Academic Decision-Making Practices And Governance Structures In Public And Private Universities Of Punjab: A Comparative Analysis

Povzetek

Effective governance of higher education is at the heart of academic decision-making, which affects curriculum design, quality of instruction, and institutional accountability. This research aims to examine the prevailing academic decision-making practices and factors affecting decision-making processes in public and private universities of Punjab, Pakistan. The descriptive survey design was used, and the data were obtained from 120 respondents, such as 40 department heads and 80 faculty members from 10 public and 10 private universities. This was done through the use of structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to explore the processes of decision-making and implementation of academic policies, curriculum development, instructional strategies and evaluation procedures. The findings showed that both sectors are complying with the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC); however, the decision-making process in the public universities is more centralized and bureaucratic, while in private universities, it is more flexible and participatory, mostly due to administrative and financial concerns. The importance of leadership style, institutional culture, and policy directions in the context of decision-making effectiveness was found in both sectors. The study shows that piloting evidence-based and participatory models of decision making can improve transparency, faculty engagement, and academic quality in Pakistan's higher education system.