Influence of third-stream activities on university sustainability: a comparative study of Bidii and Zurii University
Date
2020-10
Authors
Ngenoh, Dorcas Chepkoech
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Higher education institutions today face a demanding and complex financial context in which traditional modes of funding have been transformed. The pressure to maintain quality and competitive standards in the face of rising financial constraints has been the primary challenge facing universities worldwide. The increasing costs in majority of the universities has left most of them in financial crisis this is due to overdependence on first and second stream funding with little exploration on third stream funding. This study sought to investigate third-stream activities, challenges that arise in these activities, viability of university activities and roles of different actors. This was done in two universities that is Bidii and Zurii Universities which are fictitious names. The study used resourced based theory and from its tenets objectives were developed on human resource, tangible and intangible resources. It adopted a mixed method research approach and thus a sequential method was used. The data collection methods included questionnaires, interviews and analyzing financial records. The study targeted administrators, lecturers and head of departments in the two universities. The researcher sampled 120 respondents in Zurii while 100 in Bidii university. Quantitative data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20 while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. In Zurii university the study found that there is a positive significant correlation between the university’s utilization of tangible resources and finacial sustainability. In Bidii university there is a significant relationship between the institution’s use of tangible and agricultural resources and financial sustainability. In both institutions study findings indicated critical resource as a main third-stream activities is human resource. Significant positive correlation between university engagement in linkages and selling software, and financial sustainability was also observed in the both institutions. The study was crafted as a comparison of a pubic and private institution. The areas for further research can be to research on reasons as to why most staff members are unaware of the finances that
universities make. A deeper examination of the role of human resource in financial sustainability of universities needs to be done in terms of the staff development, remuneration and separation. Effect of management style on financial sustainability of universities, there is need to examine how management of universities influences its sustainability.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s in Education Management at Strathmore University
Keywords
Higher education institutions, Funding