A Comparative Study of Alumni Interaction with Their Alma Mater in Public and Private Universities in Malawi

Khumulani Ndhlovu, Daniel Allida & Millicent Ojwan’g
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Kenya
Email: kkndhlovu@yahoo.com

Abstract: This study explored how alumni from public and private universities in Malawi interact with and contribute to their former institutions, focusing on areas such as advertising, funding, donations, and scholarships. Guided by Social Exchange Theory, the research sought to understand whether alumni engagement differs significantly between these two types of institutions. Using a descriptive-comparative design, data were gathered from 175 alumni through structured questionnaires and interviews with alumni association leaders. The findings showed that, overall, alumni engagement is quite low in both public and private universities, especially in areas like consistent donations, scholarship funding, and in advertising or student recruitment. However, a key difference emerged in communication: alumni from private universities reported significantly more communication with their alma maters than their public university counterparts (p = 0.026). This may be linked to differences in funding models and alumni outreach, as private universities often rely more heavily on alumni support. Interestingly, other areas such as loyalty, professional interaction, and participation in alumni associations did not show significant differences. The study concludes that while Malawian universities do receive occasional contributions from their alumni, especially in the form of basic resources or infrastructure support, there is still a major gap in sustained and strategic alumni involvement. To address this, both public and private universities are encouraged to build stronger alumni engagement systems, clearly communicate giving opportunities, and fostering a lasting sense of connection and value among their graduates.