Rima International Journal of Education (RIJE)

Factors Influencing the Choice of the National Open University of Nigeria by Post Graduate Students

1Ihuoma, Chinwe Patience
Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

2Balarabe Maimuna Musa
Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja

Abstract

Undergraduate and Postgraduate education have become more marketable than ever before. This is because it provides candidates with specialized skills and competencies, paving way for promotion and widening career choices. Students seeking postgraduate studies apply to institutions of their choice. This paper is set to find out what makes a student to choose one university and not the other. A survey research design was used to collect data using questionnaires and a sample of 120 students.  The questionnaire was a 4-point Likert-like rating scale constructed by the researchers. The instrument was validated by experts in Measurement & Evaluation and a reliability index of 0.63 was calculated using Pearson Product Moment Correlational analysis. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to analyze the data collected. SPSS 23 statistical package was used for data analysis. It was discovered that uniqueness and quality of programmes offered, predictability of duration of course, availability of Lecturers and supervisors, ICT enabled mode of studies and geographical location, were significant factors in the choice of NOUN for Post Graduate studies. The National Open University of Nigeria should therefore ensure that the programmes offered are relevant and productive so that more students may choose this institution for professional development.

Keywords

Factors, Choice, NOUN and Post Graduate students

Reference

Bodycott, P. & Lai, A. (2012). The Influence and Implications of Chinese Culture in the Decision to Undertake Cross-Border Higher Education. Journal of Studies in International Education. 16 (3): 252–270.

Bohman, E.(2010). Headed for the Heartland Decision Making Process of Community College Bound International Students. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 34 (1/2): 64–77.

Briggs, S. (2006). An exploratory study of the factors influencing undergraduate student choice: The case of higher education in Scotland. Studies in Higher Education, 31 (6): 705–722.

Briggs, S. & Wilson, A. (2007). ‘Which university? A study of the influence of cost and information factors on Scottish undergraduate choice’. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. 29 (1): 57–72

Chawinga, W. D. & Zozie, P. A. ( 2016.) Increasing access to higher education through open and distance learning: Empirical findings from Mzuzu
University, Malawi. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 17 (4).

Cloete, N. (2016). For sustainable funding and fees ,the undergraduate system in South Africa must be restructured. South African Journal of Science. 112 (3-4): 1-5.

Duke, C. and Hinzen, H. (2020) Lifelong learning Strategy 2017-2020. Documentation, Government of FYROM Skopje

Ebrahim, T. (2009). Perceptions of factors affecting the pursuit of higher education among disadvantaged Grade 12 learners. Unpublished MA dissertation (Educational Psychology),University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Eruat, M. (2006). Developing professional knowledge and competence Routledge

Foskett, N. H. & Hemsley-Brown, J. V. (2001). Choosing Futures: Young People’s Decision-making in Education, Training and Careers Markets. London: Routledge.

Gray, B. J., K. S. Fam & Llanes, V. A. (2003). Cross cultural values and the positioning of international education brands. Journal of Product and Brand Management, 12 (2): 108–119.

He, Y. & Banham, H. (2011). Education destination determinants of Chinese students. Journal of International Education Research, 7 (4): 19–32.

Johnston, T.C. (2010.) Who and what influences choice of university? Student and university perceptions. American Journal of Business Education, 3 (10): 15–23.

Kaplan, A. M. (2014). European management and European business schools: Insights from the history of business schools. European Management journal, 32 (4): 529 – 534.

Kydd, L., Crawford, M. and Riches, C. (2018)Leadership and Teams in Educational Management. Open University Pretoria

Lubbe, I. & Petzer, D. (2013). Key information sources influencing prospective students’ university choice – a South African perspective. South African Journal of Higher Education, 27 (4): 920–940.

Ming, J. S. K. (2010). Institutional Factors Influencing Students’ College Choice Decision in Malaysia. International Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 1 (3): 53–58.

Moogan, Y. J. (2011). Can a HEI’s marketing strategy improve the student-institution
match? International Journal of Educational Management, 25 (6): 570–589.

Moogan, Y. J., Baron, S. & Bainbridge, S. (2001).Timings and trade-offs in the marketing of higher education courses: A conjoint approach. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 19 (3): 179–187.

Moogan, Y. J. & Baron, S. (2003). An analysis of student characteristics within the student decision making process, 27 (3): 271–287.

Niu, S.X. & Tienda, M. (2008). Choosing colleges: Identifying and modeling choice sets. Social Science Research, 37 (2): 416–433.

O’Connor, L. & Lundstrom, K. (2011). The impact of social marketing strategies on the information seeking behaviors of college students. Reference and User Services Quarterly, 50 (4): 351–365.

Paulson, K. (2001) Using competencies to connect the workplace and Post-secondary education, New Directions for Institutional Research, 110: 41–54.

Pillay, T. S. (2010). Student Enrolment Planning in Public Higher Education: A South African Case Study, Durban University of Technology.

Pimpa, N. (2005). A family affair: the effect of family on Thai students’ choices of international education. Higher Education: the International Journal of Higher Education and Educational Planning, 49 (4): 431–448

Pucciarelli, F. & Kaplan, A. (2016). Competition and strategy in higher education: Managing complexity and uncertainty. Business Horizons, 59 (3): 311-320.

Sidin, S.M., Hussin, S.R. & Soon, T.H. (2003).An exploratory study of factors influencing the college choice decision of undergraduate students in Malaysia. Asia Pacific Management Review, 8 (3): 259-280.

 Simões, C. & Soares, A.M. (2010). Applying to higher education: information sources and choice factors. Studies in Higher Education, 24 (4): 371–389.

Soo, T. K. & Elliott, C. (2008). Does price matter? Overseas students in UK higher education. Lancaster University, Working paper. 356WWW.IBC-CONFERENCE.COM

Soutar, G. & Turner, J.P. (2002). Students’ preferences for university: a conjoint analysis. The International Journal of Educational Management, 16 (1): 40–45.

Urbanski, R. ( 2000). Factors influencing student college Choice at a North Eastern Minnesota Tribal College. PhD Dissertation. University of Minnesota.

Van Zyl, S., Meyer, J. and Pelser, T. (2021)   Factors Influencing the Choice of Universities of First Year Students at the North-West University, Mafikeng Campus Conference Paper ·International Business Conference Proceedings Mauritius, 2018 344-356.