scholarly journals An exploration into students' perceptions regarding dropout within the chiropractic programme at a University of Technology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Nqubeko Lizwilenkosi Buthelezi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Student Teaching ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
The Body ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Student Dropout ◽  
Contextual Design ◽  
University Of Technology

Introduction: Chiropractic is a health profession specialising in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders affecting the bones, joints, muscles and nerves in the body. It is a type of alternative or complimentary medicine concerned with the relationship between the body's structure and its functioning. The Durban University of Technology (DUT) and University of Johannesburg are the two internationally accredited academic institutions in South Africa to offer the chiropractic programme. The Chiropractic Department at the DUT is one of 13 departments within the Faculty of Health Sciences. A student who successfully completes the chiropractic-training programme becomes registered as doctor of chiropractic by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa under Act 63 of 1982 (as amended). However, a number of students drop out from the chiropractic programme before completion. Some of these students transfer to other programmes; others deregister and leave the university, while others are excluded because of the progression rule or because of having exceeded the maximum duration of the programme. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of the students regarding dropping out from the chiropractic programme at the DUT. The study aimed to answer three research questions, which were: 1) what are the perceptions of students regarding dropout from the chiropractic programme at the DUT? 2) what are the determinants of student dropout from the chiropractic programme at the DUT? and 3) how can the dropout rate in the chiropractic programme at the DUT be minimised? Methodology: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was employed. The DUT was used as a data collection site. Data was collected between May and June 2018 using one-on-one semi structured interviews with 12 former students who were previously registered for the chiropractic programme and dropped out before completion. Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis guided thematic data analysis. Findings: The students’ perceptions regarding dropout from the chiropractic programme were grouped into five major themes and several subthemes. The major themes included financial constraints, post course employment, personal, course related and socio- cultural factors. All these themes were, according to the participants, determinants of student dropout from the chiropractic programme. Recommendation from the study findings focused on how the dropout rate in the chiropractic programme could be minimised. Conclusion: The study discovered that, according to the students’ perceptions, there are several determinants of the high dropout rate from the chiropractic programme. Some of these are intrinsic chiropractic programme factors such as course structure, workload and assessment strategy. However, other determinants are outside the programme and generic to all university disciplines/programmes. Nevertheless, it is still critical that attention be given to all determining factors to facilitate retention of students into the chiropractic programme. Recommendations: The following recommendations with special reference to policy development and implementation, institutional management and practice, chiropractic education and further research, are presented. The national and institutional policies regarding application and administration of financial aid should be reviewed and guidelines for application and appeals procedures should be made known to students. Student teaching and assessment strategies should be reviewed periodically and input from students be invited. The Chiropractic Department should ensure that information about the programme and qualification is made available to the public. The chiropractic curriculum should include entrepreneurship to provide information and guidance on how to set up own private practice. The chiropractic programme should institute measures of decolonising the programme in order to address challenges of racial discrimination. A broader research study on reasons for student dropout is recommended.

A Machine Learning Approach to Detect Student Dropout at University

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 3101-3107
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Random Forest ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Random Forest Classifier ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Learning Technology ◽  
Student Dropout ◽  
High Dropout Rate ◽  
Academic Plan

In universities, student dropout is a major concern that reflects the university's quality. Some characteristics cause students to drop out of university. A high dropout rate of students affects the university's reputation and the student's careers in the future. Therefore, there's a requirement for student dropout analysis to enhance academic plan and management to scale back student's drop out from the university also on enhancing the standard of the upper education system. The machine learning technique provides powerful methods for the analysis and therefore the prediction of the dropout. This study uses a dataset from a university representative to develop a model for predicting student dropout. In this work, machine- learning models were used to detect dropout rates. Machine learning is being more widely used in the field of knowledge mining diagnostics. Following an examination of certain studies, we observed that dropout detection may be done using several methods. We've even used five dropout detection models. These models are Decision tree, Naïve bayes, Random Forest Classifier, SVM and KNN. We used machine-learning technology to analyze the data, and we discovered that the Random Forest classifier is highly promising for predicting dropout rates, with a training accuracy of 94% and a testing accuracy of 86%.

scholarly journals The Connection between Extracurricular, Leisure Time Activities, Religiosity and the Reasons for Drop-out

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67
Author(s):  
Judit Váradi ◽  
Zsuzsanna Demeter-Karászi ◽  
Klára Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Education Research ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Dropping Out ◽  
Educational Sociology ◽  
Student Dropout

