5 - Broadening Perceptions and Parameters for Quality Assurance in University Operations in Uganda
Corresponding Author(s) : Frederick Kakembo
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 15 No. 1 (2017): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Trends in Higher Education and Quality Assurance in East Africa
Abstract
This article explores the stakeholders’ perceptions of quality in university operations in Uganda, specifically in terms of the core functions of teaching, research and community engagement. Conceptually, universities aim to transform, modernise and develop science and technology. A review of the literature suggests that many university communities are an elite group of professors and students who live in relative isolation. Within this ‘protective environment’ occurs a significant research milieu which is more basic than applied and, thereby, not relevant to local systems and somewhat foreign to community members. Further, the linkage between research results and institution policy makers is minimal or non-existent. In light of this background, it is argued that typical quality assurance (QA) initiatives in many universities focus on establishing operational efficiency of conventional structures of teaching and research. The study investigates comprehensiveness of parameters used by various stakeholders to determine quality in and of university education. Making reference to community engagement as one of the universities’ core functions, this study investigates whether community issues and social welfare are central in the conceiving, planning and implementing QA initiatives. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to generate data; specifically, questionnaires, interviews, content analysis of academic and non-academic programme and documents reviews were analysed. Preliminary findings reveal a stronger focus on conventional teaching and scholarly research than on community engagement initiatives. Conceptualisation of a quality university education by various stakeholders (students, lecturers, administration, parents and policy makers) is influenced by concerns of effectiveness and regularity of activities at the universities. Monitoring and evaluation activities emphasise: a) effectiveness of teaching and learning; b) relevancy of academic programmes to job-markets; c) quality of basic research; d) number of publications in accredited international journals; and e) concerns regarding ranking of the university relative to others in the country, region, continent and the globe. A lack of emphasis on community engagement initiatives could be explained by the fact that a number of practitioners could be products of the same existing structures and may not be in position to detect the discrepancies. Conversely, local communities, within which these institutions operate as expected immediate beneficiaries, often perceive universities as abstract institutions for the super-elite, and that the ‘ivory tower’ has little applicability to the day-to-day lives of grassroots communities. It is proposed that debates and dialogues should be organised to engage various stakeholders in re-definition of expectations, duties and responsibilities of higher education in relation to community engagement.
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- Beere, C., Votruba, J., and Wells, G., 2011, Becoming an Engaged Campus: A Practical Guide for Institutionalizing Public Engagement, San Francisco, CA: Jossey–Bass. Brukardt, M., Holland, B., Percy, S., and Zimpher, N., 2006, ‘The path ahead: What’s next for university engagement?’, In: S. Percy, N. Zimpher and M. Brukardt, eds, Creating A New Kind of University: Institutionalizing Community–UniversityEngagement), Boston: Anker, pp. 242–259.
- Brukardt, M.J., Percy, S.L. and Zimpher, N.L. 2006. ‘Moving forward along new lines’. In: S. Percy, N. Zimpher and M. Brukardt eds. Creating a New Kind of University: Institutionalizing Community-University Engagement. Boston: Anker, pp. 3–22.
- Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2010, The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement: 2010 Documentation Framework Preview. (http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org /downloads/2010-Documentation- Reporting-Form-PREVIEW-v2.pdf ). Accessed 13 August 2016.
- Cloete, N., Bailey,T., Bunting, I., and Maassen, P, 2011, Universities and Economic Development in Africa: Key Findings, Cape Town: CHET.
- Duke, C., 2008, ‘University engagement: avoidable confusion and inescapable contradiction’, Higher Education Management and Policy, Vol. 20, No. 2,pp. 87–97.
- Etzkowitz, H., 2002, MIT and the Rise of Entrepreneurial Science, London: Routledge Press.
- Goddard, J., 2007, ‘Supporting the Contribution of HEIs to Regional Development: Outcomes of the OECD Review Project of 14 Regions in 12 Countries’, Paper presented at the OECD/IMHE Conference, Valencia, Spain, 19–21 September 2007.
- Hallak, J., and Poisson, M., 2007, Corrupt Schools, Corrupt Universities: What can be done? International Institute for Educational Planning, UNESCO.
- Hart, A., and Northmore, S., 2011, ‘Auditing and evaluating university–community engagement: lessons from a UK case tudy’, Higher Education Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 34–58.
- Jacob, W., Sheng, Y., and Porter, M., eds, 2015, Indigenous Education: Language, Culture, and Identity, Dordrecht: Springer.
- Kakembo, F., 2012, ‘Innovative education and training for community-based water protection units’, Water Practice and Technology, Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 94.
- Khan, G., and Park, H., 2011, ‘Measuring the triple helix on the web: longitudinal trends in the university-industry-government relationship in Korea’, Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, Vol. 62, No. 12,
- pp. 2443–2455.
