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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol.7, No.7

Publication Date: July 25, 2020

DOI:10.14738/assrj.77.8670.

Mupeta, S., Muleya, G., Kanyamuna, V., & Simui, F. (2020). Imperial Districts Civic Entrepreneurship: The Implementation of Civic

Innovations in the Governance of the University of Zambia. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(7) 674-685.

Civic Entrepreneurship: The Implementation of Civic Innovations in

the Governance of the University of Zambia

Sydney Mupeta

Institute of Distance Education,

University of Zambia, Zambia

Gistered Muleya

Institute of Distance Education,

University of Zambia, Zambia

Vincent Kanyamuna

Institute of Distance Education,

University of Zambia, Zambia

Francis Simui

Institute of Distance Education,

University of Zambia, Zambia

ABSTRACT

This research paper explores and interrogates the intricacies

surrounding the implementation of civic innovations in the governance

of public universities with the focus on the University of Zambia. This

research employed qualitative case study design which culminated into

the use of semi-structured interviews to generate data from 15

participants who were purposively sampled using snowball and

convenient sampling. Document review and analysis was used in the

generation of data. Data analysis was done on the basis of themes that

emerged from the study. The research findings revealed that the

university receives a lot of support from various interested

stakeholders in the implementation of civic innovations. The study

further indicated that the implementation of civic innovations was

embedded in the strategies of the university as stipulated in the

university strategic plan (2018-2022). The study also revealed that the

university carries out sensitization programmes in the implementation

of civic innovations. The study, therefore, recommends that the

University of Zambia should be inclusive in approach during the

planning and implementation of civic innovations through the

involvement of various relevant stakeholders.

Keywords: Civic Innovations, Civic Entrepreneurship, Public Universities,

Monitoring, Evaluation

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol.7, Issue 7, July-2020

INTRODUCTION

Globally, the governance of public universities and the higher education in general have caught the

attention of many interested stakeholders. There is constant check on the performance of public

universities. This is as a result of the increasingly and complexity expansion of demands people are

pressing on the higher learning institutions around the globe. Public universities are expected to be

productive, efficient and effective in the delivery of services they are mandated to provide to the

public. In order to meet the expectations of the people, public universities have undergone

tremendous transformation- in their governance systems. These transformations have imposed

increasingly dynamic demands and changes, not only on the governance and funding of higher

education institutions, but also in the logic guiding academic and non-academic activities [4, 21, 25

& 28]. The traditional roles of universities and their management practices have equally

transformed largely because of neo-liberalization ideology which promotes free market economics

[29 & 23]. Neoliberal principles, according to [4] have become spread in many parts of the world

and as a result, many countries have undergone changes in financial arrangements in which

accountability mechanisms have compelled universities to reconsider their social missions,

academic priorities and organizational structures.

As a counter-reaction to the dynamic transformation occasioned by globalization and neo- liberalism, the concept of civic entrepreneurship has risen to prominence much to the benefit of

public institutions, particularly the higher learning institutions. As epitomized by Edwards et al

(2002) whose views are equally supported by [27 & 24], the public sector is increasingly utilizing

the concepts of civic entrepreneurship given the unpredictability and complexity surrounding the

sector. As a result of the effects of neoliberalism on the education system, universities around the

world have adopted different governance strategies. [4] contend that universities have undergone

restructuring involving serious changes in the governance. This is why, Leadbeater and Goss (1998:

18) advance that, “civic entrepreneurs are at work throughout the public sector, at all levels of many

kinds of organizations, large and small, local and national.” This development could also be

attributed to the rising levels of civic awareness occasioned by some level of Civic knowledge, Civic

skills, Civic values and possibly Civic dispositions through Civic Education. Civic Education here is

seen to be supporting or providing emphasis on praxis, interaction with tools, objects, experiences,

reflections, assumptions among many others to gaining great understanding through hands-on- knowledge on civic issues and actions [15, 17, 18,19, 20 & 22]. This entails that civic innovation only

works out on conditions where those who are at the centre of its activities are fully aware of their

civic tasks through the delivery of improved services in the institutions they superintend over and

this awareness is always supported in the spirit and letter of Civic Education [22, 23, 36 & 36].

The productivity of civic entrepreneurship on whichever landscape it is deployed, operationalized

and enacted lies in its composition as well as its orientation to improving an organization’s

performance in service delivery to the public. Thus, according to Leadbeater and Goss (1998:18), it

constitutes three distinctive elements which distinguish it from any related forms of

entrepreneurship such as social and business entrepreneurship. These elements are civic

innovations, collaborative leadership and political leadership As this study interrogates the

implementation of civic innovations in the governance of public universities, more specifically the

University of Zambia.

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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.77.8670 676

Mupeta, S., Muleya, G., Kanyamuna, V., & Simui, F. (2020). Imperial Districts Civic Entrepreneurship: The Implementation of Civic Innovations in the

Governance of the University of Zambia. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(7) 674-685.

THE PROBLEM AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

While the University of Zambia applies civic innovations in its governance systems, improvement

in its performance remains a source of concern. This could result into problems such as staff brain

drain, loss of international character, and a drop in enrolment levels of the students. Further, the

performance and general governance of the university through the University of Zambia Strategic

Plan 2013-2017 and UNZA Strategic Plan 2018-2022 acknowledges the threat posed by emerging

private universities whose new products and projects have advanced the commodification of higher

education. Therefore, the disparities existing between the implementation of civic innovations and

the achievements as well as the performance of the university in service delivery has prompted the

need to investigate the implementation of civic innovations in the governance of the University of

Zambia.

The research was anchored on the research objective whose thrust was to investigate the

implementation of civic innovation in the governance of the University of Zambia

WHAT IS CIVIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND CIVIC INNOVATION?

As a distinct form of entrepreneurship, civic entrepreneurship has elements manifested and

practised in public institutions. [8, 16, 35 & 38] conceptualizes civic entrepreneurship as, “the free

contribution of time and effort to a project for the greater good of society without expectation of

financial benefit.” [9 & 10] also have a slight distinctive conception of the term. They contend that

civic entrepreneurship is, “the renegotiation of the mandate and sense of purpose of a public

organization, which allows it to find new ways of combining resources and people, both public and

private, to deliver better social outcomes, higher social value and more social capital.” [9] further

notes that civic entrepreneurship is a concept that constitutes diverse activities or elements. These

elements are civic innovations, collaborative leadership and political leadership. According to [25

& 30] civic entrepreneurship is the application of a collection or set of civic innovations,

collaborative leadership and political leadership in public institution management to improve their

performance in the delivery of public services. On the other hand, civic innovation is one of the key

elements of civic entrepreneurship. In the context of this study, civic innovations are construed as

initiatives the management in public universities put in place to improve the university delivery of

services and ensure general good governance of the institution.

LITERATURE REVIEW

[2] look at innovations in higher education with the intent to generate information that would give

a better understanding of new developments affecting higher education. The study explores how

innovations can support higher education in times of change. Among other overarching questions

the research addresses is; what are the core challenges higher education is facing and driving

innovation. The findings of the research show some major challenges higher education is facing.

Pressures from globalization, the changing supply and demand for higher education and changes in

higher education funding are the challenges the research highlights. [2, 35 & 39] strongly argue that

these challenges determine the development and implementation of various innovative practices in

higher education. Though this research shows that innovations are employed in higher education,

it does not shed light on how innovative practices are implemented and help higher education to

meet the changing needs of the society. Another significant revelation of this study is the argument

that more autonomous higher education institutions which have control over financial resources

and distribution of these resources develop bottom-up practices while less autonomous higher