Role of alumni associations in their alma mater: An exploratory study on higher education institutions of Kathmandu Valley

The role of alumni and alumni associations remains a largely untapped resource and an unexplored area of research in Nepal. This study researches the current status and contributions of alumni associations, particularly in the context of Kathmandu Valley, along with challenges faced by schools/colleges. Using mixed-method approach, we collected quantitative data from college administrators, campus chiefs, and members of alumni associations and qualitative data from interviews and observation. We entered the existing data collected in Microsoft Excel 2016 and analyzed them. The research surveyed 44 schools and colleges in the Kathmandu Valley, revealing that only 24 institutions have established alumni associations. Of these, 14 were actively engaged, with just two contributing to scholarship programs. Those institutions with active alumni associations were found to be ensuring better career opportunities and even job placements for their graduates. However, the result highlights a significant gap in alumni contribution compared to Western practices, where alumni endowments often finance prestigious scholarships and research grants. The purpose of this study is to examine the status of alumni associations in Kathmandu valley and engagement of alumni associations in their Alma Mater. Also, the larger vision of this study is to motivate Nepali alumni to contribute to their schools/colleges and help to uplift the education system in Nepal and help HEIs in Nepal to fully recognize and harness the potential of alumni associations.