Academic Staff Work Performance in Tanzania’s Public and Private Universities: A Systematic and Comparative Review

Abstract

This study presents a systematic literature review of academic staff performance in private and public universities in Tanzania, focusing on teaching and research productivity and community services that significant differences exist in the performance outcomes between the two universities categories, namely public and private. Guided by the Human Capital Theory (HCT), the review analyzed empirical and conceptual studies published between 2019 and 2025. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, the review synthesized empirical studies published between 2019 and 2025. A quantitative comparative design using independent samples t-tests was employed to examine variations in research and teaching indicators. The findings reveal statistically significant differences in research-related outputs, including international publications and research project participation. However, statistically significant differences were observed in teaching-related indicators such as supervision load and course units taught. The reveal the institutional governance structures that shape academic productivity patterns across Tanzania’s higher education system.