Challenges and Strategies in the Implementation of Civic Entrepreneurship in the Governance of the University of Zambia

Abstract

This paper is an extract from the master’s study which was investigating the implementation of civic entrepreneurship in the governance of public universities with a focus on the University of Zambia. Therefore, this paper focuses on exploring the challenges encountered in the implementation process of civic entrepreneurship and suggests strategies that could address such challenges. The study followed a qualitative case study design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 56 respondents who were sampled using snowball and convenient sampling. Document analysis was equally employed in the collection of data. Data analysis was done on the basis of themes that emerged from the study. The findings of this study indicated that lack of financial resources and strong financial framework for funding public universities was a major challenge in the implementation of civic entrepreneurship in the university governance system. The study further indicated that there was a lot of bureaucracy in the governance of the University of Zambia. The study therefore recommends that there was need to re-engineer the governance system at the University of Zambia. The university management should devise and adopt less bureaucratic systems of governing the university. The government is implored to devise a financial framework for funding public universities in order to enhance effective delivery of education services and good governance of public universities in Zambia.