Browsing by Author "Barifaijo, Maria K."

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Community service functions of higher education institutions and socio-economic development in Uganda
(Uganda Management Institute, 2016-11) Barifaijo, Maria K.; Bigabwenkya, Sebastian; Namara B., Rose; Andama A., Felix; Bongomin L., Wilfred
This study examined the link between community service functions of higher education institutions (HEIs) and socio-economic development of localities around these institutions. The study set out to: explore the forms and strategies used by institutions in promoting the community service function; ﬁnd out the contribution of community service to local socio-economic development endeavors in Uganda; and examine the linkage of HEIs research and teaching to community service. Utilizing the interpretive approach and the general collaborative theory, the research was done among three higher Institutions of learning i.e. Uganda Management Institute, Makerere and Gulu Universities where teaching and administrative staff participated in the study. Findings show that there are many strategies used by staff and students in community service, but community service lacks a comprehensive strategy at HEIs level. The contribution of community service to local socio-economic development is not necessarily explicit in communities but the function is intertwined with research and education which all in the end contribute to socio-economic development. Community service is not deliberately linked to socio-economic development of localities as it is linked to promotion of staff and students learning. Besides, community service interventions in many institutions of higher learning are inadequately resourced and lack systematic approach to working for community transformation. The study recommends that for community service to be meaningful, it has to be beneﬁcial to the communities too. There is need to develop costed institutional strategies for community service and development of documentation mechanisms for community service interventions by university actors.
Politics in staff representation and democracy in higher education institutions in Uganda: extricating the actors’ intentions
(International Journal of Technology and Management, 2017-12) Barifaijo, Maria K.; Namara, Rose
The article examines the influence of representative politics on democracy in higher education institutions (HEIs). The research attempted to answer three main questions: (1) What are the intentions of the aspirants in their struggle to represent their constituents? (2) Why do electorates decide to or not to vote for the competing aspirants? (3) How has representative politics promoted democracy in the institutions? The study employed an ethnographic research. A qualitative approach was supported by a longitudinal design to collect data in two HEIs - Makerere University and Uganda Management Institute - from November 2009 to April 2015. Results revealed that aspirants had both personal and constituent-related desires as pushing factors for them to stand for elective positions. Ideological pursuits, academic achievements, personal gains and friendship with aspirants were also identified as motivating factors. The study was guided by the Theory of Rational Choice and Bandura’s Model of reasoned action. The article concludes that representative politics in HEIs did not enhance ideals of accountability and responsiveness as desired in democratic institutions; rather, it served the personal interests of representatives.