1. Government support for University
Education: which way for Women’s
University in Africa?
Handsen Tibugari
Lecturer
Women’s University in Africa
Zimbabwe
handsentibugari@gmail.com
2. OUTLINE
• The University Education Sector
• Public Universities
• Private Institutions
• Women’s University in Africa
• Major Trends
• Lessons
• Recommendations
3.
4. Zimbabwe University Education
• 14 universities:
• 9 public (state), 5 private universities
• Administered by Ministry of Higher and
Tertiary Education’s Division of University
Education
• Links local & international universities,
compiles & maintains databases on
university education
5. • Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education
monitors quality of university education
• Universities have Internal Quality
Assurance Departments to monitor quality
6. • Access - one university in each province
• The Ministry targets to increase access to
university education from the current 40%
to 60% by 2012 and 60% to 90% by 2013
• Government policy also allows
establishment of private universities
7. Public Universities
• Public universities receive Government
grants
• Students in public universities can be
cushioned by the Cadetship Scheme,
which covers 75% of fees
• Upon completion of studies, recipients
serve the country and are bonded for a
period equal to the duration of the period
they are engaged as cadets
8. Private Institutions
• Private schools & private teachers’
colleges receive per capita and salary
grants from government
• Private universities not government
funded
• 4 church based
• High fees - large portion of their income
• Additional income from churches
9. The Women’s University in Africa
• Not-for-profit university
• Not church based
• Established to address gender disparity
and foster equity in university education
• 85% women and 15% men
• Reasonable fees to accommodate
economically disadvantaged
10. Institution Fees/semester
State Universities 400.00 – 700.00
Catholic University 750.00
Africa University 1 250.00
Solusi University 1 400.00
Women’s University in 700.00
Africa
11. • Student population – 2 000
• Graduation rate – 95%
• Vision 2015 - Growth with Quality
• Target enrolment – 4 500
• Flexible lecture timetables
• Plans for satellite campuses, University to
the people
12. WUA Sources of Income
• 95% of income from students’ fees
• 5% from gifts and donations
• Grant - African Capacity Building Foundation
• 9 PhD scholarships for academic staff
• More than 90 scholarships for women students
• Is equipping Agriculture Laboratory
• Bus for students, computers, E-books
• Staff exchange/contact visits
14. Major Trends
Social transformation
ESAP
Resuscitation Underfunding
Improved funding Near collapse
Improved conditions
15. 1980s
• Socialist ideology
• One public university
• High expenditure 14 - 23% in 1979/80
– 1980/81 (Nherera, 2005)
16. 1990s
• Shift towards capitalist society
• Growing debt
• ESAP-1991
• Cutbacks in education expenditure
• Expenditure not to exceed 18%
• 4 new public universities
17. University Established
National University of Science 1991
and Technology
Bindura University of Science 1996
Education
Zimbabwe Open University 1998
Midlands State University 1999
Africa University 1992
Solusi University 1994
Competition for government resources
18. 2000-2009
• Land reform
• Economic isolation
• Price controls
• Recession
• Reduced HE expenditure
• (40% of income 2009)
• More public universities – competition for
resources
19. 2000 - 2009
Institution Established
Chinhoyi University of Technology 2001
Great Zimbabwe University 2002
Lupane State University 2004
Harare Institute of Technology 2005
Catholic University in Zimbabwe 2001
Women’s University in Africa 2002
20. Effects on education
Economic hardships
• High student dropout rates >20% in 5
• Temporary suspension of programmes –
lack of qualified lecturers
• Temporary closure of institutions (e.g..
UZ)
• Closure of students’ halls of residence
21. • Government budgetary constraints and
hyperinflation – salaries unattractive
• Mass exodus of skilled academics
(Prof I.D.T. Mpofu - IDT Feed Formulation
Software 2006 – University of Namibia)
• Many universities recruited Teaching
Assistants to assist with practicals
• Ended up teaching full course loads
22. Lessons
• Reliance on limited revenue sources not
sustainable
• Can compromise access and quality
• Government funding policies can change
23. Recommendations
• Need for universities to diversify revenue
• Room for WUA to diversify revenue e.g.:
- Strategic Business Unit projects,
Research
- Consultancy, Alumni (VP)
• Government extend cadetship scheme –
needy students
- salary grants for staff
