Performance monitoring and quality teaching and research in private universities in Uganda

Abstract

This study assessed the influence of performance monitoring on quality teaching and research in private Universities in Uganda. Specifically, the study investigated how performance tracking, performance reviews, performance dialogue, and consequence management influence quality teaching and research. A positivist approach and cross sectional survey design were adopted for the study. Four chartered private Universities were selected using disproportionate stratified random sampling, basing on the foundation status. Data were collected from 181 lecturers, 5 Deans, 23 Heads of Department, 3 Quality Assurance officers, 3 Senior Officers from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and 39 Student Leaders using a questionnaire, interviews, documents reviews and observation methods. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses, collaborated with content analysis were used to analyze the data. Study findings revealed a positive contribution of performance monitoring to quality teaching and research. The study concluded that staff performance monitoring practices in private universities are coercive and unsustainable in enhancing quality teaching and research. Therefore, the authors recommend that managers in the sampled private universities should use a variety of participatory-oriented performance monitoring mechanisms where targets are agreed upon, constructive feedback is provided on staff performance and staff are rewarding based on performance reviews.