Investment in Technology Enhanced Learning and Financial Sustainability of Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Public and private higher education institutions in Kenya have increasingly faced challenges of financial unsustainability in recent years. Achieving financial sustainability requires institutions to secure regular and reliable internally generated funds to support their operations. In the context of dwindling government funding, escalating operational costs, rising debts, and deteriorating infrastructure, universities are under mounting pressure to identify and implement alternative income-generating strategies while preserving academic quality and institutional viability.This study evaluated the influence of financial resource mobilization strategies on the financial sustainability of universities in Kenya. Specifically, the research examined the impact of investment in technology-enhanced learning on financial sustainability. The study was supported and anchored on Resource Dependency Theory. Using Yamane formula ,a sample of 64 universities comprising of 34 public and 30 private Universities was drawn from a population of 76 chartered universities in Kenya as of December 31, 2022. Stratified sampling ensured proportional representation. Primary data was collected from 290 senior university officers through structured, self-administered questionnaires. Instrument reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient exceeding 0.9, surpassing the 0.7 threshold. Secondary data were obtained from university reports and audited financial statements covering the period 2018–2022.Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, with hypothesis testing conducted using binary logistic regression at a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). Chi-square analysis was used to determine the association between technology enhanced learning and financial sustainability in the Kenyan Universities The study found a significant association between technology enhanced learning and financial sustainability in the Kenyan Universities at the 5% level (P < 0.05).As shown by the Nagelkerke R Square percentages, Investment in Technology enhanced learning account for 71.2% of the variation, confirming its importance as a key driver of financial sustainability.From the findings of multivariate regression analysis, it was clear that Investment in Technology enhanced learning is significantly associated with financial sustainability (P = 0.002). If significant investment in technology enhanced learning is in place universities in Kenya are 6.343 times more likely to achieve financial sustainability (OR = 6.343) compared to those that do not invest in technology enhanced learning