Alumni–University Relationships in Latin America

A Qualitative Study of Satisfaction, Identification, and Loyalty

Abstract

This study explores how alumni construct and interpret their relationship with their alma mater in the Latin American higher education context. Building on the Graduate–University Identification Model (GUIM), the research adopts a qualitative approach based on thirteen in-depth interviews with alumni from a School of Management. The findings reveal that alumni relationships are characterized by a dual structure, combining symbolic identification with the university and relational attachment to the School. Faculty–student interaction emerged as the central mechanism fostering trust, satisfaction, and long-term engagement, while satisfaction was found to be context-dependent and institutional image remained a stable driver of identification. The study also highlights the presence of nested identities and distinct forms of loyalty at the university and School levels. These results extend the GUIM by incorporating a multi-level perspective and emphasize the importance of developing alumni engagement strategies that integrate both symbolic and relational dimensions, particularly within the Latin American context.