- Makerere University, 2013, Makerere University Annual Report 2012: Enhancing Partnerships for Teaching, Research and National Development, Kampala, UG: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
- Makerere University, 2008, Strategic Plan 2008/09–2018/19, Kampala: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
- Makerere University, 2009, Policy on Appointment and Promotion of Academic Staff.(http://policies.mak.ac.ug). Accessed on August 1, 2017).
- Makerere University, 2011, Guidelines for Field Attachment. (http://policies.mak.ac.ug/). (Accessed on August 1, 2017).
- Perry, D., and Menendez, C., 2011, ‘Impact of institutions of higher education on urban and metropolitan areas: assessment of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities’, Perspectives in Health Information Management, No. 10, Fall, p. 1.
- Pike, G., Kuh, G., and McCormick, A., 2011, ‘An investigation of the contingent relationships between learning community participation and student engagement’, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 300–322.
- Soska, T., and Butterfield, J., eds, 2004, University–Community Partnerships: Universities in Civic Engagement, Binghampton: Hawthorne Press, Inc.
- Strum, S., Eatman, T., Saltmarch, J., and Bush, A., 2011, Full participation: building the architecture for diversity and community engagement in higher education, Imaging America, Paper 17. http://surface.syr.edu/ia/17
- Sutz,J., 2005, The Role of Universities in Knowledge Production. (http://www.scidev. net/global/policy-brief/the-role-of-universities-in-knowledge-production-.html). Accessed on August 1, 2017.
- Tagoe, M., 2012, ‘Incorporating community service learning into university-based adult education in Ghana’; In: J. Preece, P. Ntseane, O. Modise, and M. Osborne, eds, Community Engagement in African Universities: Perspectives, Prospects and Challenges, pp. 179–196, Leicester, UK: National Institute of Adult Continuing Education University.
- Makerere University, 2013, Makerere University Annual Report 2012: Enhancing Partnerships for Teaching, Research and National Development, Kampala, UG: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
- Makerere University, 2008, Strategic Plan 2008/09–2018/19, Kampala: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
- Makerere University, 2009, Policy on Appointment and Promotion of Academic Staff.(http://policies.mak.ac.ug). Accessed on August 1, 2017).
- Makerere University, 2011, Guidelines for Field Attachment. (http://policies.mak.ac.ug/). (Accessed on August 1, 2017).
- Perry, D., and Menendez, C., 2011, ‘Impact of institutions of higher education on urban and metropolitan areas: assessment of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities’, Perspectives in Health Information Management, No. 10, Fall, p. 1.
- Pike, G., Kuh, G., and McCormick, A., 2011, ‘An investigation of the contingent relationships between learning community participation and student engagement’, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 300–322.
- Soska, T., and Butterfield, J., eds, 2004, University–Community Partnerships: Universities in Civic Engagement, Binghampton: Hawthorne Press, Inc.
- Strum, S., Eatman, T., Saltmarch, J., and Bush, A., 2011, Full participation: building the architecture for diversity and community engagement in higher education, Imaging America, Paper 17. http://surface.syr.edu/ia/17
- Sutz,J., 2005, The Role of Universities in Knowledge Production. (http://www.scidev. net/global/policy-brief/the-role-of-universities-in-knowledge-production-.html). Accessed on August 1, 2017.
- Tagoe, M., 2012, ‘Incorporating community service learning into university-based adult education in Ghana’; In: J. Preece, P. Ntseane, O. Modise, and M. Osborne, eds, Community Engagement in African Universities: Perspectives, Prospects and Challenges, pp. 179–196, Leicester, UK: National Institute of Adult Continuing Education University.
References
Beere, C., Votruba, J., and Wells, G., 2011, Becoming an Engaged Campus: A Practical Guide for Institutionalizing Public Engagement, San Francisco, CA: Jossey–Bass. Brukardt, M., Holland, B., Percy, S., and Zimpher, N., 2006, ‘The path ahead: What’s next for university engagement?’, In: S. Percy, N. Zimpher and M. Brukardt, eds, Creating A New Kind of University: Institutionalizing Community–UniversityEngagement), Boston: Anker, pp. 242–259.
Brukardt, M.J., Percy, S.L. and Zimpher, N.L. 2006. ‘Moving forward along new lines’. In: S. Percy, N. Zimpher and M. Brukardt eds. Creating a New Kind of University: Institutionalizing Community-University Engagement. Boston: Anker, pp. 3–22.
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2010, The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement: 2010 Documentation Framework Preview. (http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org /downloads/2010-Documentation- Reporting-Form-PREVIEW-v2.pdf ). Accessed 13 August 2016.
Cloete, N., Bailey,T., Bunting, I., and Maassen, P, 2011, Universities and Economic Development in Africa: Key Findings, Cape Town: CHET.
Duke, C., 2008, ‘University engagement: avoidable confusion and inescapable contradiction’, Higher Education Management and Policy, Vol. 20, No. 2,pp. 87–97.
