Evaluating the relevance of scholarship programs to the lives of university students: The case of a university in the philippines

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ABSTRACT

This study examined the relevance of a university's scholarship program to its scholar alumni, focusing on the scholarship program of a private, non-profit higher education institution (HEI) in the Philippines. Since its founding in 1957, the University has awarded more than 10,000 scholarships to deserving students. However, there is a need to determine the impact of these scholarships. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the program's effectiveness on beneficiaries' lives by analyzing their employment and professional profiles, the extent of their awareness of the objectives of their scholarships, and the perceived relevance of the scholarships to their lives. A comprehensive survey was conducted from February to October 2023, gathering responses from 386 scholars who graduated between 2016 and 2020. The results showed that the scholarship program is highly relevant in providing financial assistance to scholars, enhancing academic performance, expanding career opportunities, fostering work ethic and skills, and improving their quality of life. Notably, the scholarship programs were most relevant to the scholars’ work ethics and skills and least relevant to career opportunities. The findings highlight the importance of establishing a network of scholars to enrich the program further. Furthermore, the positive results may be used to market the scholarship programs to support the institution’s strategic planning for achieving its goals. As demonstrated by the scholarship program's quantifiable benefits, the study supports the value of scholarships in shaping graduates who contribute substantially and meaningfully to their professions and communities.

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