THE 4TH HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM, 2012

University Governance Interdependencies and Linkages in Higher Education in Tanzania

Prof. Josephat Stephen Itika

Mzumbe universityNaura Springs Hotel, Arusha13th – 14th September, 2012

Introduction… Thinking about interdependencies and linkages in higher education..!

‘People who share a common direction and sense of community can get there more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the trust of one another’.

…Terry Orlik… Embracing Your Potentials.

IntroductionFrom Bureaucracy to new public management as

the basis for good governanceThe place of universities in new public

management- challenged to be more responsible and

accountable in the utilization of resources, provision of quality education and adherence to good practices of value for money.

- Redefinition of the role from ivory tower to meeting stakeholders expectations

- Refine governance structure

Objective of the PaperThe paper raises theoretical and

practical issues as well as areas of interdependencies and linkages that influence the mode of governance in modern universities based on stakeholder theory.

Highlights some emerging challenges and possible ways forward

OutlineIntroductionTheoretical framework The basis for interdependencies and linkages Making governance interdependencies and

linkages work wellInterdependencies and linkages in higher

education in TanzaniaEmerging challenges Conclusion

Theoretical framework

Braun and Merrien (1999) as modified by De Boer et al (2007); on five components model of governance in tertiary education

- state regulations and directives, the role of key stakeholders, self governance through the academics within the universities, managerial internal self governance and the influence of the market forces.

Theoretical frameworkPhilosophical duality of the model

- University as a republic of scholars

- University as an organ for meeting key stakeholders needs, objectives and interests

Theoretical frameworkStakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984) -

any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organisation’s “objectives”

Answering 3Qs - Who are the stakeholders?, what do they want?, and how they are going to try to get it?

These are governance drivers

Stakeholders rankingMainardes et al; (2012) analysis of key university stakeholders

Students appeared ten times higher than other stakeholders followed by teaching and research staff, employers, research institutions, development partners, governments and regulatory bodies.

Stakeholders in higher education

Jorge et al (2012) focus on 5 key stakeholders

- Students, teaching and research staff, administrative staff, companies and community

What stakeholders want?Table 1: Students

Their concerns cut across the expectations of even key stakeholders outside the university and therefore in a way suggesting that a major indicator of university good governance is the extent to which students expectations are met.

What stakeholders want?Table 2: Teaching and Research staffConfirms the common notion that teaching and research staff perceive themselves as a college of scholars who are mostly interested in meeting their own job related needs. Therefore strategies that will focus on change of mindset may make a difference in improving interdependencies and linkages amongst stakeholders.

What stakeholders want?Table 3: Administrative staffExpectations do not seem to reflect university values but what is expected of any well governed organisation. Aspects of good governance featured clearly on code of good practice and more participation in decision making which extend beyond the university boundaries.

What stakeholders want?

Table 4: CompaniesData from companies echo the very pressing need for universities to establish strong links with industry through curriculum review, internships, students’ supervision, joint teaching and research and product development.

What stakeholders want?Table 5: CommunityCommunity wishes to have almost everything that links university education and the wider society which covers a myriad of stakeholders. This is an area which will affect the extent to which universities can adopt market models of governance in the provision of education which is more of a public than private good and hence under the influence of state bureaucracy

Making governance workJorge et al (2012) concludes that when it comes to university governance, what matters most is the extent to which there is effective involvement of stakeholders in decision-making, the state of information and communication; and transparency and accountability for roles and positions

Comparing 5 Stakeholders

Reflections on higher education in TanzaniaThere are many stakeholders but we focus on 6 to limit the discussion

CVCPTMoEVTMoFPoPSMTCUCAG

Interdependencies and linkages

Governance implications and challenges1. Stakeholder involvementFair clarity on key stakeholders governance

structure and stakeholder involvementLimitations of the theory

- The nature of the stakeholders do not seem to have strong characteristics of private sector organisations

- Stakeholder expectations can hardly be met by using market efficiency models

- The extent to which the market is the option or moderate the institutional framework

Implications and challenges

2. Information and communicationEach stakeholder has independent systems of information dissemination and mostly through websites, policy documents, strategic plans, brochures, and exhibitions,

Challenges- Correctness, adequacy, relevance, timely - Risk on decision making and implementation- The need for common information management

platform?

Implications and challenges3. Transparency and accountability

Availability of solid governance instruments. ChallengesThe extent to which institutions dealing with higher education adhere to the principles of disclosure and degree of responsiveness which affect transaction costs arising from information vacuum.

Conclusion The strength of governance lies in internal/external stakeholder involvement, information, transparency and accountability

However, stakeholder relationships are strongly determined by Wiberian institutional frameworks

Could CVCPT mediate the position?

…If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stand by each other during the good times as well as

the bad…Terry Orlik

Thank you for the opportunity to share few

ideas