Determinants of Internal Audit Independence in State Universities

Internal auditing has emerged as a solution to the growing tendency towards malfeasance among higher education institutions in developing countries. This malfeasance has resulted in poor service delivery, leading to an exodus of students to go and seek university education in developed countries. State universities have adopted internal auditing as a mechanism to promote good corporate governance and, hence, improve the overall performance of the universities. Internal auditing is defined as an ‘independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organisation’s operations. Internal auditing ceases to add value when it is not independent and objective. The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of internal audit independence in higher education institutions, specifically state or public universities in developing countries. The research uses cases of state universities in Zimbabwe, where 11 interviews were conducted with chief internal auditors to collect qualitative data. The findings indicate that internal audit stakeholders are the main determinants of internal audit independence. The research recommends that the audit committee, top management, and the government should actively and purposefully take steps to enhance and safeguard the independence of internal audit functions in state-owned universities.