Determining the nature of student engagement in Public Administration programmes : the case of first year students at the North West University
Abstract
This study sets out to determine the nature of student engagement in Public
Administration Programmes, focusing on the case of first year students at the North
West University‟s (NWU) Vaal Triangle and Potchefstroom campuses. This study
argues that the academic performance and the success ration of the higher education
institution is directly influenced by the students‟ level of engagement with the module
work, their campus environment, fellow students, lecturers, educational experiences
and interactive and collaborative learning processes both inside and outside of
scheduled class sessions.
Two separate literature studies were conducted for the purpose of this research. The
first focused on the development of learning theories, the idea of student engagement
and the instruments that are used to measure it. The second literature study focused
on the role of higher education and how Public Administration has developed as an
independent discipline and continued at reviewing how it was presented at the NWU.
The mixed method of research conducted included personal interviews with lecturers
and questionnaires for first year students. The study has found that while the levels of
engagement are adequate at both campuses there are certain shortcomings, especially
in terms of the differing views held by the students and the lecturers.
This study provides recommendations for the improvement of student engagement at
the NWU and identifies potential areas of the research that can be expanded in the
future, that if implemented will provide a more generalised and inclusive view of student
engagement in the NWU‟s PA programme.