Etzkowitz, H., 2002, MIT and the Rise of Entrepreneurial Science, London: Routledge Press.
Goddard, J., 2007, ‘Supporting the Contribution of HEIs to Regional Development: Outcomes of the OECD Review Project of 14 Regions in 12 Countries’, Paper presented at the OECD/IMHE Conference, Valencia, Spain, 19–21 September 2007.
Hallak, J., and Poisson, M., 2007, Corrupt Schools, Corrupt Universities: What can be done? International Institute for Educational Planning, UNESCO.
Hart, A., and Northmore, S., 2011, ‘Auditing and evaluating university–community engagement: lessons from a UK case tudy’, Higher Education Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 1, pp. 34–58.
Jacob, W., Sheng, Y., and Porter, M., eds, 2015, Indigenous Education: Language, Culture, and Identity, Dordrecht: Springer.
Kakembo, F., 2012, ‘Innovative education and training for community-based water protection units’, Water Practice and Technology, Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 94.
Khan, G., and Park, H., 2011, ‘Measuring the triple helix on the web: longitudinal trends in the university-industry-government relationship in Korea’, Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, Vol. 62, No. 12,
pp. 2443–2455.
Makerere University, 2013, Makerere University Annual Report 2012: Enhancing Partnerships for Teaching, Research and National Development, Kampala, UG: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
Makerere University, 2008, Strategic Plan 2008/09–2018/19, Kampala: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
Makerere University, 2009, Policy on Appointment and Promotion of Academic Staff.(http://policies.mak.ac.ug). Accessed on August 1, 2017).
Makerere University, 2011, Guidelines for Field Attachment. (http://policies.mak.ac.ug/). (Accessed on August 1, 2017).
Perry, D., and Menendez, C., 2011, ‘Impact of institutions of higher education on urban and metropolitan areas: assessment of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities’, Perspectives in Health Information Management, No. 10, Fall, p. 1.
Pike, G., Kuh, G., and McCormick, A., 2011, ‘An investigation of the contingent relationships between learning community participation and student engagement’, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 300–322.
Soska, T., and Butterfield, J., eds, 2004, University–Community Partnerships: Universities in Civic Engagement, Binghampton: Hawthorne Press, Inc.
Strum, S., Eatman, T., Saltmarch, J., and Bush, A., 2011, Full participation: building the architecture for diversity and community engagement in higher education, Imaging America, Paper 17. http://surface.syr.edu/ia/17
Sutz,J., 2005, The Role of Universities in Knowledge Production. (http://www.scidev. net/global/policy-brief/the-role-of-universities-in-knowledge-production-.html). Accessed on August 1, 2017.
Tagoe, M., 2012, ‘Incorporating community service learning into university-based adult education in Ghana’; In: J. Preece, P. Ntseane, O. Modise, and M. Osborne, eds, Community Engagement in African Universities: Perspectives, Prospects and Challenges, pp. 179–196, Leicester, UK: National Institute of Adult Continuing Education University.
Makerere University, 2013, Makerere University Annual Report 2012: Enhancing Partnerships for Teaching, Research and National Development, Kampala, UG: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
Makerere University, 2008, Strategic Plan 2008/09–2018/19, Kampala: Makerere University Planning and Development Department.
Makerere University, 2009, Policy on Appointment and Promotion of Academic Staff.(http://policies.mak.ac.ug). Accessed on August 1, 2017).
Makerere University, 2011, Guidelines for Field Attachment. (http://policies.mak.ac.ug/). (Accessed on August 1, 2017).
Perry, D., and Menendez, C., 2011, ‘Impact of institutions of higher education on urban and metropolitan areas: assessment of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities’, Perspectives in Health Information Management, No. 10, Fall, p. 1.
Pike, G., Kuh, G., and McCormick, A., 2011, ‘An investigation of the contingent relationships between learning community participation and student engagement’, Research in Higher Education, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 300–322.
Soska, T., and Butterfield, J., eds, 2004, University–Community Partnerships: Universities in Civic Engagement, Binghampton: Hawthorne Press, Inc.
Strum, S., Eatman, T., Saltmarch, J., and Bush, A., 2011, Full participation: building the architecture for diversity and community engagement in higher education, Imaging America, Paper 17. http://surface.syr.edu/ia/17
Sutz,J., 2005, The Role of Universities in Knowledge Production. (http://www.scidev. net/global/policy-brief/the-role-of-universities-in-knowledge-production-.html). Accessed on August 1, 2017.
Tagoe, M., 2012, ‘Incorporating community service learning into university-based adult education in Ghana’; In: J. Preece, P. Ntseane, O. Modise, and M. Osborne, eds, Community Engagement in African Universities: Perspectives, Prospects and Challenges, pp. 179–196, Leicester, UK: National Institute of Adult Continuing Education University.