Portraying the relationship between the university and the alumni at the Islamic Azad University: Science and Research Branch Case

Developing relations with alumni in order to exploit their potentials and faithful supports by them has been attractive to the policy makers and planners in higher education. Islamic Azad University has also taken steps in this direction by establishing Alumni Associations. In this research, current status of university- alumni relations in Islamic Azad University was investigated by utilizing qualitative method. Statistical population of the study was 865 doctoral students in Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch in Tehran, 65 of whom were selected by using random method and based on theoretical saturation method. Data collection tool was semi-structured interviews and information obtained through interviews were coded and categorized via content analysis. The results showed that the Islamic Azad University situation on this issue is poor and establishing relation and willingness to participate is often one-sided and from alumni. Weaknesses in cooperation with university graduates in three dimensions of environment, context, and human actors were classified.