Alumni association establishes fund to assist students

The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) alumni association, working in collaboration with the university’s administration, has set up a fund to assist MUBAS students with tuition fees and other educational expenses.

The financial assistance facility will disburse resources raised through fundraising activities by the MUBAS alumni association, said Wisely Phiri, the president of the association.

The alumni association has carried out many ad hoc interventions to assist students over the years but it is now time for a more “sustainable” solution, Phiri told University World News.

Financially incapacitated students

Phiri told University World News that many students at MUBAS come from a poor background.

“They [MUBAS students] lack resources to aid them in their academics. They need our support in terms of tuition, upkeep allowances and other materials needed for their academic activities – for example, gadgets,” said Phiri.

The alumni association once had to assist 200 students who were on the verge of being withdrawn from school due to non-payment of fees, Phiri told University World News.

The president of the MUBAS Students Representative Council (SRC), Steven Kumitawa, described the financial situation for many students at MUBAS as challenging.

He said: “Many students rely on loans, part-time jobs or family support to make ends meet. Some students face financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances like family crises or medical emergencies.

“Others come from underprivileged backgrounds, making it hard to afford basic necessities, let alone tuition fees.”

Kumitawa said the work towards an endowment fund (it is also known as The Endowment Fund) will help deserving students and ensure that they can focus on their studies.

Said Kumitawa: “As SRC President, I’ve seen many students struggle to pay fees, and this fund will undoubtedly make a significant difference.”

The government of Malawi has introduced higher education students’ loans and grants boards to aid students with fees and upkeep, the Commonwealth Students Association (CSA) Representative for Malawi, Japhet Nthala, told University World News.

He was quick to point out, however, that “not every deserving student is considered [for the government loans] which is why The Endowment Fund comes in to cover the minor gap which might be there”.

How will the funds be disbursed?

Asked how the alumni association was going to ensure sustainability of the fund, Phiri said: “One option we are looking at is to issue these funds to students as loans, among other options, but that is yet to be decided.”

He said the issue would be decided by the board of trustees for The Endowment Fund, a decision-making organ in which the MUBAS alumni association is represented.

Although some issues relating to the fund are still to be finalised, The Endowment Fund is now operational, Phiri told University World News.

He said: “The Endowment Fund has already been established. The establishment was done by the university and the fund is currently running.”

Phiri said, as a former MUBAS student, he understands the challenges current students are facing. “Being people who have passed through the same university, we are aware of the challenges we also faced. Without this support [support from The Endowment Fund] most students will not be able to fulfil their academic requirements and that has a huge impact on the future of the country, as these are our leaders of tomorrow.”

Alumni associations should “take a leaf”

Kumitawa said alumni organisations from other universities in Malawi should take a leaf from the MUBAS alumni association.

“I strongly believe that alumni associations at other universities in Malawi should emulate this initiative,” said Kumitawa.

He added: “It’s essential to support students who are the present and future leaders and change-makers. By establishing endowment funds, alumni can give back to their alma mater and make a lasting impact on the next generation.”

Nthala echoed Kumitawa’s sentiments. He said: “This initiative needs to be adopted by all universities because needy students are in every college. But also, recently, the government gave autonomy to public universities. This means they are no longer 100% reliant on the government in matters of financial aid. So the endowment fund will assist the universities to build lasting investments for their survival.”