By Alumni Relations Department
On January 30, the Alumni Relations Department convened alumni relations professionals from sixteen public and private universities for a collaborative gathering focused on the often-solitary journey of the alumni relations professional. While marketing and admissions teams operate in fast-paced environments driven by recruitment targets, alumni offices are frequently left to manage what is perceived as the “finished product.” The forum brought together Heads of Alumni Relations, creating a rare and valuable space for shared reflection and professional exchange.
Through candid dialogue and the sharing of lived experiences, it became clear that alumni relations does not begin at graduation, but at matriculation. In this regard, institutions cannot expect meaningful alumni engagement or sustained philanthropic support without first investing intentionally in the student experience. When students feel supported, valued, and connected during their time on campus, they leave not merely as graduates, but as proud ambassadors of the institution.
As such, institutions must put deliberate mechanisms in place to ensure a positive and holistic student experience academically, socially, and emotionally. These investments shape graduates who develop a lasting sense of belonging and responsibility, positioning them to give back their time, talent, and resources. Alumni engagement, therefore, is not the final step in the student lifecycle, but the natural outcome of a well-designed and well-lived student journey, one that underscores the critical role alumni relations plays in strengthening institutions.
The meeting included Heads of Alumni Relations from Pan Africa Christian University (PAC), the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Mount Kenya University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Zetech University, Strathmore University, and the Kenya Medical Training College. The diversity of public and private universities represented enriched the discussions and highlighted shared experiences across different institutional contexts.
The idea of bringing alumni professionals together was born out of a simple observation: many university departments, such as Deans of Students, belong to professional associations that provide spaces for shared learning and peer support. Alumni offices, despite facing similar operational and strategic challenges, often work in isolation. The purpose of this convening was therefore not competition, but the sharing of journeys. Discussions around common concerns such as alumni database management and engagement rates, which average 5–-6% in Africa compared to nearly 20% in Europe, helped reposition alumni offices as strategic partners rather than overlooked units within universities.
Ultimately, the convening demonstrated that the strength of alumni relations lies not only in numbers but in collaboration, creativity, and the willingness to test ideas together. By nurturing communities of practice, alumni offices can move forward with confidence, focused on empowering graduates to uplift their institutions.
