The Challenges Encountered by the Selected Private Universities in Kenya in Implementing Strategies that Would Lead to a Financially Sustainable University (Published)
Great expectations of high quality education are held by many people due to a high demand of tertiary education in private Kenyan universities. Higher education in Kenya has experienced a lot of numerical growth of the number of universities chartered. As of November 2015, Kenya had a total of 70 chartered universities. Of these, 17 were private chartered ones which had grown in number from 3 to 17 in just two decades (CUE 2015, Chacha 2004,4). That notwithstanding, private universities face numerous challenges, which if not addressed, their sustainability will be threatened. This paper therefore seeks to explore the challenges encountered by selected private universities in Kenya, in implementing strategies that would lead to a financially sustainable university. These challenges were classified into two categories: the internal and external challenges. The internal challenges, experienced from within the university included: inadequate finances, university leadership and structures while the external ones include: government funding, government regulations and donor support. Qualitative grounded theory design was used in which an interview guide and a self-developed interview schedule were used in data collection. Twenty respondents were involved from four theological private universities. A fifth university was used for a pilot study. Data was organized manually and analyzed qualitatively through the use of codes and formation of categories. The strategies utilized were: students’ recruitment, internal and external funding, program development, review and diversification. The findings show that different universities are engaging in different strategies without much success in terms of income generated. This was attributed to the many internal and external challenges being faced by these universities. Therefore, this study proposed a financial sustainability system that is based on grounded theory which recommends the need to prioritize income generating strategies – developing, reviewing and diversifying revenue streams (input activities) that will generate adequate income to overcome the challenges in the system that are a major impediment to implementation of activities (output) that would lead to establishment of a financially sustainable university. This paper concludes by suggesting ways of developing, reviewing and diversifying revenue streams that will enhance the financial sustainability of the sampled universities. Moreover, it recommends that universities should develop more creative strategies that are not yet in place, review their status and also diversify their strategies to achieve financial sustainability.
Keywords: Challenges, Donor, Financial Sustainability, Higher Education, Private University, Strategies.
An Investigation into the Factors That Impede Scientific Research in Higher Education in Libya: Time to Act (Published)
Higher education and scientific research hold a key role in promoting development and rapid transformation for countries like Libya which is facing rapid changes and unstable political situation. There is a dire need in the Libyan educational system for a complete re-examination of research policy and planning in order to work towards improving its quality to meet the country’s needs. Given the current crisis in most Libyan universities, this study aims to investigate the factors that impede scientific research in Sabratha University. It also seeks to propose ways to improve research quality in the university. The findings of the study indicate that the lack of strategic plan for research is preventing the university from functioning and preserving its role in society. It also indicates that the lack of resources, fund and proper infrastructure are the main factors that influence scientific research.
Keywords: Higher Education, Influencing Factors, Scientific Research
Revisiting Student Satisfaction through Servqual: Private Tertiary Education Perspective (Published)
The objective of the study is to explore the relationship between the SERVQUAL dimensions of service quality and student satisfaction. Factor analysis, multiple regression, t-test, and ANOVA were employed to analyze data. A sample size of 119 was gathered from four private universities in Dhaka and respondents were students. Finally, 117 were found suitable for analysis. The study reveals that responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and student quality have significant influence on student satisfaction. Among these, assurance illustrated the strongest influence on student satisfaction followed by empathy and student quality. These findings can be valuable inputs for academic leaders to enhance student satisfaction. In this endeavor, student quality is being incorporated as an additional dimension of SERVQUAL. This realistic contribution may modify academic leaders to think in a progressive way in assessing student satisfaction in future. Finally, the study discloses that overall service quality has a positive significant influence on student satisfaction.
Keywords: Higher Education, Service Quality, Student Quality., Student Satisfaction
This Is Why They Leave You: Workplace Bullying and Insight to Junior Faculty Departure (Published)
Workplace bullying may be an understudied area in higher education, yet the most vulnerable population, junior faculty members, receive even less attention. Based on a data collection in late 2016/early 2017, this data analysis of 257 graduate students and junior faculty from nine countries considered the question, what is the frequency of workplace bullying for junior faculty and graduate students? A second research question was, does workplace bullying influence career decisions for junior faculty and graduate students. Findings showed that close to 63% of respondents faced workplace bullying. Many of their comments revealed shock and dismay that administration turned a blind eye to bullying behaviors. Further, close to 80% of the respondents stated that the organization did not take action when learning about bullying, and 32% considered leaving the higher education sector. For further consideration, this study included the open-ended comments of junior faculty as they reflected on workplace bullying and how it had an impact on their career trajectory.
Keywords: Higher Education, Workplace bullying, junior faculty
Down the Road to “Bahrain 2030”Internship Programs and Graduates’ Employability (Published)
This paper aims at identifying how the higher education internship programs affect meeting the demands of labor market in Bahrain and contribute to the employability of graduates. A designed survey was developed and distributed among a sample of the Bahraini higher education graduates, the analysis of which showed that the Internship Programs adopted by the different Bahraini higher education institutes contribute to meeting the demands of the labor market in Bahrain. Quantitative data was supported by qualitative information gathered through structured interviews with officials in charge of the internship programs in some of the higher education institutes to help explain the quantitative results. The study recommended the sustainment of the coordination and integration between the higher education from one side and the labor market from the other, to develop academic and internship programs that are compatible with the skills required by the labor market. Moreover, the study recommended a periodical evaluation for the higher education institutes to assure the provided internship programs are aligned with the labor market’s objectives and strategies, in addition to the contribution such programs have to the Kingdom’s development aimed by its 2030 vision.
