Prospects of Mobilizing Financial Resources through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Private Universities in Uganda

Abstract

Higher education (HE) is critical in national development through knowledge production, distribution and innovations. As a result, many governments globally have made efforts to provide HE by investing and funding to increase access and tap benefits of HE. However, governments especially in developing countries have been constrained by the funding challenge. The challenge has been exacerbated by increasing demand for higher education which has raised enrolments. To avert this challenge, governments, including Uganda, embraced liberalization policies which among others ushered in establishment of private higher institutions. This was to reduce the pressure on governments as far as access and financing is concerned but at the same time, the government maintains the benefits of higher education. In Uganda, this policy has led to increase in both private universities and students‘ enrolment amidst limited resources especially financial, which has compromised on the quality provision. The financial challenge can be lessened by creating conducive environment that fosters joint collaboration to diversify the sources of funding. PPPs are the current trends which enhances such collaborative efforts. Despite this opportunity, private universities in Uganda have not adequately embraced the PPPs. This paper therefore attempted to explore the prospects of mobilizing financial resources through PPPs by private universities in Uganda. The specific objectives were to: identify opportunities for mobilizing financial resources through PPPs and explore conditions necessary to effectively mobilize resources through PPPs by private universities. The study utilized the qualitative research approach using the descriptive design. Interviews with experts in PPPs and document reviews were employed. Data analysis was made by coding, categorization and thematising. The preliminary findings reveal that several PPPs opportunities such as: securing grants from government for students, staff in public institutions rendering services in private universities exist, but private universities in Uganda have not adequately embraced PPPs to reduce their financial challenge. Universities rely mainly on tuition fees and some income generating activities which are minimal and cannot support all their programs. Effective PPPs need government support, favorable economic environment, partnering skills, good institutional governance among others. The study tentatively concludes that PPPs in private universities have minimally been embraced. It is tentatively recommended that private universities in Uganda should embrace PPPs as one of the feasible ways to improve on financial gaps.