Institutional Efficiency in Selected Universities in Uganda

Abstract

Universities are accountable  This study looked into Institutional Efficiency in selected Universities in Central Uganda. The study was guided by the following objectives; Determine the level of institutional efficiency of the universities in terms of ;educational efficiency; research efficiency and community service efficiency. The study employed ex-post facto, descriptive, comparative and correlation survey research design. Two hundred and twenty (220) administrators from the two selected institutions of Makerere University and Kampala International University were selected through purposive and systematic random sampling. The study adopted a standardized questionnaire. Data analysis was done using frequencies and percentages, means, t-test, PLCC and regression analysis.  The study discovered that there are more male than female administrators in the two selected institutions. Majority were; youths (61.0%), Ugandans (67.3%), heads of departments (46.4%) and had masters degrees (54.1%)  The study also discovered that the extent of Administrative Behaviors is very good and that the level of Institutional Efficiency in the selected universities is high. The study finally found out that there was significance difference in the extent of administrative behavior between males and females although the extent of administrative behaviors among females was slightly higher than in males.  It was therefore concluded that research is crucial for Africa and African universities should be in the forefront in undertaking research. African governments should allocate funds to their universities specifically for research and also set up a research council to encourage, coordinate and fund research nationally. It was further recommended that university managers should take leadership courses to boost their managerial skills as a significant step towards improving institutional efficiency. The skills acquired should be sufficient to respond to the challenges of quality education bedevilling the universities. There is  need to educate the society to stop stereotyping roles according to gender, the great need of university administrators to together to effectively deal with enormous challenges facing higher education today in Uganda and the world over, the need for strong research policy for the university faculty and students if the community and the world at large is to benefit from the university values.