Keywords: Bahrain 2030 Vision., Graduate Attributes, Higher Education, Internship Programs, Labor market
The Practical and Theoretical Underpinning of Inclusion for College Students amidst Diverse Intersectionality (Published)
American higher education is facing another major transition with escalating costs, an influx of diverse students, and an over all question about the return on investment for higher education. Within these complexities, this essay will consider the practical history and theoretical underpinning which inform the experience for students with complex intersectionality. After reflecting on the higher education legal issues and Duboisian theory, the essay will provide recommendations for students and higher education personnel
Keywords: Higher Education, intersectionality, race
The Degree of Commitment of the Higher Education Institutions in Jordan to the Strategic Planning Standards (Published)
The main purpose of the present study is to identify the importance of strategic planning, the strategic planning standards and the obstacles against the commitment to strategic planning in the higher education institutions. Thereafter, to shed light on the degree of commitment of the higher education institutions in Jordan to the strategic planning standards. The study has produced a cluster of results and recommendations, the most significant of which is that the higher education institutions in Jordan are highly committed to the strategic planning standards. The researcher also recommends conducting more spaced out studies on all the educational institutions in Jordan to specify the best strategies used in those institutions to be generalized on the rest of the educational institutions.
Keywords: Degree of Commitment, Higher Education, Institution, Jordan, Strategic Planning
The Evil that Men Do in Academics: Understanding Plagiarism and Its Extenuating Circumstances (Published)
This study was premised to explore the causes of plagiarism and its extenuating circumstances in Higher Educational Institutions in Ghana. The study focused on Tertiary Students in the Kumasi and Sunyani Metropolis and Municipality respectively, 200 students were selected deploying a cluster sampling technique. The underpinning research paradigm was a cross sectional descriptive survey. Questionnaires were the main instrument used in eliciting primary data for the study. Secondary data were obtained from academic journals databases including EBSCO, and Google Scholar. The analyses were presented using Means, Standard Deviations, Unweighted Means, Relative Important Index (RII), Frequencies and Percentages. The study discovered the causes of student’s plagiarism as follows; poor writing skills, to obtain better marks, poor understanding of plagiarism, cost of quality education materials, Pressure from family and friends to offer help. The plagiarism extenuating factors were also discovered as follows; educate students on writing methods, assign different questions to different individuals, give tests quizzes or assignments more, assigning more in-class activities, not allowing students make up tests, rotate curriculum and trust building. It is recommended that deploying plagiarism detective software under covert study will help understand the causal factors better in order to inoculate student’s plagiarism effectively.
Keywords: Causes, Extenuating Circumstance, Ghana, Higher Education, Plagiarism
Instructional Leadership In Higher Education: How Does It Work? (Published)
Instructional leadership is in a separate place from the other forms as it has a key role in the effective teaching and learning processes together with the changing social structure and idea. The roles of the faculty members in the higher education institutions are one of the important factors for the success within the institution. In this study it is aimed to determine the opinions related to the instructional leadership of the faculty members working in higher education institutions. Within the scope of the study, thirteen faculty members were interviewed. The data of the study was obtained through qualitative research method. In addition, the study was carried out with phenomenological method which is one of the qualitative research methods and in the study semi-structured interview technique was utilized. As a result of the study, it was understood that the faculty members’ opinions about the instructional leadership are based more generally on some ideas such as attributing importance on using visual materials and method variety in their courses, trying to participate in the national and international activities in order to obtain a professional development, keeping in touch with their colleagues for raising the students’ success level and being a role model for students through their behavior and attitudes.
Keywords: Faculty members, Higher Education, Instructional Leadership
The Perceptions of Distance Education Personnel of the Relationship between Work Conditions and Their Job Satisfaction in Kenya’s Christian Higher Education (Published)
The study originally based on a doctoral exploration, sought to establish the relationships among spirituality, working conditions and job satisfaction of extension studies personnel in Kenya’s Christian higher education. The study employed a mixed method approach to answer the questions raised by the researcher. This paper thus reports the findings on one of the research questions: What are the perceptions of administrators and faculty of extension studies of the impact of work conditions on their job satisfaction? Data was collected using a survey instrument comprised of the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) and the Job Descriptive Index (JDI), from 146 administrators and faculty of extension studies from 6 selected Christian universities in Kenya. Statistical tests were carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), including ANOVA/Kruskall Wallis, and Tukey HSD/Mann-Whiteny U applying a Benferroni adjustment to the p value. In regard to demographic profiles, work conditions, and job satisfaction, the findings of this study indicated significant differences between faculty personnel and administrators’ perceptions of their global job satisfaction, and work itself. Work evaluation mean scores were based on level of education, job rank, level of work involvement, and monthly salary. Moreover, there were significant difference between faculty and administrative responsibilities in regard to satisfaction through work itself and satisfaction through promotion opportunities. Faculty without administrative responsibilities reported higher scores of satisfaction in the two scales.
Keywords: Christian Universities, Distance Education Personnel, Higher Education, Job Satisfaction, Work Conditions