The interruption of tertiary education and the reduction in the dropout rate have been a central issue in educational sociology and education research. Exploring the possible reasons for dropping out can significantly contribute to reducing the trend. Our aim is to map the links between students dropping out and individual factors. Consequently, we investigate the connection between extracurricular and leisure-time activities, health behaviour and religiosity in relation to dropout. This is explained by the fact that one of the axioms of the literature on dropout is that belonging to civil networks usually strengthens the commitment to the successful completion of studies. In our analysis, we used the database created during the research carried out in 2018 by the Center for Higher Education Research and Development (CHERD-H) in the framework of project No. 123847 of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary, entitled The Role of Social and Organisational Factors in Student Dropout (DEPART 2018, N=605). Our results show that the neglect of study obligations among those who are disappointed in the course and further education is closely related to the shift in value preferences and an increase in the time spent with entertainment activities and partying. It can also be stated that students take part indifferent types of extracurricular activities only to a limited extent, and the different forms of participation in activities and religiosity are not related to the causes of dropout.

scholarly journals Machine Learning Classification Algorithms for Systematic Analysis to Understand Learners Drop out of MOOCs courses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seema Rawat ◽  
Deepak Kumar ◽  
Chhaya Khattri ◽  
Praveen Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Classification Algorithms ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Significant Percentage ◽  
Student Dropout ◽  
Machine Learning Classification ◽  
Open Courses

Abstract The increasing popularity of massively online open courses (MOOCs) has been attracting a lot of learners. Despite the popularity, it has been observed that there is a significant percentage of learners who discontinue courses and drop out of the platform. This is a problem that most of the MOOC courses face. The dropout probability of any student depends on his/her interaction with the platform, and the features of the course in which the student has enrolled. The research work is intended to study and analyze the dropout behavior of the students in online learning with identification of the reasons and to understand their impact. The current research accounts for the activity log of learners of 13 different online courses offered by Harvard and MIT during 2012 to 2013. The work examines the attributes which affects the student dropout rate. The research can be useful in improving the existing features of the MOOC courses and content to ensure persistence turnout of their learners.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Students’ Decision to Drop Out of Online Courses in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Isabella Moreira Pereira de Vasconcellos ◽  
Diogo Tavares Robaina ◽  
Carole Bonanni
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Student Dropout ◽  
Educational Professionals ◽  
System Use ◽  
Relevant Variables ◽  
E Learning

In recent years, e-learning has been the fastest growing educational form in students' numbers, and this industry's market revenue (Lee, Choi, &Kim, 2013). Despite this growth, concern about the significantly higher student dropout rate of students in online courses as compared with conventional learning environments has increased. Brazil has also registered a significant increase in the number of students interested in this type of education, but the dropout rate is a considerable concern to institutions. This study’s objective was to identify the relevant variables behind online students’ dropout decision in Brazil. After a literature review that determined the ten most recurrent and relevant variables, we heard professional e-learning experts. They indicated, from their standpoint, what the most pertinent variables influencing dropout would be. Based on this, we conducted a quantitative survey with e-learning students, considering the factors indicated in the literature on this subject and educational professionals’ indications. This study's contribution was to verify that the quality support is extraordinarily relevant and has a high correlation with students' perception of Usefulness, the quality of Course Content, and ease of System Use.

scholarly journals A Critical Review of the Adopted Academic Advising Approaches at the Durban University of Technology: Unpacking its Strengths and Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-29
Author(s):  
Timothy Obaje ◽  
Rosheena Jeawon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Developmental Stage ◽  
South African ◽  
Academic Advising ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
The Body ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Extant Literature ◽  
University Of Technology

This paper offers a critical review of the adopted academic advising strategies at the Durban University of Technology. It is worth acknowledging that academic advising as a scholarly practice is in its developmental stage at South African tertiary institutions. The paper draws on the experiences of the authors as academic advisors to reflect on the strengths and challenges of the practices of academic advising. It interrogates and analyses the authors’ experiences vis-a-vis the extant literature on academic advising practices. In this way, the paper engages and advances best practices while simultaneously contributing to the body of literature on academic advising in South Africa.

scholarly journals The Investigation of Student Dropout Prediction Model in Thai Higher Education Using Educational Data Mining: A Case Study of Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla Uni-versity

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 356-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarutas Pattanaphanchai ◽  
Koranat Leelertpanyakul ◽  
Napa Theppalak
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Data Mining ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Data Mining Technique ◽  
Student Dropout ◽  
The University

The student’s retention rate is one of the challenging issues that representing the quality of the university. A high dropout rate of students affects not only the reputation of the university but also the students’ career in the future. Therefore, there is a need of student dropout analysis in order to improve the academic plan and management to reduce students drop out from the university as well as to  enhance the quality of the higher education system. Data mining technique provides powerful methods for analysis and the prediction the dropout. This paper proposes a model for predicting students’ dropout using the dataset from the representative of the largest public university in the Southen part of Thailand. In this study, data from Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University was collected from academic year of 2013 to 2017. The experiment result shows that JRip rule induction is the best technique to generate a prediction model receiving the highest accuracy value of 77.30%. The results highlight the potential prediction model that can be used to detect the early state of dropping out of the student which the university can provide supporting program to improve the student retention rate

