Governing for sustainability: A contextual framework linking governance, autonomy, accountability and financial sustainability in Zambia’s public higher education system

Abstract

Public higher education systems across Africa have increasingly adopted privatisation-related reforms to improve financial sustainability, efficiency and institutional performance. However, in Zambia, privatisation implementation remains fragmented and contested within a highly regulated governance environment. This study examines how governance structures, accountability mechanisms, institutional autonomy and financial sustainability interact within Zambia’s public higher education system. The study aimed to examine how governance structures influence institutional management, analyse how accountability requirements shape financial decision-making, explore how autonomy is negotiated within statutory and ministerial controls and develop a contextually grounded framework that integrates governance, autonomy, accountability and sustainability. This study adopted a qualitative descriptive design grounded in an interpretivist paradigm. Between 8th February 2024 and 30th January 2025, data was collected from three public universities in Zambia: The University of Zambia, Copperbelt University and Mulungushi University. Eleven participants, comprising council members, senior administrators, the finance office department, the department of student affairs and government officials, were purposively selected. Semi-structured interviews were complemented by documentary analysis of the Higher Education Act (2013), Public Financial Management Act (2018), institutional statutes, financial reports and audit documents. Data were analysed using Manual Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The findings show that Zambia’s public universities operate under restricted autonomy, characterised by extensive ministerial influence over financial decisions, senior appointments and resource allocation. While institutions attempt to diversify income through tuition, short courses, partnerships and ventures, government grants remain the dominant source of funding. Financial records indicate persistent budget deficits, delayed government disbursements and constrained recruitment processes. Regulatory density, policy fragmentation and overlapping statutory requirements limit institutional discretion and slow strategic decision-making. Although internal governance mechanisms promote accountability, they frequently reinforce compliance rather than innovation. Based on these findings, the study developed the Regulated Autonomy and Transformative University Sustainability (RATUS) Framework. This contextually grounded model explains how the interaction between regulation, autonomy, accountability and sustainability can create a balanced pathway for improving institutional performance. The study recommends legislative clarification of decision authority, coordinated policy alignment across regulatory bodies, strengthened institutional financial capacity and the adoption of integrated governance and planning models to enhance long-term sustainability.