Demography and social economy, 2015, 2(24):103-115
doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/dse2015.02.103

Lucky Sibanda
Graduate student, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
Chux Gervase Iwu
Prof Dr., Head, Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Management, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
Olumide Henrie Benedict
Dr., Senior Lecturer, School of Accounting Sciences, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa


Factors Influencing Academic Performance of University Students
Section: Quality of education
Language: English
Abstract: Considering the increasing reports of high student failure rates as well dropout rates worldwide, this study sought to statistically determine what students perceive as the highly influential academic success and or failure factors. The hope was to uncover these factors so as to provide some direction in terms of intervention. A quantitative approach was followed in pursuing this. The population for the study consisted of second year students because they fit the context within which this study defines success and failure. The findings reveal a mix of factors some of which are consistent with previous research on student academic performance. This study derives its uniqueness from the perspective of the significance of the discipline – entrepreneurship, which has been touted as the major economic force that can deliver the necessary socioeconomic development to a country. The results of this study will not only add to the global literature on student academic performance, but will also provide those in management of higher education with the necessary material for intervening in issues of student academic performance. Further research might consider increasing the population size to gain much deeper insights into the perceptions. It may also help to undertake a different research methodology in the form of one-on-one interviews or focus group interviews.
Key words: Failure factors, Success factors, Perceptions, Tertiary Education, University of Technology, Academic Performance.
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