The Nature of Public University Autonomy in Determining Its Size, Rate of Growth and Expansion: A Case of Kyambogo University

Abstract

University autonomy is very crucial in the determination of an institution’s size, its rate of growth and expansion. This study was conducted at Kyambogo University. The purpose was to establish the nature of institutional autonomy in determining the size, rate of growth and expansion of Kyambogo University. The paper analysed the nature of institutional autonomy with regard to students’ enrolment, staffing levels, infrastructure, facilities, financial resources, policy framework, university’s partnerships and response to global trends. The study concluded that institutional autonomy is challenged by government established bodies and entities because government plays a central role in regulating the institutional autonomy of higher education institutions in terms of size, growth and expansion. The study recommended that the university should be mindful of this challenge when considering size, rate of growth and expansion, that government mainly plays a supervisory role to the university and the university in bid to enjoy a high degree of autonomy, management should move away from the traditional methods of generating income and become entrepreneurial.