| This study was undertaken to determine the impact of resource allocation on the performance of faculty at public universities in Zimbabwe. These institutions are facing reduced public funding of enormous proportions and yet student enrolments have been increasing rapidly as a response to post independence measures taken to redress colonial imbalances. The net result is, while quantitative gains, in terms of access, have been achieved, the quality of university education has been decreasing.;I conducted this qualitative study to get an in-depth understanding of the problem. As a theoretical framework, I used the Production model and Institutional Theory. I conducted 22 targeted interviews and the respondents included professors, senior university administrators and senior government officials. I also analysed some key documents, such as University Acts which are statutory instruments for establishing the institutions; government policy documents which included reports by Presidential Commissions of Inquiry and strategic plans from Government and the Universities. I then used thematic content analysis to analyse the data.;The study revealed that public universities in Zimbabwe were seriously under-funded and their function has been greatly constrained by limited resources. At the national level the study revealed that there were systemic problems in policy making. For instance the funding model currently in use, was not effective because of the rapid expansion in University education that was taking place. At the institutional level, there were issues of inadequate resources, weak academic leadership and reduced capacity caused by the "brain drain." These factors formed barriers to the performance of the academic staff. I concluded by suggesting some recommendations for turning around the situation. The main recommendations include the crafting of a new model for funding public universities, and strategies for arresting the "brain drain." In developing a new funding model, consideration should be given to the role of strategic planning, which is used successfully in many countries as a basis for resource allocation at both the national and institutional levels. |
