University learning environment and postgraduate students’ completion rates in private universities in Uganda: a case of Uganda Christian University, Mukono

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of University physical environment, staff diversity, and students’ factors on the completion of postgraduate students at Uganda christian university- Mukono. Specifically, the study sought to examine the extent to which graduate students’ completion is affected by; university physical environment, university staff diversity, and University graduate students’ factors. The study adopted a cross-sectional design to gather data from a sample of the population at a particular time in order to obtain information about opinions, attitudes, practices, concerns or interests of groups of people. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used for the mutual validation of the data following a descriptive approach. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the results were presented in form percentages and frequencies in tables with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS) Computer Program version 21.0 whilst qualitative data were analyzed was presented by way of verbatim quotations. From the analyses it was established that physical environment aspects such as; specious well equipped and adequately sized lecture rooms, and aspects of staff diversity such as; level of qualification, experience and affect graduate students’ completion at UCU to some extent, whereas students’ factors such as; Job commitment, financial challenges affect students completion to a larger extent. Basing on these findings, it was concluded that, at UCU students’ completion is not affected by the physical environment and staff diversity. Instead students’ factors affect graduate studies completion to a large extent. It is recommended that; the University administrators should ensure that they not only provide physical facilities, but also emphasis should also be placed on proper use of these facilities to facilitate students’ completion, on top of having diverse teaching and management staff. There is need to specifically address research needs of graduate students.