Dood governance for quality service delivery: National University of Lesotho (NUL) under a microscope and challenges therefrom

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to highlight occurrences of poor governance practices at the National University of Lesotho and to propose the way forward for the Institution in order to get itself out of the present quagmire. Qualitative data collection approaches have been used to get information for this study. These have included in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants among university, staff “exit interviews” with some staff members who had recently resigned from the service of the University; content analysis of both local print and electronic media sources; the review of the relevant internal NUL documents such as policies and reports and general observations by the author during participation in deliberations over important issues at various significant policy making University committees such as Council and Senate. The major finding of this study has confirmed that the bulk of the critical operations of the Institution have not been guided by the existing policies and legal frameworks. Consequently, the various academic and related administrative service deliveries were adversely affected as earlier suspected. NUL must therefore make a deliberate effort to conduct business within the confines of the law; provide proper phased induction programmes particularly for academic and relevant administrative staff for them to understand how the university system operates and help them positively see their professional role in the whole scheme of things.