| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing student involvement in university governance: A case of Bachelor of Education (Arts) of the University of Nairobi, Kenya. The study sought to establish the extent to which university lecturers‟ attitude towards participatory governance, knowledge of University policy guidelines, international university best practices and the students‟ governing council influence students‟ involvement in university governance of the University of Nairobi. The study employed a descriptive survey design targeting all the 111 lecturers and 2,602 students from Kikuyu campus, Bachelor of Education external and the Main campus, evening group. A sample of 10 percent of all the 2,602 students and 20 percent of all the 111 lecturers was used where representatives from the lecturers and the students‟ body were selected using simple random sampling technique. Quantitative data collected was coded and entered into the computer using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data obtained. The statistics used included frequency counts, percentages, pie charts and bar graphs while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis (used when one has sets of existing written responses which require analysis). The study established that most lecturers, 78.9 percent were in agreement that the university unrest is reduced by the student council involvement in university governance therefore had a positive attitude towards students involvement as compared to only 21.1 percent who were undecided. The study also established that only 33.3 percent of the studied campuses had copies of the university guidelines as compared to 66.7 percent who did not have copies of the guideline therefore students lacking knowledge of the content of the university policy guidelines. The study established that the university being ISO certified, its policy guidelines were pegged on international university best practices. Therefore the students had good knowledge of international best practices. This is reflected by the study where 11.7 percent of the students had good knowledge of international best practices as opposed to 17.1 percent who had no such knowledge. Lastly, the study established that 78.9 percent of the students agreed that Student Governing Council pressure influence students‟ involvement in university governance with only 21.1 percent being undecided on the issue. The study therefore, concludes that student participation in the university governance should be improved. The following were the major recommendations of the study: The university administration should create awareness to all the teaching staff on the importance of students‟ involvement in university governance. The university governing council should provide all the departments with copies of university guidelines. University administration should ensure that the number of students represented at the university‟s council meetings is raised from two as stated in section 14 of the university Acts to six members to tally with the representation at the senate level. The university governing council should create clear channels of communication. | en_US |
