Financing of Higher Education Institutions in Africa: A Systematic Literature Review and Call for Action

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are the centre of scientific and innovation activities. Therefore, it is vital that the higher education sector, most importantly undergraduate sections, which play a valuable role in society, be financed adequately. Undoubtedly, countries that increase their scientific research by funding the development of higher education are at the forefront of global competitiveness. On the contrary, the narrative on African higher education has excessively exhibited a deficit and crisis in students’ access to funding, quality, excellence, and equity. Current examples of funding challenges in the African higher education sector were discussed in this research, and suggestions were advanced. This study assesses multiple forms of funding for HEIs in Africa. The study adopts an interpretivist qualitative approach and uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method to collect relevant data. The study surveyed 39 studies from different research outlets, including the most ranked publishers, namely, SAGE, Wiley, Sprinter, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, and Inderscience. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used to guide the reporting of this review. PRISMA provides a structured approach for researchers to transparently report the methods, results, and conclusions of their systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Systematic reviews aim to summarize and analyse the existing evidence on a specific research question by identifying, appraising, and synthesizing relevant studies. The review found that despite the significant expansion of higher education in Africa, the sector remains one of the most financially challenged in the world, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial challenges have implications for every facet of the higher education landscape, particularly quality, excellence, and equity. The researchers identified that the most recurring avenues for financing the higher education sector in Africa are public resources, university-industry corporations, and funding with private resources. The current study contributes to the discourse on challenges of funding that persist in the African higher education sector and attempts to provide open insights for higher education practitioners, policymakers, and academicians.