Internal Publication
Performance of income-generating projects in financing budget deficits in the selected public universities in Tanzania
Globally, the literature shows that income generation projects (IGPs) in public universities have become an essential strategy for universities to address their financial shortfalls caused by underfunding from national budgets, massification of higher education, and rising operational demands. In Tanzania, persistent budget shortfalls and surging enrolments have made IGPs a vital strategy for sustaining higher education institutions. Various studies have attempted to analyze the impact of IGPs on finances, but they have mainly concentrated on the impact criteria without exploring the broader context of relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of IGPs. While positive outcomes have been noted, public universities still experience financial shortfalls in Tanzania. The current study intended to come up with the current performance of IGPs in Tanzania in terms of its relevance, effectiveness and sustainability and suggest what should be done to make the IGPs more effective in financing the budget deficit in public universities. To achieve this aim, the current study was guided by the following objectives; to determine the relevance of the IGPs on financing budget deficits in public universities, to examine the effectiveness of the IGPs on financing budget deficits in public universities, to determine the sustainability of the IGPs on financing budget deficits in public universities and exploring the perceptions and experiences of some university stakeholders regarding the relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of income-generation projects in financing budget deficits in public universities. This study was guided by resource Dependency Theory; the application of this theory provided a framework for analyzing the relationships between the three key dimensions of IGPs: relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of their impact on budget deficit financing. The study utilized an explanatory sequential design under pragmatism research philosophy, allowing the researcher to collect and analyze data in two phases. The target population were five public universities in Tanzania with 4523 respondents. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used to select a sample size of 303 respondents. The sample size was derived using Yamane’s formula for sample size. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used for data collection. Quantitative analysis was performed using hierarchical multiple linear regression, and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative findings indicated a significant positive relationship between relevance of IGPs and budget deficit financing (B=0.108, β=0.123, T=3.022, p<.05) as well as sustainability of IGPs and budget deficit financing (B=0.628, β=0.694, T=17.278, p0.05). Qualitative findings provided deeper explanations of these relationships. Respondents said that the current significant results for relevance and sustainability was because IGPs in public universities are currently strategically aligned with institutional goals, and designed to last for a long. Furthermore, the respondents said that needs assessments and stakeholder engagement maintained the relevance and sustainability of IGPs on financing budget deficits. Meanwhile, the qualitative findings explained the statistically insignificant relationship for the effectiveness of IGPs, revealing challenges such as inconsistent revenue streams, operational inefficiencies caused by ineffective management, and limited adaptability of IGPs in dynamic financial contexts. The study concluded that relevance and sustainability are essential drivers of the financial success of IGPs in addressing budget deficits, while effectiveness of IGPs is constrained by structural and operational challenges. Public universities in Tanzania should continue to prioritize aligning IGPs with institutional strategies, conducting regular needs assessments, and fostering community and stakeholder engagement to enhance relevance. Additionally, using sustainability measures such as financial planning, adaptability, and performance tracking into project design is crucial. Lastly, operational limitations of IGPs should be addressed to make them more effective.
Uploaded by: Japheth NoelAuthor: Mgejwa, John Samson Magara | ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8174-9575
Institution: Moi University | Centre: East and South African-German Centre for Educational Research, Methodologies and Management (CERM-ESA)
Thesis Supervisor(s): Kosgei, Zacharia | Bomet, Emily
Thesis Supervisor(s): Khau, Mathabo
Type: Theses | Doctoral | English
Subjects: Education
Date: July 2025 | Pages: xvii, 237
Copyright: The Author | License: Open Access
