Based on the widespread perceptions that most Postgraduate (masters’) students at the Graduate of Business (GSB) at the University of Zambia (UNZA) spend unusually long durations to complete their studies. The researcher decided to investigate these phenomena to identify factors responsible for extended completion or non-completion of Postgraduate students at Graduate School of Business. The aim of the study was to enhance timely graduation of Postgraduate students at the Graduate School of Business. The study employed a mixed method study design because of its efficacy in rendering research findings credible and reliable. Data was obtained from Postgraduate students and Supervisors at the GSB. Structured survey questionnaires were administered to One hundred seventy-six (176) students, and semi-unstructured personal interviews were conducted with supervisors at GSB. Quantitative data was analysed using Social Package and Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 and qualitative data was analysed using semantical content analysis. The findings of this study indicated that they were a significant relationship between study delay, GSB factors and Supervision factors, while student factors were not found to have a significant relationship with study delay at GSB. The study concludes that study delay at GSB was caused by GSB factors and Supervision factors. The study recommended that all the key players/ stakeholders involved in Postgraduate study delivery to carry out their duties well and efficiently, in order to enhance timely graduation of postgraduate students at GSB and increase the graduation rate for the school.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Statement of the Problem
3. Aim of the study
4. Objectives of the Study
5. Research Questions
6. Theoretical Background
7. Conceptual Framework
8. Research Methodology
9. Data Presentation and Analysis
9.1 Response rate
9.2 Multiple Regression Analysis
9.2.1 Model Fitness
9.2.2 Regression
10. Discussion of the findings
10.1 Institutional (GSB) factors
10.2 Supervision factors
10.3 Student (personal) factors
11. Limitations and Research Implications
12. Conclusion
13. Recommendations
14. Dissertation model providing the solution to enable timely graduation of Postgraduate students at the Graduate School of Business
15. References
Research Goal and Key Themes
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the underlying causes of delayed completion and non-completion of postgraduate degrees at the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and to develop a model that enhances timely student graduation by mitigating these constraints.
- The impact of institutional (GSB) arrangements on student throughput.
- The role and influence of supervision quality on postgraduate research progress.
- Evaluation of student-centered factors in the context of academic completion.
- Application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to improve academic management processes.
- Development of an intervention model for enhancing graduation rates.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
Programming of an academic calendar is a common problem that almost every university has to solve. Programming of an academic calendar can impact on a wide range of institutional outcomes, including student satisfaction, graduation rates and time to graduation, and university expenditures. Given the importance that scheduling can have on how students, faculty, and administrators make decisions, it becomes essential that programming of an academic calendar reflect student and institutional needs (Bowen, 2009).
The focus of this study is postgraduate throughput and for that matter postgraduate students. This is because there is a growing concern worldwide over the quality of post-graduate training, the length of time it takes postgraduate students to complete their studies, success rate of postgraduate students, and the high percentage of postgraduate students who terminate their studies. In the early nineties, for instance, several institutions in Canada expressed concern about problems with postgraduate education, especially the long time it takes students to complete their research (Holdaway, Deblois, & Winchester (1995). In the United States of America, the Council of Graduate Schools reported in 1991 that time-to-degree and the changing research environment was of great concern to many stakeholders in higher education. Similarly, Lessing & Schultze (2002) noted that attrition rates and completion rates of postgraduate students were becoming statistics of vital concern to governments, and funding agencies as they tended to rely on a performance-driven model to make informed judgments about higher degree research.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter highlights the global concern regarding postgraduate student throughput and the necessity of aligning academic calendars with student and institutional needs.
Statement of the Problem: It outlines the specific issue of study delays at the Graduate School of Business, where most students fail to complete their masters' programs within the two-year recommendation.
Aim of the study: This section defines the goal to create a model for enhancing timely student graduation.
Objectives of the Study: It defines the specific objectives, including applying the theory of constraints and developing a mitigation model.
Research Questions: This section formulates the core queries regarding the causes of delay and the potential solutions.
Theoretical Background: It introduces the Theory of Constraints (TOC) as the management framework for identifying and resolving bottlenecks in the system.
Conceptual Framework: It illustrates the relationship between the dependent variable (study delay) and the independent variables (GSB, Supervision, and Student factors).
Research Methodology: This chapter describes the mixed-method design, sampling techniques, and data collection tools used for quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Data Presentation and Analysis: It provides the statistical findings from the regression analysis and summarizes the survey response rate.
Discussion of the findings: This chapter interprets the research results and explores the significance of institutional and supervision factors versus student-centered factors.
Limitations and Research Implications: It addresses the boundaries of the current study and suggests future research directions.
Conclusion: This section reaffirms that GSB and supervision factors are the primary drivers of study delays at the school.
Recommendations: It offers actionable steps for the GSB to implement, such as improved supervisor engagement and rigid timeline management.
Keywords
Study delay, Student graduation, Institutional (GSB) factors, Supervision factors, Student factors, GSB, UNZA, Postgraduate throughput, Academic calendar, Theory of Constraints, Research supervision, Higher education management, Degree completion, Dissertation process, Mixed method design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research focuses on identifying the root causes of study delays among postgraduate students at the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and developing a systematic approach to improve graduation rates.
Which key areas are analyzed in the study?
The study examines three primary domains: Institutional factors (GSB), Supervision factors, and Student (personal) factors.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The main goal is to develop an effective model to help postgraduate students complete their studies on time, thereby improving the overall graduation rate for the GSB.
What methodology was employed to conduct the research?
The study utilized a mixed-method design, combining quantitative analysis via structured survey questionnaires (analyzed with SPSS) and qualitative analysis via semi-structured interviews.
What does the main body of the research address?
The main body focuses on theoretical background, research methodology, empirical data presentation (including regression analysis), and a detailed discussion of the findings based on institutional and supervision constraints.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include Study delay, Student graduation, GSB factors, Supervision factors, Theory of Constraints, and Postgraduate throughput.
How does the Theory of Constraints (TOC) apply to this study?
The TOC is used to identify the "weakest rings" in the academic process—specifically institutional and supervision bottlenecks—that prevent students from graduating on time.
What conclusion did the author reach regarding the impact of student factors?
Interestingly, the quantitative regression analysis indicated that student-centered factors were not statistically significant in determining study delay, unlike institutional and supervision factors.
What specific prescription does the model offer for student-supervisor allocation?
The model recommends engaging supervisors at the very beginning of the research topic definition to prevent the creation of sub-standard proposals and to save time.
- Citar trabajo
- Boniface Banda (Autor), 2021, Process Design of Timely Completion of Academic Programs for Business Schools, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1182504
