The Role of Staff in Shaping Undergraduate Students Behavior for Sustainable Academic Performance at The Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Shaping student behaviour has become a major focus of education worldwide. As educational institutions seek to prepare students for success in an increasingly competitive and complex world, they recognize the need to not only teach academic content, but also to develop students' socio-emotional skills, character and values such as ethics and integrity, honesty and truthfulness. In universities, there have been cases of students involved in exam malpractices, such as copying, doing exams for others, poor study practices, and weak adherence to ethical conduct and integrity. Besides, a notable proportion of the undergraduate students tends to deviate from positive behaviours upon entering campus life which affects their academic performance. This study, by using quantitative and qualitative research methods, descriptive design, and purposive sampling of 80 students and 40 teaching and non-teaching staff, examined the role of staff in shaping the behaviour of undergraduate students at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, main campus, Nairobi, for sustainable academic performance. Questionnaires were administered by the researchers to collect data from respondents. The results showed that the participants strongly agreed with the notion that efficient classroom management plays a crucial role in creating a conducive learning environment and enhancing student behaviour. It was also found that role modelling has an influence on the students’ behaviour for sustainable academic performance. Moreover, respondents strongly agreed that students' guidance and counselling played a significant role in shaping their behaviour. Besides, the results showed that the attitudes of students have a considerable influence on their behaviour, making it essential to address negative attitudes to encourage desirable conduct. The study recommends that the institution should implement regular classroom observations and provide constructive feedback. The University should identify individuals with a track record of academic and personal success to serve as positive role models for the students. Staff training initiatives that prioritise the development of effective communication skills should be implemented. Involving students in developing and implementing initiatives related to behaviour change for sustainable academic performance is highly recommended.