Sharing Alumni Success Stories Strengthens Institutional Growth

Every institution has buildings, programmes, and policies, but what truly brings it to life are the people who walk through its doors and leave transformed.

Alumni success stories are more than feel-good moments; they are living proof that education works. When graduates share where they started and where they are now, they remind current students that success is possible. These stories build trust, inspire confidence, and quietly tell the world, “This is a place where dreams take shape.”

When students hear about someone who once sat in the same lecture hall and now works in the industry, something shifts. Hope becomes real. Motivation becomes personal.

Suddenly, studying late at night and chasing deadlines feels worth it. Alumni stories strengthen an institution’s reputation, attract new students, and keep existing ones focused. As one graduate puts it, sharing these journeys shows that “education is really the key to opening various opportunities of success and progression.”

One of those powerful stories belongs to an IIE Rosebank College journalism graduate whose journey reflects exactly why alumni voices matter. IIE Rosebank College is a brand of The Independent Institute of Education. He began his academic path with a Higher Certificate in Journalism before progressing to a Diploma, completing four years of study. “I chose IIE Rosebank College because of the quality of education they offer and the opportunities that come after you finish,” he explains. For him, the relationship with the institution did not end at graduation. It became “a beneficial relationship” that continued to shape his growth.

Looking back, he describes his journey as one filled with unexpected doors opening. “Rosebank College has opened doors that I thought I would never ever enter in my lifetime,” he says. From meeting industry giants like Tshepo Monogai, Nozipho Radebe, and Leanne Manas, to anchoring multiple broadcasts on the SABC, his achievements reflect years of preparation and support.

He credits his lecturers, Nomvula, Sandile Gumede, and Devin Monyela, for laying out the foundation of his career. Through courses in news writing, culture, and media studies, he learned how to sharpen his voice and understand African media. Opportunities to publish his own magazine, launch a podcast, and produce experimental broadcasts helped him become “better and more polished” as a journalist.

For him, sharing stories like him is about lifting others. “It’s important so that others may be motivated and inspired,” he says, adding that these journeys show how education can “break barriers and generational curses.” His message to graduates who feel uncertain is simple but powerful: “What is meant for you will never miss you,” and “persistency is always an excellent trait.” Through voices like his, institutions don’t just grow in numbers they grow in purpose, impact, and belief.