University student engagement and mobility from one university to another in private universities in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether student engagement influences students’ choice of mobility. This study employed a descriptive quantitative survey design. The target population of this study was 26 registered private universities (including private university constituents where mobility rate records are too high) in Nairobi County, Kenya. The research sample size was 180 private university students and nine registrars. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Descriptive analysis, inferential statistics, and regression analysis were used to analyse the findings. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean scores and standard deviation were computed appropriately. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to establish the magnitude of the effect on the dependent variables of independent variables. The study concluded that student engagement significantly influences students' mobility in private universities in Nairobi County in Kenya. Institutions of higher learning with up-to-standard student engagement frameworks and platforms attract more clients than those with less student engagement. The study recommended that since economic status does not influence student mobility in private universities, it is prudent not to lower the costs of programmes too much to the extent that it becomes hard to sustain resources that are necessary for the implementation of student engagement frameworks, customer care services, measures of timely completion and quality learning services.