Fostering Alumni Engagement: Strategy to Financially Sustain Public Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan in Times of Economic Turmoil

Abstract

This study aims to delve into strategies for nurturing alumni engagement within Public Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) in Pakistan as a means of attaining financial sustainability in times of economic turmoil. This study employs a phenomenological design and uses semi-structured interviews with twelve alumni from four different PHIEs of Pakistan to explore how economic conditions and income tax rebate benefits could influence alumni engagement with institutions. The findings reflect that economic conditions could positively or negatively influence the financial capability of alumni to engage with institutions. However, alumni showed interest in financial donations to institutions if provided with the tax rebate benefit by the government. Additionally, alumni group are strong stakeholder to support their institutions in times of economic instability. These findings are beneficial for the leadership of the PHEIs, alumni engagement and fundraising officers, and higher education authorities to foster an environment of alumni engagement to overcome the rising financial sustainability challenges of the institutions in Pakistan.