A Comparative Study of Alumni Interaction between Publc and Private Universites 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 dif ers 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 involvement in
advertising or student recruitment. However, a key dif erence 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 dif erences 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 dif erences. 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.