Paper accompanying a presentation for the 2015 University of North Texas (UNT) Student and Faculty Research Symposium on African Studies. This paper discusses reimagining the funding of higher education in Uganda.
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Paper accompanying a presentation for the 2015 University of North Texas (UNT) Student and Faculty Research Symposium on African Studies. This paper discusses reimagining the funding of higher education in Uganda.
Physical Description
26 p.
Notes
Abstract: A nation's survival in the global economy depends on its ability to utilize the available knowledge and resources to address environmental challenges. Higher education is necessary to produce a skilled workforce that can harness technology and innovate to the advantage of the community (World Bank, 2008, McMahon, 2009). However, higher education in developing economies such as Uganda is becoming problematic due to its funding. Public funding for higher education has progressively decreased while the demand for an education that is relevant to individual, national, and global needs prevails. The challenge is how to balance educational cost and quality with the cumulative demand for access. This calls for flexible funding approaches so that the value and benefits of higher education can be equitably allocated. Through reviewing literature, this paper explores substitute (to public subsidies), strategies to the funding of higher education in Uganda. I develop a description of each approach analyzing its strengths and weaknesses, and constraints and supports. Focus is on how institutions can manage tuition, and generate supplemental revenue through diversification. I conclude that, given the increasing fiscal pressure coupled with the increased demand for access, higher education in Uganda can no longer be dependent on shrinking government subsidy. Nor can it be left to competitive market forces. Alternative, practical ways of funding higher education must be explored.
This paper is part of the following collections of related materials.
UNT Scholarly Works
Materials from the UNT community's research, creative, and scholarly activities and UNT's Open Access Repository. Access to some items in this collection may be restricted.
This collection contains papers and presentations from the symposium, "Thinking and Re-Thinking Africa," held April 11, 2015, in Denton, Texas. Organized by the UNT Africa Task Force and supported by UNT-International, this symposium aims to bring together students and faculty from all disciplines to present their research, contribute to dialog, and extend the boundaries of knowledge about the African continent.
