution will attract highly qualified individuals who currently migrate to developed countries with such facilities.

ORGANIZATION OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Alumni relations may take various forms. In some cases institutions may leave the alumni issues to be run entirely by Associations of alumni with very minimal involvement of the institutions. In this case, the success of alumni associations rely on committed volunteer leaders. However, Alumni Associations that are not supported effectively by the institutions may fail to function effectively. Since they rely on voluntary leaders who often have full time employment elsewhere it becomes extremely difficult to follow some activities to completion. This model of alumni relations is the most prevalent among Kenyan Universities. The Acts of Parliament establishing public universities provides for the existence of Alumni Associations. According to the JKUAT Act and Statutes, the objectives of the Alumni Association is to promote the reputation and well being of the University, including fund-raising for the development of the University. The act empowers the Alumni Association to discuss and state its opinion on any matters within the sphere of competence of the University. The Association has elected office bearers and a constitution that governs their operations.To ensure effective functioning of Alumni Associations institutional support is often desirable. Most Kenyan universities have created Alumni Offices to support Alumni Association for their effective operation. At JKUAT, there is the Alumni and International Students’ Office to provide support to the Alumni Association. The Office is be charged with the responsibility of coordinating the activities of the Alumni Association. The specific functions of the office are:

To create and maintain an updated alumni database,
To provide a link between the alumni Association and the university,
To sensitize and create awareness among the alumni and students about the alumni Association and its activities,
To plan for and facilitate the implementation of alumni activities,
To reach out to alumni in the Diaspora and involve them in the alumni association’s activities,
To facilitate the involvement of alumni in the university activities and development plans,
To foster collaboration with other alumni in institutions of higher learning and other organizations,
To establish benefits scheme for members and recognition systems for outstanding alumni.

In addition there is an Board of Alumni Affairs that assist the Director in decision making and policy guideline. The functions of the Board are:

To formulate policies for effective functioning of alumni programme in the university,
To advise the university on how to engage with the alumni association for maximum benefit to the university,
To regulate the formation of chapters of the alumni association,
To vet the aspirants to the elected offices of the association,
To advise the directorate of alumni affairs on its day to day operations.

JKUAT has undertaken the following alumni activities within the last one year:

Production of a graduation DVD
Creation of an alumni website
Started developing an electronic alumni database.
Equipping, furnishing and staffing the alumni office
Establishment of the Board of Alumni Affairs

Activities planned include:

An Alumni day to be held before end of March 2009
Development of an Alumni Policy and Alumni Strategic plan
Publicity and awareness creation
Fundraising
Development of Alumni recognition system

REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE ALUMNI RELATIONS

Some of the factors that can ensure effective alumni relations include:

Strong commitment and good will by all stakeholders,
Institutional support by providing human resources, financial and physical facilities to support the operation of the Alumni Association
A system of alumni recognition
Good relationships with students before graduation
Clear policies and programmes for alumni relations
Effective means of communication between the university and the alumni
High quality alumni database
Showing respect for alumni, informing them and involving them

CONCLUSION

Most institutions in Kenya are at initial stages of developing strong alumni programmes. Most of them have seen the need to have vibrant alumni and are determined to strengthen their alumni relations. It is however, important to note that the success of the efforts will depend on the alumni and the general public taking an active role in the affairs of the institutions. Effective alumni relations will benefit each and every one of us.

School relationships are trusthworthy and long lasting hence the need for alumni associations. Kenyans need to embrace alumnism as it is the only hope for our institutions in the wake of dwindling government funding to them. Alumni is provides an opportunity to give back to society in a voluntary and organised manner. I hope to see an umbrella body of alumni associations in future. Finally, the government need to encourage and motivate givers by enacting laws that offer incentives such as tax relief to donors. This could begin with removal of withholding tax on alumni contributions/donations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to acknowledge the opportunity given by the Kenya broadcasting corporation (KBC) to discuss this topic. I hope it will open opportunities for discussion beyond here. I would be most delighted to see more speakers coming forward to discuss this important issue. I thank all those who participated in the programme by asking questions, making comments or just viewing at home.