Through the Lenses of the Alumni: Enhancing Quality in the Zimbabwe Open University

Abstract

Universities lack quality provision of services as a result of out locking out some very important stakeholders like alumni. Alumni are the friends of the universities and their involvement in the affairs of universities is a blessing. This research analysed alumni views on ways of enhancing quality in the Zimbabwe Open University. The research was based on the pragmatist philosophy which leads to the mixed methodology. It was a case study of members of the alumni selected through convenience sampling. The study employed mixed methods research because both closed and open ended questionnaires were used as data gathering instrument. For data analysis, the constant comparative was used. The research found out that the alumni expect the university to establish an alumni directorate that will network with their members who will be involved in critiquing the processes of the university and fundraise for it. They also expected the university to establish a centre for teaching excellence, appoint a research champion for the university and provide critical resources as ways that contribute towards quality. The study among other things recommended the full involvement of alumni through a directorate and the establishment of a centre for excellence to promote quality pedagogical practices in the university.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n11p167