Languages: 
WSU TO STRENGTHEN ALUMNI RELATIONS THROUGH NEWLY ESTABLISHED UNIT
WSU has taken a significant step in fostering a lasting and impactful relationship with its graduates through the establishment of the Alumni Relations Office (ARO).
Housed within the Institutional Advancement Office, the ARO was established to foster a sense of lifelong belonging, while leveraging alumni contributions to enhance the university’s reputation and financial sustainability.
Alumni relations previously fell under the Registrar’s division together with the WSU convocation.
Recognising the need for a more targeted approach, WSU strategically placed the function under the Institutional Advancement Office to ensure a focused effort on maintaining strong relationships with alumni and mobilising support for key university initiatives.
In her 2025 opening address, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rushiella Nolundi Songca, alluded to the importance of establishing the ARO.
“For the longest time at WSU we have been conflating alumni and convocation, treating them as one and the same thing, and now we have separated them. We need to understand their different roles and their importance. It is for this reason that as we revisited our organogram, we decided to consolidate our alumni relations and our advancement initiatives, elevating them to become our priorities in 2025 and beyond.”
Director for Institutional Advancement, Sitembele James stated that the Institutional Advancement Office provides the framework and resources for alumni fundraising, donor engagement, and branding efforts.
“The ARO’s establishment aligns with WSU’s Institutional Advancement strategy, which prioritizes alumni engagement as a key pillar of financial sustainability. By mobilizing alumni contributions and partnerships, the ARO supports WSU’s goal of "Maximised Strategic Value and Fiscal Reliance,” said James.
Led by Acting Deputy Director, Sandiso Mbongo, the ARO's goals include establishing an alumni engagement strategy, improving data management, and initiating fundraising campaigns in the short term, while its long-term objectives focus on building a strong alumni network that actively supports WSU through financial contributions, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.
To foster engagement between the institution and its alumni, Mbongo asserted that they would be developing a rigorous alumni engagement strategy with a focus on networking, mentorship, and collaboration.
Over and above financial contributions to their alma mater, alumni are encouraged to get involved in initiatives aimed at enhancing graduate attributes. These include mentorship programmes, industry partnerships, and volunteering.
Alumni interested in partnering with the ARO for university specific initiatives are encouraged to get in touch with Acting Deputy Director of ARO, Sandiso Mbongo via email on