An Integrated Servqual and Gap Model in Evaluating Customer Satisfaction in Budget Hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (II) ◽  
pp. 41-70
Author(s):  
Florence Wanjiku Njau ◽  
Mary Mutisya Mutungi ◽  
Rayvisic Mutinda
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Gap Model ◽  
Customer Expectations

Increasingly, hotel industry has witnessed rapid growth in the 21stcentury and as a result competition within the industry has also intensified. This competition has been fueled by the preoccupation of service quality to add value and strengthen the complete guest experience. However, a major challenge facing the sector is the aspect of service quality particularly in budget hotels which target price sensitive customers. These hotels provide the customers with satisfactory core product at a reasonable price but tend to focus more on profits than on customer satisfaction. The services offered are not standardized and service quality variability is a challenge. The study used an integrated SERVQUAL and Gap model to evaluate customer satisfaction in budget hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the effect of service design on customer satisfaction, establish the effect of service delivery on customer satisfaction and determine the moderating effect of management perception of service quality on customer satisfaction in budget hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design and was conducted in 50 budget hotels. A sample size of 334 drawn from the hotel managers, customers and employees were involved in this study. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study sample for customers and employees. Data were collected through use of questionnaires and interviews. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used in data analysis. The study hypotheses were tested was tested using multiple regression (ANOVA) and qualitative data from management perception was analyzed using qualitative data analysis (QCA). The regression analysis indicated that all five dimensions of service quality in service design were significant (0.000) when tested at 95% confidence level. The model was found to be significant. Correlation analysis indicated that the service design factors that had significant impact were realization of assured service in reliability (p = .044 < .05), responsiveness in informing the customers about the time of service delivery (p = .000< .05) and empathy in that operating hours are convenient to customers (p = .030 < .05). The other variables did not have significant values. The results indicate that there are gaps in the budget hotels under study between service design and customer satisfaction. Relationship between service delivery and customer satisfaction was found to be positive but not all the variables were significant. The study findings indicated that four variables; good location (p = .115 > .05), closeness to main city facilities (p = .527 > .05), someone recommended hotel (p = .665 > .05), and good experiences from the hotel (p = .458 > .05) did not have no significant values. This implied that these variables did not have an effect on customer satisfaction resulting in a gap between service delivery and customer satisfaction. This indicated that the service delivery did fully not meet customer expectations. Management perception was found to have a moderating effect between service quality and customer satisfaction. The study concluded that although managers seemed to have a reasonably good understanding of the customer and developed service designs for quality service delivery, the services delivered still fell short of customer expectations. The study therefore recommends that to enhance customer satisfaction, management needs to focus on the changing needs of their customers and develop service designs that twill offer service delivery that satisfies the customer. The study makes some contribution to the body of knowledge as an integrated model in evaluating customer satisfaction. This is an open-access article published and distributed under the terms and conditions of the  Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License of United States unless otherwise stated. Access, citation and distribution of this article is allowed with full recognition of the authors and the source.

Global Power Shift

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberts Cynthia ◽  
Leslie Armijo ◽  
Saori Katada
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rising Powers ◽  
Extensive Data ◽  
Power Shift ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Global Power ◽  
Rise Of China

This chapter evaluates multiple dimensions of the global power shift from the incumbent G5/G7 powers to the rising powers, especially the members of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Taking note of alternative conceptualizations of interstate “power,” the text maps the redistribution of economic capabilities from the G7 to the BRICS, most particularly the relative rise of China and decline of Japan, and especially Europe. Given these clear trends in measurable material capabilities, the BRICS have obtained considerable autonomy from outside pressures. Although the BRICS’ economic, financial, and monetary capabilities remain uneven, their relative positions have improved steadily. Via extensive data analysis, the chapter finds that whether one examines China alone or the BRICS as a group, BRICS members have achieved the necessary capabilities to challenge the global economic and financial leadership of the currently dominant powers, perhaps even the United States one day.

Thinking about offender social reintegration: A case study of one NGO programme in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 002087282096742
Author(s):  
Emmison Muleya
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Crime Prevention ◽  
The Body ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Social Reintegration ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Former Offenders ◽  
Offender Reintegration

Successful social reintegration is critical if we are to reduce recidivism and crime in general. This voice of people article presents a background case for why effective offender reintegration services are key in South Africa, and the Eastern Cape in particular, through an example of the Offender Reintegration programme rendered by the National Institute of Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO). Apart from the paucity of literature on offender reintegration, very few voices from people working directly with these former offenders are ever heard. Therefore, this article seeks to address this gap by contributing to the body of knowledge on offender social reintegration.

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