Internal efficiency and the quality of university education in Uganda

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between internal efficiency and the quality of university education in Uganda. The study was guided by the following objectives: to examine the relationship between the competence of university lecturers and the quality of university education; to establish the relationship between adequacy of university facilities and the quality of university education, and to evaluate the relationship between the types of academic programmes offered at university and the quality of university education. The study adopted Cross-sectional and correlational research designs. The study used a sample of 400university students got from 3 public universities and 3 private universities, 12 heads of academic departments, 6 quality assurance directors, and 6 human resource managers of selected employers. The study made the following revelations; it found a positive and statistically significant relationship between the competence of university lecturers and the quality of university education. Secondly, the study found a strong relationship between university facilities (such as lecture room space, library space and books, laboratory facilities, and computer and internet access) and the quality of university education. Finally, the study findings suggested a strong relationship between the type of study programme that they do in the university and students’ labour market expectations in terms of employment and earnings. The study concluded that lecturers are an important input in determining the quality of university education and that some attributes of lecturer quality mainly professional guidance of students and methods of assessment are better predictors of students’ retention, employment, and earnings compared to mastery of subject content and teaching methods. Adequacy of university facilities such as lecture room space, library facilities, laboratories facilities, and computer and internet access have an effect on university students’ retention, their employment expectations, and earnings expectations. Finally, the types of academic programmes that students chose to study at university are positively and significantly correlated with student’s retention and labour market expectations. The study recommends that universities should enhance staff development programmes to improve the capacity of their staff; government should improve resources available for universities to improve university faculties, and universities should review their programmes to include those aspects which have high demand in the labour market. From the employers’ point of view, the study recommends that universities should engage with employers when they are developing or reviewing their academic programs to meet employers’ expectations.