Institutional-Based Factors Influencing Provision Of Quality Education To Undergraduate Students In Somali National University, Somalia

Abstract

This study sought to investigate institutional-based factors influencing the provision of quality education to undergraduate students in Somali National University, Somalia. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which qualified academic staff, availability of teaching and learning resources, adequacy of physical facilities and ICT infrastructure influence the provision of quality education to undergraduate students in SNU. The Human Capital Theory developed by Schultz in 1960 guided the study. It employed descriptive survey design. The target population of this study was 2490 individuals in the categories of 2229 undergraduate students, 229 lecturers and 32 faculties‟ administrators. The sample consisted of 226 students, 71 lecturers and 18 administrators. Stratified, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to get the respondents. Reliability of the questionnaires was ensured using test retest method and coefficient correlation of 0.8 was realized. Questionnaires, interviews and observation schedules were used for data collection. Descriptive statistical analysis on quantitative data was used; results were presented using frequency tables, percentages, bar graphs and pie charts. The study concluded that institutional factors influence the provision of quality education. On the first objective, the study concluded that the availability of lecturers for individualized assistance, attendance and course coverage, motivation and qualification of the lecturers affect the provision of quality education. On the second objective, availability of teaching and learning resources and their adequacy influence the provision of quality education. The study also concluded that ICT infrastructure and internet accessibility at the various places affect the performance of the learners hence affecting quality of education. As a result, the study recommends that the Somali Federal Government ought to increase the budgetary allocation to the university in order to employ more full time lecturers so as to ensure that students get individualized assistance. The study also recommends providing training and capacity building programs for the staff and nominating a commission for higher education in order to ensure that tertiary institutions provide better quality of higher education. This will help promote the quality of education provided by the university. For further research, the study suggested that in the future, since the majority of universities in Somalia are private, it would seek research titled the influence of institutional-based factors on provision of quality education in private universities in Somalia.